New Zealand Writers
CROWE, Andrew
His range of books and other publications make New Zealand's natural history accessible to beginners of any age.
CROWE, Andrew (1952 - ) is a non-fiction writer, photographer and designer whose guides to New Zealand's flora and fauna have established his reputation as one of the country's foremost writers of natural history for children and adults.Arriving in New Zealand from his native England in 1972, Crowe spent six months living in a cave. Perhaps there is a practical reason for the subject of his first book, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand (1981).
Eleven of Crowe's books have been finalists for New Zealand's national children's book awards, and he won major awards four times: Which Native Forest Plant won the non-fiction section of the AIM Children's Book Awards in 1995, The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees won the non-fiction section of the NZLIA Book Awards in 1998, Which New Zealand Insect? won the non-fiction section of the NZLIA Book Awards in 2003; and The Dalai Lama Story won the Ashton Wylie Unpublished Manuscript Award in 2005.
His books, many of which he designs and illustrates himself, show a strong interest in visual language. The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees was a finalist in the GP Book Design Awards in 1998.
Among his more than 40 titles are the popular "Which...?" series of identification guides, which began with Which Native Tree? (1992). Many of these use a unique (and appropriately-named) "tree diagram" format to help the reader identify plants quickly and simply by looking at their leaves, bark or flowers.
Crowe's other books include a series of Mini Guides, Life-Size Guides, and Nature Flip Guides. His text, photographs and artwork have also appeared on posters and in journals including the School Journal, NZ Listener, On Holiday, New Zealand Geographic and Geo.
His range of books and other publications make New Zealand's natural history accessible to beginners of any age. Pat Dale writes of The Life Size Guide to Insects: "There is an element of genius in the way Andrew Crowe has put this book together. Many a distracted teacher, parent or gardener, and many an inquiring child, will come upon it with cries of joy and sobs of gratitude."
Which New Zealand Bird? was shortlisted in the 2002 Montana New Zealand Book Awards
(KC.)
Andrew Crowe's titles are:
Native Edible Plants (Collins 1981; Hodders 1990; Godwit 1997; Penguin 2004)
The Parks & Woodlands of London (Fourth Estate, London, 1987)
Wild Stories series
A Kiwi Has No Wings (Reed, 1997 & Longman Paul, 1988)
Where Does the Tui Go? (Reed, 1997 & Longman Paul, 1988)
When the Tuatara Came (Reed, 1997 & Longman Paul, 1988)
Archey's Frog (Reed, 1997 & Longman Paul, 1988)
When the Morepork Calls (Reed, 1997)
Saddleback Rescue (Reed, 1997)
Takahe: Lost and Found (Reed, 1997)
Kereru: New Zealand Pigeon (Reed, 1997)
Patterns in Nature series (published also in Māori)
A Rainbow in the Forest (Longman Paul, 1990)
Some Leaves Are Like Your Hands (Longman Paul, 1990)
A Weta Has Six Legs (Longman Paul, 1990)
How Long is the Huhu? (Longman Paul, 1990)
All Kinds of Animals (Longman Paul, 1990)
Ngā Tauira Taiao series (Māori translation of Patterns in Nature)
He Uenuku Kei Roto I Te Ngahere (Longman Paul, 1991)
He Rite Ētahi Rau Ki Ōu Ringaringa (Longman Paul, 1991)
E Ono Ngā Waewae O Te Wētā (Longman Paul, 1991)
E Hia Te Roa O Te Tātaka? (Longman Paul, 1991)
Ngā Tū Āhua Kararehe Katoa (Longman Paul, 1991)
Educational Poster set (series of three plant ID posters with booklet)
Which Plant? (Longman Paul, 1991)
Which? series
Which Native Tree? (Penguin, 1992)
Which Native Fern? (Penguin, 1994)
Which Native Forest Plant? (Penguin, 1994)
Which Coastal Plant? (Penguin, 1995)
Which Seashell? (Penguin, 1999)
Which New Zealand Bird? (Penguin, 2001)
Which New Zealand Insect? (Penguin, 2002)
Which Native Plant Can I Grow Here? (Penguin, 2004) (previously published by Penguin in 1997 as The QuickFind Guide to Growing Native Plants)
Which New Zealand Spider? (Penguin, 2007)
Mini Guide series
New Zealand Native Trees (Penguin, 1997)
New Zealand Native Ferns (Penguin, 1997)
New Zealand Native Forest Plants (Penguin, 1997)
New Zealand Coastal Plants (Penguin, 1997)
New Zealand Land Birds (Penguin, 2007)
Identification of New Zealand Land Birds (Penguin, 2007)
Life-Size Guide series
The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees (Penguin, 1997)
The Life-Size Guide to Insects (Penguin, 1999)
The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers (Penguin, 2003)
The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach (Penguin, 2004)
The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns (Penguin, 2004)
Nature Flip Guide series
Native Trees (Penguin, 1998)
Seashells (Penguin, 1998)
Insects (Penguin, 2000)
New Zealand Birds (Penguin, 2001)
Wildflowers (Penguin, 2004)
Other children’s books
Nature's Alphabet (Penguin, 1998)
Other teen/young adult books
Earthkids (Penguin, 1992)
The Dalai Lama Story - The Making of a World Leader (Longacre Press, 2007)
Awards (21x finalist)
Finalist 1993 AIM Children's Book Awards: Earthkids
Finalist 1995 AIM Children's Book Awards: Which Native Fern?
Winner 1995 AIM Children's Book Awards: Which Native Forest Plant?
Finalist 1996 NZLIA Book Awards: Which Coastal Plant?
Finalist 1998 NZPost Children's Book Awards: The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees
Finalist 1998 GP Print Book Design Awards: The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees
Winner 1998 NZLIA Book Awards: The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees
Finalist 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: Nature's Alphabet
Finalist 2000 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: The Life-Size Guide to Insects
Finalist 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: Which New Zealand Bird?
Finalist 2002 Montana Book Awards: Which New Zealand Bird?
Finalist 2003 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: Which New Zealand Insect?
Finalist 2003 Montana Book Awards: Which New Zealand Insect?
Winner 2003 NZLIA (Elsie Locke) Book Award: Which New Zealand Insect?
Finalist 2004 NZPost Children's Book Awards: The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers
Finalist 2004 NZLIA (Elsie Locke) Book Award: The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers
Finalist 2005 NZPost Children's Book Awards: The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach
Finalist 2005 NZLIA (Elsie Locke) Book Award: The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach
Winner 2005 Ashton Wylie Unpublished Manuscript Award: The Dalai Lama Story
Finalist 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Land Birds and Which New Zealand Spider?
Additional Information
In 2005 Crowe's The Dalai Lama Story won the $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award.
The Dalai Lama Story – The Making of a World Leader was published, with a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, by Longacre Press (Dunedin) to coincide with His Holiness' visit to New Zealand in June 2007.
The Dalai Lama's early life, from his childhood in the world's largest palace, to his friendship with Austrian POW Heinrich Harrer, to his escape through the Himalaya to India, is vividly told in this biography. The biography is pitched at younger readers. For more details, click on this Link for The Dalai Lama Story – The Making of a World Leader.
Kids' Authors' Pictures and Information
Where do you live?
These days, I seem to be travelling a lot, sometimes living in my van with my laptop, cameras and sleeping bag, so I can visit wild places easily. At times, I am living on a boat sailing across remote parts of the Pacific Ocean; at other times in Tibet or India. These days, I also have a P.O. Box and a house in rural New Zealand where I keep all my reference books and some spare clothes.
What books do you read?
I read mostly about the project I happen to be working on at the time. I love ferreting out fascinating information for my books and for a fresh perspective.
Who is your favourite author?
I have no particular favourite. I am interested more in the subjects they write about, particularly the natural world and philosophy. I read mostly factual books.
How do you think up your ideas?
I start from “where the juice is”. What moves me? What intrigues me? What book would I most like to have? If it doesn’t exist, I’ll have fun making it. I keep my reader in mind: will they be interested and how can I make it fun for them to come along my journey with me?
What is the best thing about being an author?
The best thing is being able to follow my instinct and remain true to my values. I appreciate having flexibility in when and where I work and I’m always delving into something new. I never get bored.
Some questions from primary students
What sort of pets do you have?
I have no pets. I enjoy animals in their natural environment but I sometimes look after other people’ dogs. I love the way they are always excited to go walking.
What is your favourite colour/food/movie/game?
My favourite colour is purple.
Mangoes are my favourite food.
Microcosmos is my favourite movie.
I like co-operative games (games where you help each other rather than compete)
What is the most fun thing about being an author?
The most fun thing is holding the book in my hand and knowing I’ve put my best into it
How do you make books?
I make them by thinking about the bit that be most fun to do next and getting on with it. Before you know, it’s all done.
Where do you go for your holidays?
My hobby is my work so work and holidays are not really that different. I like to go to quiet places, see different cultures. I like to be with my friends of all ages.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I took photos of the teachers when they weren’t looking (I got some great shots!).
Some questions from secondary students
How did you get started?
When I got lost in the bush I realised how little I knew about nature and survival. I thought I’d learn and one thing led to another. I wrote a book on the edible native plants of New Zealand and I found this beat the other jobs I’d done.
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
I would say that like anything, writing comes with practice. Getting rejected is part of the job and you haveto be driven by your own vision that you have something to say. With that drive comes the ability to ‘say’ it – eventually.
Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?
Yes, it’s almost impossible to start with. Almost all writers in New Zealand need another job to live from but it can be done if you keep on task. I think it is important not to “sell out” (compromise your values)but to remain true to your vision
What were you like as a teenager?
I think most of what I was learning in school was pushing me away from pursuing the things I loved. Perhaps teaching and schools are better now. I loved to draw and process the family’s photos in my darkroom. I spent a lot of time alone, inventing things. I dreamed of escape from home and school.
Is there anything else you could tell children about yourself?
When New Zealand Immigration wouldn’t let me emigrate to here from England, I decided I’d get on a yacht, sail here, then jump ship, and swim ashore at night. The journey would take at least a year and I headed first to France. The sea grew so rough that the storm forced us across the Bay of Biscay with waves rising higher than the mast. Waves broke over us, smashing much of the boat’s contents and barrelling through the fog came huge freighters, and they were within metres of smashing our flimsy boat to smithereens. We made it to Gibraltar and by then New Zealand Immigration, who knew nothing of my wicked plan, sent a message to say they’d let me in. I hopped on a plane and arrived smiling, my passport in my outstretched hand. I’ve been writing books ever since about how special New Zealand is to me.
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