Ursula Dubosarsky

Ursula Dubosarsky
Dubosarsky in 2000
Born
Ursula Coleman

1961 (age 64–65)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma mater University of Sydney
Macquarie University
OccupationsWriter for children and young adults
Writing career
LanguageEnglish
Years active1989-

Ursula Dubosarsky AM is an Australian writer of fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults. She has won and been nominated for many national literary prizes, and was appointed Australian Children's Laureate for 2020–2021.

Early life and education

Ursula Dubosarsky was born Ursula Coleman in 1961 in Sydney, Australia.[1] [2]

She attended Lindfield, Hunter's Hill, and Chatswood Primary Schools, and then SCEGGS Darlinghurst. [3] She studied at University of Sydney and later Macquarie University.

Academia

Dubosarsky has taught courses in children's literature at the University of Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney.[4]

As of 2020 she is an honorary associate of the Department of English at Macquarie University.[5]

Other activities

From 2016 to 2024 Dubosarsky was a member of the Library Council of New South Wales.[6]

Writing career

As of 2020 Dubosarsky is the author of over 60 illustrated books and novels, which have been translated into 17 languages.[7]

She has also written three non-fiction Word Spy books for children, illustrated by Tohby Riddle, about language, grammar, and etymology.[8] In the United States and Canada, The Word Spy is published under the title The Word Snoop.[9]

Adaptations

Three of her books have been adapted for theatre: The Red Shoe,[10] The Terrible Plop[11] and Too Many Elephants in This House.[12]

A theatrical work, "The Giant's Garden", based on a story by Dubosarsky (in turn inspired by Oscar Wilde) was performed at the 2026 Adelaide Festival.[13]

Recognition, awards, and honours

Dubosarsky has won many national literary prizes, including (as of 2009) five New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, more than any other writer in the Awards' 30-year history.[14]

Her Word Spy books have won the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award, the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award and the Junior Judges' Award.[15]

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.[16]

In 2014, the annual Christmas Windows of the department store David Jones were based on her story Reindeer's Christmas Surprise, illustrated by Sue deGennaro[17] and her book Too Many Elephants In this House, illustrated by Andrew Joyner, was chosen for the National Simultaneous Storytime.[18] In 2018 the National Library of Australia published Midnight at the Library, illustrated by Ron Brooks, to celebrate the Library's 50-year anniversary.[19] In 2019 a study room at Marrickville Library was named in honour of her novel The Blue Cat.[20]

She was appointed the Australian Children's Laureate for 2020–2021.[21] In the 2026 King's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her "significant service to literature as an author of children and young adult books".[22]

International

Australian

Theatrical productions

  • Too Many Elephants in This House at NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Art.[46]
  • The Red Shoe at the Jigsaw Theatre.[10]
  • Plop!,[47] a musical version of The Terrible Plop at the Windmill Theatre in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, Sydney, regional Victoria, Queensland and Darwin and the New Victory Theater in New York.[11]
  • The Giant's Garden by Slingsby theatre company at the Adelaide Festival of Arts 2025.[48]

Selected works

  • 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 Ron Brooks
  • 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 Ron Brooks
  • 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
  • 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 Ron Brooks
  • 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
  • The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Looming Lamplight (2013) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Missing Mongoose (2013) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • 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 Terry Denton
  • The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Quivering Quavers (2014) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • The Cryptic Casebook of Coco Carlomagno and Alberta: The Talkative Tombstone (2014) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • 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[49]
  • Reindeer's Christmas Surprise (2014) illustrated by Sue de Gennaro
  • One Little Goat (2017) illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • The Blue Cat (2017)
  • Brindabella (2018) novel illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • Leaf Stone Beetle (2018) illustrated by Gaye Chapman
  • Midnight at the Library (2018) illustrated by Ron Brooks
  • 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) novel illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
  • The March of the Ants (2021) illustrated by Tohby Riddle
  • The Magnificent Hercules Quick (2021) illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • Mary and Marcus (2022) illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • Hercules Quick's Big Bag of Tricks (2023) illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • Ethel the Penguin (2024) illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
  • Yes, No, Maybe (2025) illustrated by Andrew Joyner
  • Trim the Cat (2025) illustrated by Paul Lalo
  • The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation (2025; contributor of two essays)
  • Life and Breath (2026; collected short stories)
  • A Concise Compendium of Wonder (2026; story in a triptych)


References

  1. ↑ The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (2006) edited by Jack Zipes
  2. ↑ {{Cite web|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog?q=%22Dubosarsky%2C+Ursula%2C+1961-%22&search_field=author/
  3. ↑ {{Cite web|url=https://anniversary.sceggs.nsw.edu.au/bowman/ursula-dubosarsky-coleman-1978/
  4. ↑ "Department of English". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Our people". Macquarie University. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Library Council". 6 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Dubosarsky announced as Australian Children's Laureate for 2020–21 | Books+Publishing".
  8. ↑ "Ursula Dubosarsky". Allen & Unwin.
  9. ↑ "The Word Snoop by Ursula Dubosarsky (Dial Books, USA)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. 1 2 "- YouTube". YouTube.
  11. 1 2 ""Web Archive: The New Victory Theatre"". The New Victory Theatre. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  12. ↑ Morris, Linda (10 May 2014). "Ursula Dubosarsky: elephants roam from page to stage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. ↑ The Giant's Garden
  14. ↑ "NSW Premier Nathan Rees Announces 2009 NSW Literary Award Winners" (PDF). 18 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. ↑ ""Web Archive: History of the Awards - Previous Winners"". CBCA. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "The Red Shoe". Reading Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  17. ↑ ""Children's author's Christmas story decorates David Jones windows"". The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 November 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "National Simultaneous Storytime". www.alia.org.au. Australian Library and Information Association. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  19. ↑ Dubosarsky, Ursula; Brooks, illustrator.), Ron (2018). Midnight at the library. Canberra, ACT : NLA Publishing. ISBN 978-0-642-27931-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ "Book a room or computer at the library". Inner West Council.
  21. ↑ "Ursula Dubosarsky announced as 2020-2021 Australian Children's Laureate". Australian Children's Laureate. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  22. ↑ "Dr Ursula Bridget Dubosarsky". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "2015 - ALMA". www.alma.se. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  24. ↑ "Candidates 2019 - ALMA". www.alma.se. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  25. ↑ "Australians nominated for 2022 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award". Books+Publishing. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  26. ↑ ""Nominated Candidates 2023"". Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  27. ↑ ""Austlit – Ursula Dubosarsky – Awards"". Austlit. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  28. ↑ ""Golden Day – Ursula Dubosarsky"". Allen & Unwin. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  29. ↑ "Oz books selected for 2014 IBBY Honour Book List". Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "2010 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award Nominations". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 19 January 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  31. ↑ "White Ravens". Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  32. ↑ "Oz, NZ authors and illustrators on 2019 White Ravens list | Books+Publishing".
  33. ↑ "Ursula Dubosarsky – Australian Children's Laureate 2020–2021". Australian Children's Laureate. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  34. ↑ Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards
  35. ↑ Children's Book Council of Australia "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ↑ "NSW Premier's Literary Awards". Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  37. ↑ KOALA winners
  38. ↑ NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2007
  39. ↑ Allen & Unwin
  40. ↑ NSW Premier's Literary Award 2006
  41. ↑ Puffin: Ursula Dubosarsky
  42. ↑ Adelaide Festival: Ursula Dubosarsky
  43. ↑ Shire Writers Festival
  44. ↑ Good Reading Magazine Teaching notes
  45. ↑ University of Canberra
  46. ↑ "Ursula Dubosarsky: elephants roam from page to stage". 10 May 2014.
  47. ↑ "Windmill Theatre Company » Plop!". www.windmill.org.au. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  48. ↑ "The Giant's Garden". adelaidefestival.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  49. ↑ "Tim and Ed by Ursula Dubosarsky & Andrew Joyner". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
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