The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy has been read and loved by millions since its 1983 publication. Its protagonist’s shaggy face and mischievous eyes are now iconic. But what of his creator?

In The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd, Finlay Macdonald tells the tale of how a small girl raised in Kaingaroa Forest became the illustrator and virtuoso wordsmith behind so many picture books that are living classics.

But this is not just a story about a storyteller, it is a book that explores Lynley Dodd’s working world. What is the secret behind her stories’ linguistic dexterity? How does her paintbrush capture the sometimes comic, sometimes tragic expressions of her animal characters with such precision? As well as many favourite and familiar book illustrations, this volume contains never-before-seen sketches and cartoons, character roughs and picture-book drafts.

The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd is both a tale of remarkable success and a window into a brilliant creative mind.