4 The Society of Children ’ s Books & Illustration Lovers – Newsletter # 1 – August 2013

Author of the month

Oliver Jeffers

10 Random facts about Oliver Jeffers

1 . Oliver loves plastic food , suitcase handles and Elvis .

2 . He attended the first integrated Catholics and Protestants school in Belfast , a rough place with children that had drop out of other schools .

3 . When the other kids found out he could draw well , he was asked to draw on the bottom of skateboards and on school bags .

4 . His debut picture book , ' How to Catch a Star ', was inspired by a moment sitting on the end of a jetty in Sydney , looking at the stars .

5 . He started illustrating for Lavazza Coffee . He now does commercial illustration for Starbucks . He also designs jewellery .

6 . He sent his first book to Harpercollins , unsolicited and without and agent but was accepted straight away .

7 . He has exhibited in places like the National Gallery in London and travelled all over the world .

8 . He likes eating sushi and Mexican food and as a teenager , he liked playing the spoons !

9 . He is a good friend of Eric Carle , whose “ The bad-tempered ladybird ” inspired him to draw whales for a while when little .

10 . He collects vintage furniture , and his studio is packed with strange objects found in the streets of New York .

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