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Lynley Dodd
Photo Credit: © Bob Tulloch


Lynley Dodd graduated from the Elam School of Art in Auckland with a diploma in Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture. She went on to teach art before taking a break to start a family. She began to work as a freelance illustrator and collaborated with author Eve Sutton on My Cat Likes To Hide in Boxes. There was no looking back as Lynley went on to write and illustrate her own books for children. Exuberant artwork and bouncy rhymes come together perfectly in books like Slinky Malinki and Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. As well as being a visual delight, these are some of the most rewarding books for children and adults to read out loud. It comes as no surprise that, as a child, she adored Dr Seuss because of his 'crazy sounds and the fact that he took such liberties with the English language.' Other favourite authors included A A Milne and the fairy tales of The Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. Today, Lynley is a big fan of Quentin Blake 'because of his humour and very clever art work.'

Awards & recognition

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Awarded  •  1975  •  Esther Glen Medal for My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes with Eve Sutton

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1981  •  Prize for Illustrations for Druscilla

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1983  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

New Zealand Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1985  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Bone

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1986  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary Scattercat

New Zealand Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1987  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Wake Up, Bear

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1988  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1988  •  Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1990  •  Esther Glen Medal for Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet

AIM Children's Book Awards

Third place  •  1991  •  Picture Book of the Year for Slinky Malinki

AIM Children's Book Awards

Winner  •  1992  •  Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1993  •  Picture Book of the Year for The Minister's Cat ABC

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1994  •  Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Slinky Malinki, Open the Door

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1995  •  Picture Book of the Year Description5 for Schnitzel von Krumm's Basketwork

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1996  •  Picture Book of the Year for Sniff-Snuff-Snap!

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1997  •  Picture Book of the Year for Schnitzel von Krumm, Forget-Me-Not

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1998  •  Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary, Sit

Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal

Awarded  •  1999  •  for lifetime achievement and distinguished contribution to New Zealand’s children’s literature

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1999  •  Picture Book of the Year for Slinky Malinki Catflaps

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner  •  2000  •  Children's Choice Award for Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

Nielsen BookData Booksellers' Choice Award

Shortlisted  •  2000  •  Bookseller's Choice Award Description6 for Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

New Zealand Order of Merit

Awarded  •  2002  •  Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children's literature and book illustration

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  2002  •  Picture Book of the Year for Scarface Claw

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner  •  2005  •  Children's Choice Award for The Other Ark

Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book

Awarded  •  2006  •  for The Nickle Nackle Tree

Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato

Awarded  •  2009  •  Honorary Doctor of the University of Waikato

University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni Award

Awarded  •  2009  •  University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni Award

Storylines Notable Picture Book Award

Awarded  •  2013  •  for Slinky Malinki, Early Bird

Storylines Notable Picture Book Award

Awarded  •  2018  •  for Scarface Claw, Hold Tight!

More features

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QUIZ: Which classic picture book do you belong in?

Take this fun quiz to find out which classic picture book you belong in.

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Meet Slinky Malinki and friends!

Ever wanted to know a bit more about Slinky Malinki's friends? 

Video
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy: 40th Anniversary Edition

OUT NOW : https://www.penguin.com.au/books/hairy-maclary-from-donaldsons-dairy-9781776957019 Hairy Maclary is 40! To celebrate the raggedy rascal's birthday, this is a very special upsized hardback edition of Lynley Dodd's iconic first Hairy Maclary story.

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Read along with Puffin: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary's friends join him for a walk until, with a sudden yowl, a wail and a howl, they all run off. What could have caused such a scatter of paws? https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/hairy-maclary-from-donaldsons-dairy-9781776957019

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Hairy Maclary Lookalike Winners!

Check out the real life raggedy rascal's gang!

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Hairy Maclary 40th Anniversary Edition!

Hairy Maclary is 40! To celebrate the raggedy rascal's birthday, this is a very special upsized hardback edition of Lynley Dodd's iconic first Hairy Maclary story. A very special upsized hardback 40th birthday edition of Lynley Dodd's iconic first Hairy Maclary book, which introduces the famous Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy and his canine gang. https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/hairy-maclary-from-donaldsons-dairy-9781776957019

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Throw a Hairy Maclary Party!

Download everything you need to throw your own frolicking Hairy Maclary birthday party!

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We're on a search to find Hairy Maclary and his doggy friends!

Do you often hear that your dog is an exact match for Hairy Maclary or Muffin McLay?

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Summer Colouring In!

Looking for ways to keep kids entertained these holidays? Check out these printable colouring in sheets

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Hairy Maclary and Friends Off For A Walk colouring sheet

Explore the world of Hairy Maclary and his friends with 64 pages of rollicking, frolicking colouring fun! Download this delightful colouring sheet for a weekend activity.

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10 must read books for children under 5!

Filled with adventure, inspiration and humour, these books are sure to take little readers and their imaginations to new and fantastic places!

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Beyond Hairy Maclary

Hairy Maclary and his friends are known and loved all over the world. But how familiar are you with Dame Lynley Dodd's other creations? There are plenty to discover, and just like Hairy Maclary, they all feature Lynely's uniquely exuberant artwork and gorgeously readable rhymes! Here are some suggestions to get you started.

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Hairy Maclary’s new home

Dame Lynley Dodd’s lovable animal friends have some harbourside real estate.

Article
Hairy Maclary activity pack

Out of the gate and off for a walk went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy...

Article
Meet Hairy Maclary and his friends!

Meet the characters from the beloved children's series. 

Article
Q&A with Dame Lynley Dodd

Dame Lynley Dodd on what comes first, the stories or the illustrations, where her ideas come from and more! 

Article
A new colouring in page every day!

Parents: Click here for 10 minutes of peace. (You're welcome).

Article
Gift guide 2019: books for ages 3 -6

Give the gift of time to your little one and choose one of these gorgeous picture books to read together and treasure this Christmas.

Video
Read along with Puffin: Rumpus at the Vet by Lynley Dodd (read by Kyle Pryor)

The vet's waiting room is full of woeful animals. Hairy Maclary is minding his own bandages when he unintentionally sets chaos in motion . . .