Anna Elizabeth Dewdney (née Luhrmann; December 25, 1965 – September 3, 2016) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. The first book she wrote and illustrated, Llama Llama Red Pajama, received critical acclaim in 2005. She wrote numerous other books in the Llama Llama series, which have all been New York Times bestsellers. Her work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, musicals, and an animated television series for Netflix. Many states and non-profits use her books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress.
Before her work became well-known, Dewdney worked as a waitress, a rural postal carrier, and a remedial language, art and history teacher at the Greenwood School, a boarding school for dyslexic boys, with her partner, Reed Duncan.[4]
She and Duncan had two children and lived in Vermont until her death at age 50 from complications of brain cancer.
Career
Dewdney began her career illustrating a variety of books for both children and adults. She gained critical acclaim in 2005 for Llama Llama Red Pajama, the first book she both wrote and illustrated. Her work is known for its emotive content,[5] signature characters, family relationships, and how it addresses the everyday issues of young children. The text of her work is often written in verse; because of this use of rhyming language, and because of Dewdney's reading-advocacy work, her books are often used to promote reading and literacy.[6][7]
The Llama Llama series is highly popular among parents, teachers, and booksellers; in 2011, a Miami, Florida bookseller had the Llama Llama character tattooed on her arm for a bookstore event.[8]
Partial proceeds from some of her works go toward environmental awareness and conservation efforts, most notably pangolin conservation in southeast Asia.[14][15]
Llama Llama was adapted as an animated children's television series for Netflix. The show was produced by Genius Brands and was initially directed by Rob Minkoff and Saul Andrew Blinkoff. Jane Startz served as the series producer, and Joe Purdy was the series showrunner.[16] Reed Duncan, the show's co-creator, served as executive producer. Duncan, Startz, and Purdy wrote and created all of the show's main storylines. Dewdney and Duncan wrote the lyrics for the signature theme song. The series has been translated into over 22 different languages and is broadcast in dozens of countries worldwide.[citation needed]
Dewdney's Llama Llama books have all been New York Times bestsellers, and several titles have reached #1 on the list. Her books regularly make the Publishers Weekly and IndieBooks bestsellers lists, and have hit buzzworthy sales figures.[18]
Llama Llama Red Pajama was chosen as Jumpstart's Read for the Record book in 2011, setting the world's record for most readings of a particular book on one day.[19] This event was recorded on the Today show on October 6 of the same year, where her work was read live to the national television audience.
Dewdney's work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, and musicals, most notably by Dolly Parton at Dollywood.[20][21] The Dolly Parton Foundation also chose her Llama Llama series for The Imagination Library, a not-for-profit organization serving young children through book donations.
Many states and not-for-profit organizations use Dewdney's books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress, which featured her work and a live reading by Dewdney at its 2012 National Book Festival.[22][23]
Dewdney's work is highly acclaimed by critics and is often recommended on booklists by national reviewers.[24]
Other awards
Llama Llama Red Pajama: Scholastic Parent and Child "100 Greatest Books for Kids" award winner; Bank Street "Best Children's Book" recipient; Missouri Building Block Award winner; National Public Radio pick; Carolina Children's Book Award Master List winner (picture book category)
Llama Llama Home With Mama: Children's Choice Book Award "Illustrator of the Year" nominee (2012)
Llama Llama Time to Share: Children's Choice book Award "Illustrator of the Year" nominee (2013); Thriving Family magazine's Best Family-Friendly Picture Book finalist (2012)
Llama Llama Mad at Mama: Missouri Building Block Award winner; winner of Alabama's Emphasis on Reading program (grades K-1); Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Illustrated Honor Book (2008)
Selected works
What You Do Is Easy, What I Do Is Hard (her first picture book - illustrator only, written by Jake Wolf)
^Levin, Jay. "Anna Dewdney, children's author, illustrator of Llama Llama stories, dies at 50"Archived 2016-09-08 at the Wayback Machine, The Record (Bergen County), September 7, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2016. "That's doubly appropriate: The charming picture book deals with a little llama's separation anxiety on the first day of preschool. And Dewdney grew up in Englewood.... Dewdney, daughter of Winifred Luhrmann, also a writer, and Dr. George Luhrmann, a psychiatrist, attended the independent Elisabeth Morrow School and Dwight-Englewood School"<1979 yearbook>
