The Potato People

Pamela Allen is a phenomenon in the world of children’s literature. Since her first publication in 1980, her picture books have enchanted generations of children around the world, and have garnered a glittering array of awards and commendations including six Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, two New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards, an International Board on Books for Young People Diploma for Illustration, the Margaret Mahy Medal, New Zealand’s most prestigious award for children’s literature, and The Gaylene Gordon Award for a Much Loved Book from the Children’s Literature Foundation of New Zealand. In 2024, Pamela was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to literature as an author.

Pamela’s books are full of the music of language; they are ‘fragments of theatre’, designed to be read aloud and shared between an adult and a child. Patch Theatre Company of Adelaide has created three theatrical performances from a selection of Pamela’s books. These have toured throughout Australia and New Zealand, performing to packed houses.

‘From Pamela Allen’s first publication in 1980 it was clear that here was a creator of picture books with all the glow, gesture, din and dance to capture the attention, engage the imagination, teach, show, tickle and excite small children.’ Meg Sorensen, Australian Book Review

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