A guide to children's literature including resources at the State Library and elsewhere
To find information about authors and illustrators of children's books search the Library catalogue.
In the search box enter the phrase "Biography Children's Literature" or "Biography Juvenile Literature".
On the right hand side of the screen, refine your results to Online items for biographies in electronic format.
You can also refine your results by the appropriate subject, date range or collection.
To find biographies of Australian authors for an adult readership click on Australiana.
To find biographies of overseas authors or artists of children's books for an adult readership click on Redmond Barry.
Some biographies include:
Electronic databases can be searched to find information about children's book, authors and artists. Victorian registered users are able to search these databases from home while other users can access them on site in the Library and all are free.
Two Australian databases that include short biographies of authors and artists are:
Search for literature by and about Australian writers and writing, including biographies, bibliographies, critical articles and creative writing.
A reference book about Australian and New Zealand children's book authors and illustrators is The Oxford companion to Australian children's literature.
Some books about overseas children's book authors and illustrators and their work include St James guide to children's writers.
See also these databases:
Examine the lives and works of authors and illustrators for children and young adults.
When a children's book title is unknown, you can check print or electronic indexes, subject guides and databases to help you identify the book. Some subject guides include:
Alternatively use the tabs at the top of this page to identify children's poetry, reviews and literary criticism of children's books.
To find other subject guides and indexes to children's picture books and novels search the Library catalogue. Choose the best match of format and content from the list below and enter that phrase in the large Search box.
To identify a picture book enter the phrase 'picture books for children indexes
To identify Australian children's books enter the phrase children's literature Australian indexes
To find Australian bibliographies of children's books try the phrase children's literature Australian bibliography
To find bibliographies of young adult fiction enter the terms young adult bibliography.
Then click Search. Online resources are listed at the top of the results screen.
You can use electronic databases from home if you are a registered Victorian user in addition to the print indexes listed in your results. Try Fiction Connection for American novels published since 1997 and The Source for Australian children's books.
If you recall a character's name but not the title of the children's book, try these books:
Here are some links to exhibitions previously mounted at the State Library of Victoria about notable authors of children's books and their works:
Collins Book Depot, H95.56/304
