Ursula Dubosarsky black and white headshot 26

Ursula Dubosarsky (born ''Ursula Coleman''; 1961 in Sydney) is an Australian writer of fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults, whose work is characterised by a child's vision and comic voice of both clarity and ambiguity. She has won nine national literary prizes, including five

New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, t ...

, more than any other writer in the Awards' 30-year history. She was appointed the Australian Children's Laureate for 2020–2021. She is the author of over 61 illustrated books and novels, which have been translated into 14 languages. She has also written three non-fiction "Word Spy" books for children, illustrated by Tohby Riddle, about language, grammar and etymology. These books have won the

New South Wales Premier's Literary Award The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, t ...

, the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award and the Junior Judges' Award. In the United States and Canada ''The Word Spy'' is published under the title ''The Word Snoop.'' Her novel ''The Red Shoe'' is included in '' 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up'' and is one of 200 significant works of Australian literature in the Copyright Agency's Reading Australia program. In 2014, the annual

Christmas Window A Christmas window is a special window display prepared for the Christmas shopping season at department stores and other retailers. Some retailers around the world have become noted for their Christmas window displays, with some becoming touri ...

s of the department store David Jones were based on her story '' Reindeer's Christmas Surprise, '' and her book ''Too Many Elephants In this House'', illustrated by Andrew Joyner, was chosen for the National Simultaneous Storytime. In 2018 the

National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...

published ''Midnight at the Library'', illustrated by

Ron Brooks Ron Brooks (born October 16, 1988) is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Di ...

, to celebrate the Library's 50-year anniversary. In 2019 a study room at Marrickville Library was named in honour of her novel ''The Blue Cat''. Three of her books have been adapted for theatre: ''The Red Shoe'', ''The Terrible Plop'' and ''Too Many Elephants in This House''. She is the third child of

Peter Coleman William Peter Coleman (15 December 1928 – 31 March 2019) was an Australian writer and politician. A widely published journalist for over 60 years, he was editor of '' The Bulletin'' (1964–1967) and of '' Quadrant'' for 20 years, and publi ...

and

Verna Susannah Coleman Verna Susannah Coleman (née Scott; born 13 September 1925 – 4 November 2011) was an Australian biographer, whose work concentrated on neglected aspects of controversial expatriate literary and political figures. Life and work Verna Susann ...

. She was named after the character of Ursula Brangwen in the 1915 novel ''

The Rainbow ''The Rainbow'' is a novel by British author D. H. Lawrence, first published by Methuen & Co. in 1915. It follows three generations of the Brangwen family living in Nottinghamshire, focusing particularly on the individual's struggle to growth ...

'' by

D.H. Lawrence David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...

. She attended Lindfield, Hunter's Hill and Chatswood Primary Schools,

SCEGGS Darlinghurst , motto_translation = Let Your Light Shine , established = , type = Independent single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school , denomination = Anglicanism , oversight = , educational_authority = New South Wales Departme ...

, then studied at Sydney University and later Macquarie University. She is an Honorary Associate in the Department of English at Macquarie University and has taught courses in children's literature at Sydney University and the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a currently a member of the Library Council of New South Wales.

Awards

International Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominee 2015

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award ( sv, Litteraturpriset till Astrid Lindgrens minne) is an international children's literary award established by the Swedish government in 2002 to honour the Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren (1907– ...

Nominee 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Luchs (Lynx ) Award for Children's Literature July 2012 for ''The Golden Day'' (in German ''Nicht Jetz, niemals'')

International Board on Books for Young People The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is an international non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. The headquarters of the IBBY are located in Basel, Switzerland. IBBY history In 1952, Jella Lepm ...

(IBBY) Honour Book List 2014 for ''The Golden Day''

YALSA The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of l ...

(Division of the American Library Association) Excellence in Non-fiction for Young Adults Nominee 2010 for '' Word Snoop''

International Youth Library The International Youth Library (IYL) (, IJB) in Munich is a library that specializes in the collection of children and youth literature from around the world in order to make them available to the public, focusing on the international community. ...

White Ravens 1996 for ''The First Book of Samuel''; 2007 for ''The Red Shoe''; and 2019 for ''Midnight at the Library''. Australian * 2020–2021 – Australian Children's Laureate * 2013 – Inducted into Speech Pathology Australia's Hall of Fame for her contribution to children's literature * 2011 – Children's Book of the Year Award: Eve Pownall Award for Information Books for ''The Return of the Word Spy'' with illustrator Tohby Riddle * 2009 –

, Patricia Wrightson Prize for Young People's Literature for ''The Word Spy'' with illustrator Tohby Riddle * 2009 – Junior Judges Project, Children's Book Council of Australia, Winner for ''The Word Spy'' with illustrator Tohby Riddle * 2009 – Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA), Picture Book Winner for ''Rex'' with illustrator David Mackintosh * 2007 –

, Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature for ''The Red Shoe'' * 2006 – Queensland Premier's Literary Award, Young Adult Book Award for ''The Red Shoe'' * 2006 –

, Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature for ''Theodora's Gift'' * 2006 –

Victorian Premier's Literary Award The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Government with the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry. As of 2013, it is reportedly Australia's richest literary p ...

, Prize for Young Adult Literature for ''Theodora's Gift'' * 2001 – Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, Award for Children's Literature for ''Abyssinia'' * 1995 –

, Ethnic Affairs Commission Award for ''The First Book of Samuel'' * 1994 –

, Ethel Turner Prize for Children's literature for ''The White Guinea Pig'' * 1994 –

, Alan Garner Prize for Children's Literature for ''The White Guinea Pig''

Theatrical productions

* ''Too Many Elephants in This House'' was staged by the

NIDA Nida or NIDA may refer to: People * Nida Allam (born 1993), American politician * Nida Fazli (1938–2016), Indian Hindi and Urdu poet and lyricist * Nida Eliz Üstündağ (born 1996), Turkish female swimmer * Eugene Nida (1914–2011), American l ...

, the National Institute of Dramatic Art. * ''The Red Shoe'' was staged by the Jigsaw Theatre. *''Plop!'', a musical version of ''The Terrible Plop'' was staged by the

Windmill Theatre The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude '' tableaux vivants'', which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians o ...

in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, Sydney, regional Victoria, Queensland and Darwin. ''Plop!'' had season in the United States in 2012, including three weeks at the

New Victory Theater The New Victory Theater is a theater at 209 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, near Times Square. Built in 1900 as the Republic Theatre (also Theatre Republic), it was designed by Albert Westover an ...

in New York.

Bibliography

* ''Maisie and the Pinny Gig'' (1989) illustrated by Roberta Landers * ''High Hopes'' (1990) * ''Zizzy Zing'' (1991) * ''The Last Week in December'' (1993) * ''The White Guinea-Pig'' (1994) * ''The First Book of Samuel'' (1995) * ''Bruno and Crumhorn'' (1996) * ''Black Sails, White Sails'' (1997) * ''The Strange Adventures of Isador Brown'' (1998) illustrated by Paty Marshall-Stace * ''My Father Is Not a Comedian!'' (1999) * ''Honey and Bear'' (1999) illustrated by

* ''The Even Stranger Adventures of Isador Brown'' (2000) illustrated by Paty Marshall-Stace * ''The Game of the Goose'' (2000) illustrated by John Winch * ''The Two Gorillas'' (2000) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''Fairy Bread'' (2001) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''Abyssinia'' (2001) * ''The Magic Wand'' (2002) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''Special Days with Honey and Bear'' (2002) illustrated by

* ''Isador Brown's Strangest Adventures of All'' (2003) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''How To Be a Great Detective'' (2004) * ''Rex'' (2005) illustrated by David Mackintosh * ''Theodora's Gift'' (2005) * ''The Puppet Show'' (2006) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''The Red Shoe'' (2006) * ''The Word Spy'' (2008) illustrated by Tohby Riddle Published in the United States as ''The Word Snoop'' (2009) * ''Jerry'' (2008) illustrated by

Patricia Mullins Patricia Mullins (born 1952) is a children's book illustrator. Some of Mullins' illustrations are in the collection of the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Books Written and illustrated by Patricia Mullins *''A Crash of Rhinos: Fun With C ...

* ''Tibby's Leaf'' (2009) illustrated by Peter Bray * ''The Terrible Plop'' (2009) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''The Cubby House'' (2009) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''The Deep End'' (2010) illustrated by Mitch Vane * ''The Return of the Word Spy'' (2010) illustrated by Tohby Riddle * ''The Honey and Bear Stories'' (2010) illustrated by

* ''Free: Stories about Human Rights'' (2010) (contributor) Amnesty International/Walker Books UK * '' The Golden Day'' (2011) * ''The Carousel'' (2011) illustrated by Walter di Qual * ''The Word Spy Activity Book'' (2012) illustrated by Tohby Riddle * ''Too Many Elephants in This House'' (2012) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Perplexing Pineapple'' (2013) illustrated by

Terry Denton Terry Denton (born 26 July 1950) is an Australian illustrator and author. He is married and has three children. He is the second youngest of five boys and was born and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria. Denton now lives in Mornington, Victoria. Den ...

* ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Looming Lamplight'' (2013) illustrated by

* ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Missing Mongoose'' (2013) illustrated by

* ''Violet Vanishes'' (2013) illustrated by Annie White * ''Rory Rides'' (2013) illustrated by Annie White * ''Ethan Eats'' (2013) illustrated by Annie White * ''Ava Adds'' (2013) illustrated by Annie White * Introduction to ''Lillypilly Hill'' (2013) Eleanor Spence Text Classics * ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Dismal Daffodil'' (2014) illustrated by

* ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Quivering Quavers'' (2014) illustrated by

* ''The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Talkative Tombstone'' (2014) illustrated by

* ''Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome'' (2014) illustrated by David Allan * ''The Great War: Stories inspired by objects from the First World War'' (2014) (contributor) Walker Books UK * ''Tim and Ed'' (2014) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''Reindeer's Christmas Surprise'' (2014) illustrated by Sue de Gennaro * ''One Little Goat'' (2017) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''The Blue Cat'' (2017) * ''Brindabella'' (2018) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''Leaf Stone Beetle'' (2018) illustrated by Gaye Chapman * ''Midnight at the Library'' (2018) illustrated by

* ''The Boy Who Could Fly and other magical plays for children'' (2019) illustrated by Amy Golbach * ''Ask Hercules Quick'' (2019) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''Pierre's Not There'' (2020) illustrated by

Christopher Nielsen Christopher Nielsen (born 20 April 1963 in Oslo) is a Norwegian comics artist. He is especially known for his subcultural depictions. Nielsen got his first comics printed in 1980 after entering a competition in the Norwegian anarchist magazin ...

* ''The March of the Ants'' (2021) illustrated by Tohby Riddle * ''The Magnificent Hercules Quick'' (2021) illustrated by Andrew Joyner * ''Mary and Marcus and the Crazy Dance'' (2022) illustrated by Andrew Joyner

Critical studies, reviews and biography

* Review of ''The Golden Day''.

References

* ''The Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English'' (2001) edited by Victor Watson * ''The Oxford Companion to Australian Children's Literature'' (1993) edited by Stella Lees and Pam Macintyre * ''1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up'' (2009) edited by Julia Eccleshore Cassell Illustrated, London.

External links

*
Official Website

Profile
at publisher Penguin Books Australia
The Golden Day
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dubosarsky, Ursula 1961 births Living people Australian women novelists Australian children's writers University of Sydney alumni 20th-century Australian novelists 20th-century Australian women writers People educated at Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School Writers from Sydney