# Pamela Allen

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New Zealand children's writer and illustrator

For the American civil rights and women's liberation activist (born 1943), see [Chude Pam Allen](/source/Chude_Pam_Allen).

Pamela Allen MNZM AM Born Pamela Kay Griffiths (1934-04-03) 3 April 1934 (age 92) Devonport, New Zealand Occupation Writer and illustrator Education Elam School of Fine Arts Period 1980–present Genre Children's picture books

**Pamela Kay Allen** [MNZM](/source/Member_of_the_New_Zealand_Order_of_Merit) [AM](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_Australia) (née **Griffiths**; born 3 April 1934) is a New Zealand children's writer and illustrator. She has published over 50 picture books since 1980. Sales of her books have exceeded five million copies.

## Early life and family

Born in the [Auckland](/source/Auckland) suburb of [Devonport](/source/Devonport%2C_New_Zealand) in 1934 to Esma Eileen (née Griffith) and William Ewart Griffiths,[1][2] Allen studied at [St Cuthbert's College](/source/St_Cuthbert's_College%2C_Auckland),[3] then the [Elam School of Fine Arts](/source/Elam_School_of_Fine_Arts) at the [University of Auckland](/source/University_of_Auckland), from where she graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 1955.[4] She then worked as a secondary school art teacher.[5] She married sculptor [Jim Allen](/source/Jim_Allen_(artist)) in 1964.[6] They moved to [Sydney](/source/Sydney) in about 1977,[7] and after about 30 years returned to live in Auckland, New Zealand.[8][9][10]

## Writing career

Allen published her first book, *Mr Archimedes' Bath*, in 1980.[5] Since then she has written and illustrated more than 50 picture books for children.[11]

She has won or been shortlisted for many awards as both a writer and illustrator. She won the [Children's Book Council of Australia](/source/Children's_Book_Council_of_Australia)'s [Children's Picture Book of The Year Award](/source/Children's_Book_of_the_Year_Award%3A_Picture_Book) in 1983 for *Who Sank the Boat?*[5] and 1984 for *Bertie and the Bear*,[5] and has been shortlisted for the same award on five other occasions.[12] She twice won the Ethel Turner Prize in the [New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards](/source/New_South_Wales_Premier's_Literary_Awards), in 1980 for *Mr Archimedes' Bath*[5] and 1983 for *Who Sank the Boat?*.[13]

Allen was awarded the [International Board on Books for Young People](/source/International_Board_on_Books_for_Young_People) honour diploma for illustration, for *Who Sank the Boat?*, in 1984.[14]

In 1986, she received the [Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa](/source/LIANZA) Russell Clark Illustration Award for her illustrations in *[A Lion in the Night](/source/A_Lion_in_the_Night)*.[15]

In 2001, *Who Sank The Boat?*, first published in 1982, won the Gaelyn Gordon Award—given to the author of a New Zealand children's book that has been a favourite with children over a long period of time—from the New Zealand Book Council.[12][16]

Allen returned to live in Auckland and in 2004 she won the [Margaret Mahy Medal](/source/Margaret_Mahy_Medal), New Zealand's top children's literature prize.[12][17] In the [2005 New Year Honours](/source/2005_New_Year_Honours_(New_Zealand)), she was appointed a [Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit](/source/New_Zealand_Order_of_Merit), for services to children's literature.[18]

Eight of her books have been adapted for the stage by [Patch Theatre Company](/source/Patch_Theatre_Company) and performed at the [Sydney Opera House](/source/Sydney_Opera_House).[19]

Allen's daughter, Ruth Allen, a [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne)-based [glass sculptor](/source/Studio_glass),[7][19] was commissioned by [Penguin Australia](/source/Penguin_Books) in 2008 to create an artwork to celebrate sales of over five million copies of Allen's books.[20]

Allen was appointed a [Member of the Order of Australia](/source/Order_of_Australia) in the [2024 Australia Day Honours](/source/2024_Australia_Day_Honours) for her "significant service to literature as an author".[21]

An exhibition of Allen's work titled *The Curious World of Pamela Allen* opened at the [State Library of New South Wales](/source/State_Library_of_New_South_Wales) in September 2025. It is scheduled to run until 2027.[11]

## Bibliography

- [Children's literature portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Children%27s_literature)

- *Mr Archimedes' Bath* (1980)

- *Who Sank the Boat?* (1982)

- *Bertie and the Bear* (1983)

- *[A Lion in the Night](/source/A_Lion_in_the_Night)* (1985)

- *Herbert and Harry* (1986)

- *Mr McGee* (1987)

- *Fancy That!* (1988)

- *I Wish I Had A Pirate Suit* (1989)

- *My Cat Maisie* (1990)

- *Black Dog* (1991)

- *[Belinda](/source/Belinda_(Allen_book))* (1992)

- *Mr McGee Goes to Sea* (1992)

- *Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam* (1993)

- *Alexander's Outing* (1993)

- *[Clippity-Clop](/source/Clippity-Clop)* (1994)

- *Waddle Giggle Gargle* (1996)

- *The Bear's Lunch* (1997)

- *Mr McGee and the Biting Flea* (1998)

- *Mr McGee and the Perfect Nest* (1999)

- *The Pear in the Pear Tree* (1999)

- *Inside Mary Elizabeth's House* (2000)

- *Can You Keep a Secret?* (2000)

- *Brown Bread and Honey* (2001)

- *The Potato People* (2001)

- *Daisy All-Sorts* (2002)

- *[Cuthbert's Babies](/source/Cuthbert's_Babies)* (2003)

- *Grandpa and Thomas* (2003)

- *Mr McGee and the Big Bag of Bread* (2004)

- *Where's the Gold?* (2005)

- *Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella* (2006)

- *Share Said the Rooster* (2006)

- *Shhh! Little Mouse* (2007)

- *My First 123* (2007)

- *Is Your Grandmother a Goanna?* (2007)

- *My First ABC* (2008)

- *Felix* (2008)

- *The Toymaker and the Bird* (2009)

- *Hetty's Day Out* (2010)

- *Nana’s Colours* (2011)

- *My Buggy Book of Animals* (2011)

- *The Little Old Man Who Looked Up at the Moon* (2012)

- *Mr McGee and the Elephants* (2012)

- *Bertie* (2013)

- *Fat Ferdie* (2013)

- *One Sunday* (2014)

- *The Man With Messy Hair* (2015)

- *The Big Fish* (2016)

- *A Bag and A Bird* (2017)

- *Mr McGee and His Hat* (2024)

- *Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!* (2025)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Births"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19340405.2.2.1). *The New Zealand Herald*. 5 April 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Interview with Pamela Allen"](http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/kids/childrensauthors/pamelaallen.asp). Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Old Girls' Honours"](https://oldgirls.stcuthberts.school.nz/old-girls-honours.html). 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["NZ university graduates 1870–1961"](http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university10.html). Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dromkeen_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dromkeen_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Dromkeen_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Dromkeen_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Dromkeen_5-4) Scobie, Susan, ed. (1997). *The Dromkeen Book of Australian Children's Illustrators*. Scholastic Australia. pp. 14–16. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1863886958](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1863886958).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Pamela Allen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084922/http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000000511,00.html). Penguin Random House. Archived from [the original](http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000000511,00.html) on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SMH_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SMH_7-1) Wilder, Gabriel (11 August 2012). ["Message in a bottle"](http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/message-in-a-bottle-20120809-23v81.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Pamela Allen on writing for children"](http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandarts/pamela-allen-on-writing-for-children/5066914). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Interview with Pamela Allen"](http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/pamela-allen/). *christchurchcitylibraries.com/*. Christchurch City Libraries. 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Allen Pamela"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160605024517/http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Allen,%20Pamela). *bookcouncil.org.nz*. New Zealand Book Council. Archived from [the original](http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Allen,%20Pamela) on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-smh2025_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-smh2025_11-1) Power, Julie (21 September 2025). ["'Not like your normal storybook': The children's author, 91, still sparking young imaginations"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/not-like-your-normal-storybook-the-children-s-author-91-still-sparking-young-imaginations-20250915-p5mv6d.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NZBC_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NZBC_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NZBC_12-2) ["Allen, Pamela"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195945/http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/allenpamela.html). New Zealand Book Council. Archived from [the original](http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/allenpamela.html) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Storylines_13-0)** ["Pamela Allen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190830000304/https://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+A-C/Pamela+Allen.html). Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust. Archived from [the original](http://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+A-C/Pamela+Allen.html) on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["About Pamela Allen"](https://www.qbd.com.au/author/pamela-allen/). QBD The Bookshop. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["LIANZA Russell Clark Illustration Award Recipients"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160401024749/http://www.lianza.org.nz/lianza-russell-clark-illustration-award-recipients). *lianza.org.nz*. LIANZA. Archived from [the original](http://www.lianza.org.nz/lianza-russell-clark-illustration-award-recipients) on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Awards and grants"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140919201812/http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Readers/About%20NZ%20Awards). New Zealand Book Council. Archived from [the original](http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Readers/About%20NZ%20Awards) on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Allen wins Margaret Mahy children's literature award"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3545013). *The New Zealand Herald*. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["New Year honours list 2005"](https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2005). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Humanities_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Humanities_19-1) Thomas-Zucker, Julie (19 February 2012). ["Biography Pamela Allen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084656/http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/biography-pamela-allen-8353/). Humanities 360. Archived from [the original](http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/biography-pamela-allen-8353/) on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_20-0)** ["The Boat"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141018062742/http://ruthallen.com.au/art/artwork/project/the-boat/). Ruth Allen Glass Sculptor. Archived from [the original](http://ruthallen.com.au/art/artwork/project/the-boat/) on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Mrs Pamela Kay Allen"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/3017330). *Australian Honours Search Facility*. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

## Further reading

- Morley, Sarah (Spring 2020). ["Mr Archimedes MOVES IN"](https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/5570_slmagspring20_web_new.pdf) (PDF). *SL Magazine*. **13** (3). State Library of New South Wales: 48–51.

## External links

- [Pamela Allen pictorial material and papers](https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nQRe4ed1), 1974-2016, manuscripts, audio cassettes, video recordings, etchings and illustrations, State Library of New South Wales.

v t e Winners of the Margaret Mahy Award 1991 Margaret Mahy 1992 Dorothy Butler 1993 Joy Cowley 1994 Betty Gilderdale 1995 Elsie Locke 1996 Tessa Duder 1997 Ann Mallinson 1998 William Taylor 1999 Lynley Dodd 2000 Gavin Bishop 2001 Sherryl Jordan 2002 Maurice Gee 2003 Jack Lasenby 2004 Pamela Allen 2005 David Hill 2006 Robyn Belton 2007 Ken Catran 2008 Wayne Mills 2009 Andrew Crowe 2010 Barbara Larson 2011 Kate De Goldi 2012 Fleur Beale 2013 Bill Nagelkerke 2014 David Elliot 2015 Jill Eggleton 2016 Barbara Else 2017 Des Hunt 2018 Janice Marriott 2019 Mandy Hager 2020 Maria Gill 2021 Julia Marshall 2022 Diana Noonan

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Czech Republic Netherlands Korea Catalonia People Trove Other IdRef SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pamela Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Allen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Allen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.