New Zealand Writers

KERR, Bob

The Paper War examines political issues concerning those working a paper-run.

• From The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature
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Author entry from The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature, edited by Roger Robinson and Nelson Wattie (1998). About the Companion entries View list of Companion contributors

KERR, Bob (1951– ), writes and illustrates children’s books. Born in Wellington (where he now lives), he grew up there and in Tokoroa, graduated DipFA(Hons) from Auckland University and worked as a union organiser and freelance illustrator. He illustrated two picture books, Lucy’s Big Plan (1977) and Lucy Loops the Loop (1979), before collaborating with Stephen Ballantyne in the successful adventures of Terry Teo: Terry and the Gunrunners (1982), later televised; Terry and the Yodelling Bull (1986); and Terry and the Last Moa (1990). These are satirically humorous variants on the models of Tintin or Astérix. Kerr’s own junior novel, The Optimist (1992), about sailing misadventures, won the 1993 Best First Children’s Book Award. The Paper War (1994) examines political issues concerning those working a paper-run. He also edited, with Linda Mitchell, For a Living (1991). DH

Updated Information

Recent titles for children written and illustrated by Bob Kerr include Mechanical Harry (Mallinson Rendel, 1996), and its sequel, Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle (Mallinson Rendel, 1999).

Kerr has also written a collection of short stories for 8 - 12 year olds, Strange Tales from the Mall (Mallinson Rendel, 1998), which was short-listed for the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards.

After the War (2000) was shortlisted in the 2001 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.