WHERE IT ALL BEGANBob Graham grew up in Sydney Australia. Reading was a passion which continued into adult hood.Bob was educated at Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney. (Kumar, 2004, p.65). And has since won lots of awards for his books (Hedbald, 1999, p.65). Bob’s illustrations are drawn using pens, chalks and water colours (Graham, 2007, para.3). Bright colours with simple design and arrangement, connecting you ,the reader with the story.The little things are what triggers his stories. “ Some times I can find a story, like turning over a rock with my boot....and there it is” (Mahy, 1999, p.440). Bob walks his dog and spends a lot of time with his family. This reflects in the themes of his books.

ROSE MEETS MR WINTERGARTEN People who at first seem scary, mean or a bit off are shown to be quite kind an caring (Kumar, 2004, p.75). Rose plays in the garden with friends talking about the “mean” and “Horrible” Mr Wintergarten (Graham, 1992,p4). Until she is forced to get her ball from his yard. Finding out he is a kind old man and learning that not everything is what it seems. Colour, shape and angles of pictures enhance the emotion by the characters.

AUTHOR BOB GRAHAM

DIMITY DUMPTY , her family travels as a circus. Humpty is a performer and his sister is quite and shy. The reader is surprised when humpty falls whilst spray painting the wall. Care and kindness by the circus family shows Humpty to recovery. Bright use of Water colour paints give the circus theme a magical feel.

FULL HOUSE interacts with the reader through opening pictures. Pets and their babies are found. Simple pictures and text joined with bight colours tell theme of the story.

THE WILD confronts a child with fear of the wilderness when his pets leaves for the wild woods (Kumar, 2004, p.441). Bright pictures arranged above or below text.“Silent, cold and deep dark green”, “smell of foxes”(Graham, 1942.p12).Graham describes the unknown of the wild giving the reader an eerie feeling.

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Referencing

Kumar, L. 2004, Something About The Author, Vol 151, Thomas Gale, MIHedblad, A. 1999, Something About the Author, Vol 101, Hal May, MIMahy, M. 1999, St James Guide to Children's Writers, 5th Edition, St James Press, LondonGraham, B. And Gray. N, 1988, Full House, National Library of Australia, Hong KongGraham, B. 1992, Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten, Walker Books, LondonGraham, B. 1942, The Wild, National Library of Australia, Hong KongGraham, B. 2006, Dimity Dumpty, Walker Books, LondonHttp://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/bobgraham, (2007).