Christina Booth

Christina Booth has been drawing and reading books as far back as her earliest memories. She cuddled books in bed and drew on any surface that would accept her mark. Thankfully her parents provided her with paper and her art career began.

She grew up on the East Coast of Tasmania surrounded by beaches, creatures and boats. Loved fishing, collecting beach specimens and reading whatever she could lay her hands on.

After studying a Fine Arts and Teaching degrees, marrying and having three children her love affair with children's literature was reborn. Christina began illustrating for some of Australia's great authors such as Max Fatchen, Christobel Mattingley and Colin Thiele.

Christina's One Careless Night published by Walker Books under the Black Dog Imprint, has won a category in the prestigious 2020 Environment Award for Children's Literature announced 7th September, World Threatened Species Day.

Magabala Books published Mum's Elephant in April 2020, illustrated by Christina Booth and story by Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keefe.

Her family lived a bush life. They didn’t own much but her mother had a very special ‘elephant’. It was her mother’s most prized possession and she gave it tender loving care. When her mother’s friends were around, they had real tea-parties with the elephant. Often her mother would sleep with it beside her bed.

Christina’s splendid illustrations of desert landscapes and bush life deepen the mystery of the elephant, only revealing subtle clues to its true identity. The reader is beguiled by the storytelling until the big surprise when the elephant is revealed.
Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keefe is a natural storyteller and conveys warmth and humour in her writing, and grew up in the remote community of Ali Curung in the NT. Mum’s Elephant will intrigue children and remind adult readers of the simple things that held a special charm when they were young.

In 2007 Christina's first 'solo' picture book was born and Purinina, A Devils Tale (Lothian), won her a CBCA Notable Children's Book Award in 2008 along with her illustrated books by Angie Lionetto-Civa, In The Deep Green Jungle and In The Deep Blue Sea . Her picture book Kip (Windy Hollow Books), the story of a crowing rooster upsetting his city neighbours went on to win the CBCA Honour Book Award in 2010. Libraries will never be quiet again.

With over fifteen books published, Christina illustrates for many authors and writes her own stories from her bush studio overlooking a lake and many furry footed creatures and feathered visitors.

She has been a May Gibbs Fellow and is known for her lively and interactive talks, classes and presentations for all ages. Christina is available for author/illustrator talks, artist-in-residencies, school visits and conference presentations Australia wide. She is a popular Children's Book Week presenter.

2018 sees the release of Spirit written by Cherri Ryan, published by by Black Dog Books, and The Gum Family Finds Home written by Tania McCartney and published by National Library of Australia.

You can find more about Christina at www.christinabooth.com.