Ali Teo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teo, Ali (1972- ) is an illustrator. She was born in East Malaysia. Teo grew up in Wainuiomata and attended Wellington Polytechnic, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Design.

Teo works as a freelance illustrator. Her work has appeared in the School Journal, and a variety of Ministry of Education publications including two titles for the Ready to Read Series: The Gardener (2000) and The Gardener’s Maze (2002).

With Astrid Jensen she illustrated Ngareta Gabel’s Tekiteora, kei hea o hu (2003). The book was later translated and adapted from Te Reo Maori by Hannah Rainforth and published as Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! (2003). Tekiteora, kei hea o hu won the Te Kura Pounamu Award 2003. Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! was a finalist in the Picturebook Category of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2004.

The judges for the Te Kura Pounamu Awards report that, ‘this book has a delightful cover design enticing kids to pick it up and read it. The use of multi media collage (freehand drawing, traditional and photographic collage) in the illustrations really enhances the book and draws the reader further into the story. ’

Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! won the Children's Choice Award at the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. It was also shortlisted for Best Use of Illustrations at the 2004 Spectrum Print Book Design Awards, and was listed as a 2004 Storylines Notable Book.

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! (Scholastic, 2006) by Kyle Mewburn, is illustrated by Ali Teo and John O'Reilly. When Aunty Elsie comes to visit she always gives Andy big sloppy kisses, so Andy always tries to hide from her. But one day Aunty Elsie doesn't come...and Andy finds he misses her - even her sloppy kisses...

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! won Best Picture Book and the Children's Choice Award at the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Barnaby Bennett (2006), by Hannah Rainforth, illustrated by Ali Teo, is the story of Barnaby Bennett who loves the colour red so much, he wants to wear it every day. After a while his family despair as Barnaby begins to smell. Fortunately Nanny has a good idea...

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! and Barnaby Bennett were listed as 2007 Storylines Notable Picture Books.

Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi ( Random House, 2007), written by Melanie Drewery and co-illustrated by John O'Reilly won the Best Picture Book at the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The work was also listed as a 2008 Storylines Notable Picture Book.

Melu, written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly was published by Scholastic in 2012. Melu was a finalist in the 2013 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards in the Picture Book category, and won the Children's Choice award in the same year. Ko Meru, the te reo edition, was awarded the Te Kura Pounamu Award, for a distinguished contribution to literature written in Te Reo Māori, at the 2013 LIANZ Children's Book Awards.

Ali Teo lives in Tauranga and participates in the Book Council's Writers in Schools Programme.

WRITERS IN SCHOOLS INFORMATION

Ali Teo is available as part of Writers in Schools to speak to primary-aged children.