Gavin Bishop Explained

Gavin Bishop
Birth Name:	Gavin John Bishop
Birth Place:	Invercargill, New Zealand
Occupation:	Writer
Language:	English
Alma Mater:	University of Canterbury
Spouse:	Vivien Bishop
Children:	3

Gavin John Bishop (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand.^[1] He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.^{[2] [3]} Bishop's first published picture book was Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, published in 1981 by Oxford University Press.

Early life

Bishop was born on 13 February 1946 in Invercargill, to a Tainui and Ngāti Awa family.^{[4] [5]}

Career

Bishop worked as a high school art teacher for thirty years, before writing and illustrating children's books full-time.^[1]

In 2006, he accused the makers of the Hollywood film Mr and Mrs Smith of plagiarizing his 1997 school book The Secret Lives of Mr and Mrs Smith.^[6]

Select honours and awards

• 2022 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, the Nonfiction and Illustration awards for Atua^[7]
• 2018 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award for Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story at the New Zealand Children's Book Awards^[8]
• 2013 – Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Children's Literature.^[9]
• 2013 – Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award^[10]
• 2013, 2000, 1994, 1983 – New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, winner of the picture book category.
• 2010, 2008, 2006, 1982 – LIANZA Russell Clark Medal for Illustration.^[11]
• 2000 – Margaret Mahy Medal for Services to Children's Literature.^[12]
• 1984 – Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations, Grand Prize.^[13]

Select bibliography

• 2021 – Atua: Māori gods and heroes, 64pp (Picture Puffin) ^[14]
• 2020 – Mihi, 18pp, (Gecko Press) ^[15]
• 2018 – Cook's Cook Limited Edition, 40pp, (Gecko Press) ^[16]
• 2018 – Cook's Cook, 40pp, (Gecko Press) ^[17]
• 2017 – Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story (Penguin)
• 2017 – Helper and Helper, 128pp, (Gecko Press) ^[18]
• 2013 – Mister Whistler, 32pp, (Gecko Press) ^[19]
• 2012 – Koinei te Whare nā Haki i Hanga, 40pp, Māori translation of The House that Jack Built (Gecko Press)
• 2012 – The House that Jack Built, 40pp, (Gecko Press) ^[20]
• 2010 – Counting the Stars: Four Maori Myths
• 2010 – Friends: Snake & Lizard, Joy Cowley, Gecko Press (illustrator)
• 2010 – Cowshed Christmas (illustrator)
• 2010 – There Was a Crooked Man
• 2009 – Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood
• 2008 – Rats!
• 2008 – Snake & Lizard, Gecko Press (illustrator)
• 2007 – Riding the Waves: four Maori Myths
• 2006 – Te Waka
• 2006 – Kiwi Moon
• 2005 – Taming the Sun: Four Maori Myths
• 2004 – The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• 2002 – Tom Thumb
• 1982 – Mr. Fox, 32pp, (Oxford University Press)

See also

• New Zealand literature

External links

• Author website
• Gavin Bishop on Gecko Press's website
• Recent books

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Me. Gavin Bishop. 11 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161027102436/http://gavinbishop.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3. 27 October 2016. dead.
2. Book: Mahy. Margaret. Mister Whistler. 21 October 2013. Gecko Press. 9781877579363. 11 August 2016. en.
3. Book: Cowley. Joy. Friends: Snake and Lizard. September 2011. Gecko Press. 9781877467950. 11 August 2016. en.
4. Web site: Gavin Bishop . 2023-07-14 . www.penguin.co.nz . en.
5. Web site: Interview with Gavin Bishop .
6. News: Hollywood stole my story — Kiwi author . The Dominion Post . The Press . March 2, 2006 . 1.
7. Web site: 2022-08-12 . ‘Atua: Māori gods and heroes’ wins Margaret Mahy Book of the Year . 2023-12-10 . Books+Publishing.
8. Web site: Past Winners New Zealand Book Awards Trust. www.nzbookawards.nz. 2020-01-15.
9. Web site: New Year Honours List 2013. 31 December 2012. Rebecca Kitteridge. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand). 11 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130101160253/http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/node/1121. 1 January 2013.
10. Web site: Gavin Bishop. 26 September 2015. The Arts Foundation. en. 11 February 2019.
11. Web site: LIANZA Russell Clark Illustration Award. Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa. 11 August 2016.
12. Web site: Awards. Gavin Bishop.
13. Web site: Gavin Bishop. Gecko Press. 11 August 2016.
14. Web site: Atua by Gavin Bishop . 2023-12-10 . www.penguin.com.au . en.
15. Web site: Mihi Gecko Press. 2021-03-14. geckopress.com. en-US.
16. Book: Cook's Cook. Gecko Press. 9781776572175. 7 August 2018. en.
17. Book: Cook's Cook. February 2017. Gecko Press. 9781776571055. 7 August 2018. en.
18. Book: Helper and Helper. February 2017. Gecko Press. 9781-776571-05-5. 7 August 2018. en.
19. Web site: Mister Whistler Gecko Press. 2021-03-14. geckopress.com. 5 March 2014 . en-US.
20. Web site: The House that Jack Built Picture Books Gecko Press. 2021-03-14. geckopress.com. 27 May 2013 . en-US.