Anna Dewdney Explained

Anna Dewdney
Birth Name:Anna Elizabeth Luhrmann
Birth Date:25 December 1965
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Chester, Vermont, U.S.
Occupation:Author, illustrator
Alma Mater:Wesleyan University (BA)
Genre:Juvenile fiction
Notableworks:Llama Llama series
Years Active:2005–2016

Anna Elizabeth Dewdney (née Luhrmann; December 25, 1965 – September 3, 2016) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. The first book she wrote and illustrated, Llama Llama Red Pajama, received critical acclaim in 2005. She wrote numerous other books in the Llama Llama series, which have all been New York Times bestsellers. Her work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, musicals, and an animated television series for Netflix. Many states and non-profits use her books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress.

Biography

Dewdney spent her early childhood in Englewood, New Jersey. She had two sisters, including anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann. She attended The Elisabeth Morrow School through the ninth grade.[1] [2] She continued her high school studies at Phillips Academy (Andover) and then transferred to The Putney School, graduating in 1985.[3] She earned a bachelor's degree in Art from Wesleyan University in 1987. Before her work became well known, Dewdney provided for her family of four and their dogs by working as a waitress, a rural postal carrier, and a remedial-language, art and history teacher at the Greenwood School, a boarding school for dyslexic boys with her partner, Reed Duncan.[4] She and Duncan had two children and lived in Vermont until her death at age 50 from complications of brain cancer.

Career

Dewdney began her career illustrating a variety of books for both children and adults. She gained critical acclaim in 2005 for Llama Llama Red Pajama, the first book she both wrote and illustrated. Her work is known for its emotive content,[5] signature characters, family relationships, and how it addresses the everyday issues of young children. The text of her work is often written in verse; because of this use of rhyming language, and because of Dewdney's reading-advocacy work, her books are often used to promote reading and literacy.[6] [7] The Llama Llama series is highly popular among parents, teachers, and booksellers; in 2011, a Miami, Florida bookseller actually got the Llama Llama character tattooed on her arm for a bookstore event.[8] Dewdney's books have been translated into more than thirteen languages, including: Chinese, Hebrew, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Latvian,[9] Romanian,[10] Hungarian,[11] Italian,[12] and German.[13] Partial proceeds from some of her works go toward environmental awareness and conservation efforts, most notably pangolin conservation in southeast Asia.[14] [15] In 2016 it was announced that Reed Duncan had adapted Dewdney's Llama Llama titles as an animated children's television series for Netflix. The show was released by Genius Brands and was initially directed by Rob Minkoff and Saul Andrew Blinkoff. Jane Startz served as the series producer and Joe Purdy was the series showrunner.[16] Reed Duncan, the show's co-creator, served as executive producer.  Duncan, Startz, and Purdy wrote and created all of the show's main storylines.  Dewdney and Duncan wrote the lyrics to the signature theme song.  The show, starring Jennifer Garner as Mama Llama, contains approximately 50 episodes and is currently in its second season on Netflix. The series has been translated into over 22 different languages and is broadcast in dozens of countries worldwide.

Influences

Dewdney cites Tasha Tudor, the early work of Maurice Sendak, Russell Hoban, Garth Williams, Barbara Cooney, Elizabeth Goudge, Frances Hodgson Burnett, William Steig, E. B. White, Munro Leaf, and Robert Lawson as creative influences.[17]

Awards and honors

Dewdney's Llama Llama books have all been New York Times bestsellers, and several titles have reached #1 on the list. Her books regularly make the Publishers Weekly and IndieBooks bestsellers lists and have hit buzzworthy sales figures.[18] Llama Llama Red Pajama was chosen as Jumpstart's Read for the Record book in 2011, setting the world's record for most readings of a particular book on one day.[19] This event was recorded on the Today show on October 6, 2011, where her work was read live to the national television audience. Her work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, and musicals, most notably by Dolly Parton at Dollywood.[20] [21] The Dolly Parton Foundation has also chosen her Llama Llama series for The Imagination Library, a not-for-profit organization serving young children through book donations. Many states and not-for-profit organizations use her books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress, which featured her work and a live reading by Anna at its 2012 National Book Festival.[22] [23] Dewdney's work is highly acclaimed by critics and is often recommended on booklists by national reviewers.[24]

Other awards

Selected works

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Grimes . William . Anna Dewdney Dies; Author of 'Llama Llama' Books Was 50 . 2 January 2024 . The New York Times . 7 September 2016.
  2. Levin, Jay. "Anna Dewdney, children's author, illustrator of Llama Llama stories, dies at 50", The Record (Bergen County), September 7, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2016. "That's doubly appropriate: The charming picture book deals with a little llama's separation anxiety on the first day of preschool. And Dewdney grew up in Englewood.... Dewdney, daughter of Winifred Luhrmann, also a writer, and Dr. George Luhrmann, a psychiatrist, attended the independent Elisabeth Morrow School and Dwight-Englewood School<1979 yearbook>
  3. Web site: Alumni Authors. Putney Post. June 15, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20111103043528/http://www.putneyschool.org/sites/all/themes/putney/files/PutneyPost/spring2010/authors.pdf. November 3, 2011. dead.
  4. Web site: We Love Llama Llama . Decaturbookfestival.com . 2010-09-05 . July 20, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808125935/https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2010/authors/detail.php?id=5 . 2014-08-08 .
  5. Web site: Llama Llama Author 'Lloves' Kids . https://archive.today/20130616012300/http://www.sent-trib.com/front-page/llama-llama-author-lloves-kids . dead . 2013-06-16 . Sent-trib.com . 2013-03-07 . 2013-07-20 .
  6. Web site: "Five Questions for Anna Dewdney", The Horn Book, Roger Sutton, 4/12/2013 . Hbook.com . 2013-04-12 . 2013-07-20.
  7. Web site: Bestselling author of 'Llama Llama" books visits kids' literacy day . Bgsu.edu . 2013-03-05 . 2013-07-20.
  8. Web site: Characters, Ink: A Children's Bookseller's Tattoos . Shannon . Maughan . Publishersweekly.com . 2011-09-28 . 2013-07-20.
  9. Web site: Anna Dewdney - Search Results. www.worldcat.org. 12 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Lama lama in pijama.
  11. Book: Lám, a láma piros pizsamában. 9786155781322. 2018. Tündér Kvk.
  12. Web site: Ben fatto, piccola ruspa! Ediz. a colori. Anna. Dewdney. 12 August 2019. Mondadori. 12 August 2023. Amazon.
  13. Web site: Anna Dewdney.
  14. http://www.wwct.org.uk/userfiles/pagefiles/conservation-research/vietnam/carnivore-pangolin/Newsletter%202011%20Aug%20-%20CPCP.pdf Conversation research
  15. Web site: Books Etc . Savepangolins.org . 2010-09-23 . 2013-07-20.
  16. News: Netflix Readies Animated 'Spy Kids,' 'Llama Llama' Series (EXCLUSIVE). Brian. Steinberg. June 16, 2016. August 31, 2016. Variety.
  17. Web site: Sasha . Emmons . Q&A With Children's Author Anna Dewdney: The Author of Llama Llama Red Pajama Shares the Story Behind the Book . Parenting.com . 2011-10-06 . 2013-07-20.
  18. Web site: Llama Llama Sales-O-Rama . Shannon . Maughan . Publishersweekly.com . 2010-11-18 . 2013-07-20.
  19. Web site: Llama Llama Red Pajama Selected as Official 2011 Campaign Book for Jumpstart's Read for the Record . Pearsonfoundation.org . 2011-05-12 . 2013-07-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128085520/http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pr/20110512-llama-llama-red-pajama-selected-as-2011-campaign-book-for-jumpstarts-rftr.html . 2013-01-28 .
  20. http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20130505/LIVING/305050057/Dollywood-Penguin-Players-bring-kids-book-life "Dollywood Penguin Players Bring Kids’ Book to Life"
  21. Web site: Llama Llama Red Pajama: World Premiere! What Will Baby Llama Do Next? . Stagestheatre.org . 2013-07-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140223022943/http://www.stagestheatre.org/upcoming-shows/02/07/2011/llama-llama-red-pajama . 2014-02-23 .
  22. Web site: Anna Dewdney, Library of Congress National Book Festival, 'Meet the Authors' section . Loc.gov . 2013-07-20.
  23. Web site: Anna Dewdney: 2012 National Book Festival . YouTube . 2013-07-20.
  24. Web site: Bowles . Paula . Llama Llama Mad at Mama . Kirkusreviews.com . 2013-07-20.
  25. https://www.amazon.com/Little-Excavator-Anna-Dewdney/dp/1101999209 Little Excavator on Amazon
  26. https://www.amazon.com/Llama-Gives-Thanks-Anna-Dewdney/dp/110199715X Llama Llama Gives Thanks on Amazon
  27. Web site: Home . netflix.com.

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