New Zealand Writers
KINNAIRD, Ross
Uses humour to motivate kids to read.
KINNAIRD, Ross (1954- ) is an illustrator.Kinnaird was born and raised in Hamilton. He was educated in Auckland and lived in both Sydney and Hong Kong before returning to live in New Zealand.
The first book Kinnaird illustrated was Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms? (2002) which won the Children’s Choice award at the 2003 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. Kinnaird has since illustrated One Chocolate Fish: A New Zealand Counting Book (2002), Albert (2003), Getting Board (2003), Doggy Doo on My Shoe (2004) and The Biggest Number in the Universe (Scholastic, 2004).
Ross Kinnaird lives in Auckland and participates in our Writers in Schools programme.
(LK)
Updated Information
Ross Kinnaird illustrated Where do flies go in winter? written by Dawn McMillan (Penguin Books, 2005).
Kinnaird and McMillan also worked together on Seagull Sid and the naughty things his seagulls did! (Reed Publishing, 2005). Sid has decided it's time for seagulls to reclaim the beaches so, together with his feathered friends, he hatches a cunning plan to scare off the messy human visitors.
Kinnaird illustrated two books by William Taylor in 2005; Gladys the Goat (Penguin Books), which is part of the Kiwi Bites series and Albert the Cat (Puffin).
In 2005 he also illustrated I Know About Babies by Rochelle Neale (Mallinson Rendel) and The Really Sticky Grubby Lolly by Yvonne Marie Dudman (Reed Books).
Ross Kinnaird teamed up with Julie Leibrich on Nesta and the Missing Zero (Scholastic, 2006).
Wooly Wally (Reed, 2006) was written by Dawn McMillan.
In 2007, his collaboration with writer Sharon Holt, It’s True! You Can Make Your Own Jokes, was nominated as a finalist in the non-fiction category of the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young People. This book is also on the Storylines 2007 Notable Books list.
Cindy and the lost jandal (Scholastic) will be in stores early in 2009, and was written by Chris Gurney.
Ross Kinnaird is available to talk to 5-10 year old students. He would prefer to talk to one or two classes together and he is able to run workshops. He is prepared to travel out of town for Writers in Schools visits.
KAPAI – Kids' Authors' Pictures and Information
General Questions
Where do you live?
Birkenhead, Auckland
What sorts of books do you like to read?
Children’s book and travel books
Who is your favourite author?
Spike Milligan
How do you think up your ideas?
I sit in a hot bath of lemonade with a frozen chicken on my head.
What is the best thing about being an author?
I can visit schools and talk about illustrating, and make kids laugh and learn at the same time.
Some Questions from Primary School Students
What sorts of pets do you have?
I have tropical fish, a cat called Leo and some inanga in a tank (whitebait).
What is your favourite colour?
All colours
What is your favourite movie?
Shrek
What is your favourite game?
Trivial pursuits
What is the most fun thing about being an author?
Being able to visit schools to talk about illustrating and drawing pictures.
How do you make books?
First get a really good story, and then draw really good pictures that match the story.
Where do you like to go on your holidays?
Any beach
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
Wagged classes (maths)
Some Questions for Secondary School Students
How did you get started?
Graphic design at Auckland Institute of Technology
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
My teachers and the people around me who could draw better than I could.
What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
Feel the force Luke! And be persistent!
Is it difficult making a living as an illustrator in New Zealand?
The market is very small – to live as an illustrator you need to have many different talents.
What were you like as a teenager?
I was a geek!
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your life?
I have visited Australia, England, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Israel, Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, China, Macao, Tibet, Thailand, India and Burma.
I was once on the roof of the Jo Khang – the holiest temple in Tibet – with monk all around holding yak butter lamps. In the distance were snowy mountains.
I was once picked on at a comedy concert and had to stand up on stage in the town hall – I felt like an idiot.
