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Happy 80th, Althea Brathwaite! (British nature writer/illustrator)

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leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:02:47 PM6/20/20
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She lives in Cambridge, England. Since 1967, she's worked on about 200 books.

One fictional series she wrote and illustrated was the "Desmond the Dinosaur" series.

She's also written job-hunting books for adults.





leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:07:01 PM6/20/20
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http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/49/childrens-books/articles/authorgraph/authorgraph-no-49-–-althea
(interview)

Excerpt:

...Althea is firmly convinced that children should not only be informed about their fears, problems and illnesses, but that they also want to know about them. On her frequent visits to schools and hospitals for handicapped children, she is constantly made aware of the children’s need to know They don’t always want to be cushioned from reality; they don’t always want to hide behind the fears -’no matter how well-intentioned’ - of their parents. But it is not only children directly affected by illness or disability that she has in mind. So-called ‘normal’ children without knowledge or understanding run the risk of developing harmful prejudices. By lifting the curtain and letting in a little light, the fears, mysteries, doubts can be dissolved. She recalls, when she was researching I Have a Mental Handicap, a conversation with a child who, understanding at last, exclaimed triumphantly: ‘Oh! - so it’s physical handicap below the glasses, and mental handicap above!’

Talking to children who are representative of those who will eventually read the book is as important as meeting those people who will appear in it. It is here she discovers the barriers she will need to overcome as a writer. Many children were resistant to What is a Union?, reiterating the received attitudes and opinions of their parents. (And not only children it seems. ‘Some booksellers refused to take it,’ she reflects sadly but without rancour.)

Althea, though, is not seeking to make party political points - rather to do the much more difficult thing of removing the ignorance that breeds political prejudice. She was named one of the winners of the Other Award for What is a Union? and at the ceremony enjoyed redressing the balance by announcing that she had just been commissioned to do a similar book on the Stock Exchange. (‘I’m revising that now to take account of the "Big Bang”.’)...

leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:13:57 PM6/20/20
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leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:22:50 PM6/20/20
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/156204.Althea
(reader reviews - she often goes just by "Althea")

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CKul1WgGR5A
(read-aloud of "Desmond the Dinosaur," accompanied by sign language)




leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:26:05 PM6/20/20
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WRITINGS:
JUVENILES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
(Self-illustrated) Benjamin , 1967.
(Self-illustrated) Cuthbert and Bimbo , 1967.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond the Dinosaur , 1967.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond Goes to Scotland , 1968.
(Self-illustrated) George and the Baby (National Book League selection), 1968.
(Self-illustrated) Jeremy Mouse , 1968.
(Self-illustrated) Peter Pig , 1968.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond and the Fire , 1969.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond the Dusty Dinosaur , 1969.
Victoria and the Flowerbed Children (British Council selection), 1970.
(Self-illustrated) Smith the Lonely Hedgehog (British Council selection), 1970.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond at the Carnival (British Council selection), 1971.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond and the Stranger (British Council selection), 1971.
(Self-illustrated) Smith and Matilda (British Council selection), 1971.
(Self-illustrated) Tugby Is Given an Umbrella , 1971.
Victoria and the Balloon Keeper (British Council selection), 1971.
The Gingerbread Band (British Council selection), 1974.
(Self-illustrated) A Visit to Canterbury Cathedral , 1974.
(Self-illustrated) The First Country Book (large format; Design Centre selection), 1974.
(Self-illustrated) Althea's First Big Picture Book (large format; Design Centre selection), 1974.
The Gingerbread Men , 1975.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond Goes to New York , 1975.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond and the Monsters , 1975.
(Self-illustrated) The Second Country Book (large format; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1975.
Hospitals , 1975.
Cars , 1975.
Zoos (British Council selection), 1975.
Farms (British Council selection), 1975.
Life in the Garden , 1975.
Life in Ponds and Streams , 1975.
Life in Hedges and Verges , 1975.
Life on the Seashore , 1975.
Exploring Breckland , 1975.
Exploring the Broads , 1975.
(Self-illustrated) Desmond Goes Boating , 1977.
Bath from Roman Times , 1977.
The Great Family: Barnardo's , 1977.
(Self-illustrated) Day by Day Diary , 1977.
Desmond and the Fancy Dress Party , 1979.
Althea's Big Country Book (large format), 1979.
The Big Desmond Story Book (large format), 1979.
Jeremy Mouse and Cat , 1980.
Desmond the Dinosaur Story Book (large format), 1980.
Wearing Many Hats , 1980.
Address Book , 1980.
Can You Moo? , 1981.
Jeremy Mouse Was Hungry , 1981.
Riding on a Roundabout , 1981.
Desmond at the Zoo , 1981.
The Adventures of Desmond the Dinosaur , 1981.
Desmond Starts School , 1982.
The Year around Us (large format), 1982.
Colours of Things (Best Books for Babies selection, 1985), 1983.
Smith and Matilda , 1983.
Althea's Second Picture Book (large format), 1983.
Desmond's Birthday Surprise , 1984.
I Want to Be an Engineer , 1984.
Know the Time , 1985.
Shapes of Things , 1986.
(Illustrated by Paul Wrigley) Fish, Longman Group USA (Chicago, IL), 1988.
Flowers, Longman Group USA, (Chicago, IL), 1988.
(Illustrated by Helen Herbert) Foxes, Longman Group USA (Chicago), 1988.
(Illustrated by Maureen Galvani) Frogs, Longman Group USA (Chicago, IL), 1988.
(Illustrated by Barbara McGirr) Bats: Based on The Long Eared Bat , Longman Group USA (Chicago, IL), 1988.
(Illustrated by Veronica Barge) Birds, Longman Group USA (Chicago, IL), 1988.
(Illustrated by the author and Maureen Galvani) Butterflies, Longman Group USA (Chicago, IL), 1988.
(Illustrations by Conny Jude) Being Friends, Gareth Stevens Pub. (Milwaukee), 1998.
(Illustrations by Conny Jude) Feeling Angry, Gareth Stevens Pub. (Milwaukee), 1998.
(Illustrations by Conny Jude) Feeling Jealous, Gareth Stevens Pub. (Milwaukee), 1998.
(Illustrations by Conny Jude) Feeling Scared, Gareth Stevens Pub. (: Milwaukee, WI), 1998.
(Illustrations by Conny Jude) Feeling Shy, Gareth Stevens Pub. (Milwaukee, WI), 1998.

leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:27:22 PM6/20/20
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JUVENILES; "TALK IT OVER" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
Going to the Doctor (Agnes Hislop Children's Library selection), 1973.
Going into Hospital (British Council selection; National Book League selection), 1973.
Visiting the Dentist (British Council selection), 1974, 2nd edition, 1986.
Starting School (Design Centre selection), 1975, 2nd edition, 1985.
A Baby in the Family , 1975.
David and His Sister Carol (British Council selection), 1976.
Flying in an Aeroplane , 1977.
Having an Eye Test , 1977.
My Babysitter , 1978.
My Childminder , 1979.
I Have Two Homes , 1980.
Having a Hearing Test , 1981.
When Uncle Bob Died , 1982.
I Can't Talk Like You , 1982.
I Have Asthma , 1982.
I Use a Wheelchair , 1983.
I Have Diabetes , 1983.
Friends , 1983.
My New Family , 1984.
I Can't Hear Like You , 1985.
Special-Care Babies , 1986.

JUVENILES; "NATURE" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
Caterpillars to Butterflies , 1980.
Animals at Your Feet , 1980, 2nd edition, 1985.
Leaves from Trees , 1981.
Animals at Home , 1981.
Ducks and Drakes , 1982.
Caterpillars to Moths , 1983.
Life in Ponds (National Book League selection, 1985 ; British Book Design selection, 1985), 1984.
Under the Magnifying Glass , 1984.
Beside the Sea (National Book League selection, 1985 ), 1984.
Growing Plants at Home , 1985.
Farm Animals , 1986.
Animal Language , 1986.

JUVENILES; "HISTORY" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
Dinosaur's Book of Dinosaurs , 1980.
More Dinosaurs from Dinosaur (National Book League selection, 1985), 1984.
Living in Roman Times , 1986.

JUVENILES; "ALL ABOUT" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
All about Squirrels and Moles and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1971.
(Self-illustrated) All about Creatures on Islands and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1971.
(Self-illustrated) All about Pines and Oaks and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1972.
(Self-illustrated) All about Snails and Ladybirds and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1972.
All about Guns and Armour and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection; English-Speaking Union special recommendation), 1972.
(Self-illustrated) All about Cuckoos and Robins and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection), 1973.
(Self-illustrated) All about Voles and Sticklebacks and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection), 1973.
All about Poppies and Bluebells and Things (British Council selection; Design Centre selection), 1973.

SELF-ILLUSTRATED JUVENILES; "NATIONAL TRUST PAINTING BOOK" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY DINOSAUR
The First National Trust Painting Book (Design Centre selection), 1973.
The Second National Trust Painting Book (Design Centre selection), 1973.
The Third National Trust Painting Book , 1975.
The Fourth National Trust Painting Book , 1975.

JUVENILES; "CAMBRIDGE/DINOSAUR INFORMATION" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Making a Road , 1973.
Making a Car , 1974.
Building a House , 1974.
How Life Began (Design Centre selection), 1974.
Fighting Fires , 1975.
Going on a Train , 1975.
Where Does Food Come From? (British Council selection; National Book League selection), 1976.
Castle Life , 1976.
Machines on a Farm , 1979.
A Visit to the Factory , 1979.
Visiting a Museum , 1980.
Making a Book , 1980.
What Is a Union? , 1981.
Making Plastics , 1981.
The Stock Exchange (also see below), 1982.
The School Fair , 1982.
Money in the Bank , 1983.
How a Zoo Works , 1984.
The Pantomime , 1984.
Wool from Sheep , 1985.

leno...@yahoo.com

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Jun 20, 2020, 7:28:39 PM6/20/20
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JUVENILES; "CAMBRIDGE/DINOSAUR WINGATE" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Whirling Windmills , 1973.
Life in a Castle , 1973.
Signposts of the Sea , 1973.
Man in the Sky , 1973.
Man Flies On , 1974.
Iron Roads , 1974.
Bridges , 1974.
Inland Waterways , 1974.
Thomas Telford: Man of Iron , 1977.
About Bees and Honey , 1979.

JUVENILES; "CAMBRIDGE/DINOSAUR NATURAL HISTORY" SERIES; PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Desert Homes , 1984.
Island Homes , 1984.
Polar Homes , 1984.
Rain Forest Homes , 1985.
Mountain Homes , 1985.
Undersea Homes , 1985.

JUVENILES; PUBLISHED BY SOUVENIR PRESS
The Flower , 1971.
(Self-illustrated) Round and Round , 1971.
(Self-illustrated) Up and Down (Agnes Hislop Children's Library selection), 1972.
Water (Agnes Hislop Children's Library selection), 1972.
Night (National Book League selection), 1972.
Going on Wheels (Agnes Hislop Children's Library selection), 1972.
(Self-illustrated) High in the Sky , 1973.
The New Baby , 1973.
I Go to Playschool , 1976.
Moving House , 1976.
(Self-illustrated) Colours and Cars , 1977.
I Go to Hospital , 1977.
Spring , 1978.
Summer , 1978.
Autumn , 1978.
Winter , 1978.
Althea's Big Brightstart Book , 1978.
I Go to a Party , 1979.
I Go Shopping , 1979.
Jane Is Adopted , 1980.
How Was It Made? , 1980.
My Sister , 1981.
Listen to Your Feet , 1981.
My Cat , 1982.
My Night Away , 1982.

JUVENILES; PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN
(Self-illustrated) Frogs , 1977.
(Self-illustrated) Birds , 1977.
(Self-illustrated) Flowers , 1977.
(Self-illustrated) Butterflies , 1977.
Tree , 1982.
Fox , 1982.
Fish , 1983.
Snail , 1983.
Hedgehogs , 1985.
Ladybirds , 1985.
Swans , 1985.
Bats , 1985.

ADULT NONFICTION
(Designer and illustrator) Choosing a Job , Cambridge Research and Advisory Centre, 1974.
(Designer and illustrator) Finding a Job , Cambridge Research and Advisory Centre, 1974.
(Designer and illustrator) Starting a Job , Cambridge Research and Advisory Centre, 1974.
(Designer and illustrator) Keeping a Job , Cambridge Research and Advisory Centre, 1974.
The Stock Exchange in Ireland , The Stock Exchange, 1984.
Adult Text for "The Stock Exchange," The Stock Exchange, 1985.

OTHER
Household Machines , Puffin Books, 1977.
(Contributor) So Big So Small (anthology), Cambridge University Press, 1981.



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