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.

4 http:// www. meetup. com / The-Society-of-Childrens-books-and-illustration-lovers /