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Frances Watts

フランセス・ワッツ

Furansesu Wattsu

Aliases: Ali Lavau

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Switzerland
Died
living
Nationality
Australian
Languages
English
Residence History
Switzerland (birth) → Sydney, Australia (since age 3)

Career

Occupations
children's author, teacher, publishing
Active Years
2004-
Nominations
Aurealis Award for best children's fiction, Shortlisted: The Chicken's Curse (2020)

Education

Macquarie University
English literature
Degree: PhD
Country: Australia
Taught Australian Literature and children's literature, then entered publishing

Awards

Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards
2006
Work: Kisses For Daddy
Category: Early Childhood
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia
Result: Honour book
Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards
2008
Work: Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia
Result: Winner
Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards
2012
Work: Goodnight, Mice!
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia
Result: Notable Book
Prime Minister's Literary Awards
2012
Work: Goodnight, Mice!
Category: Children's Fiction
Result: Winner
Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards
2020
Work: My Friend Fred
Category: Early Childhood
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Goodnight, Mice!

2011 Picture book

A story about mice getting ready for bed.

familydaily life

Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books

2007 Picture book

A rabbit's love for books.

readinglibraries

My Friend Fred

2019 Picture book

Friendship with a dog named Fred.

friendshippets

Bibliography

  • This Dog Bruce (2004)
  • Kisses for Daddy (2005)
  • Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books (2007)
  • Captain Crabclaw's Crew (2009)
  • A Rat in a Stripy Sock (2010)
  • Goodnight, Mice! (2011)
  • The Fearsome, Frightening, Ferocious Box (2013)
  • A Very Quacky Christmas (2017)
  • It's a Story, Rory! (2018)
  • Leonard Doesn't Dance (2019)
  • My Friend Fred (2019)
  • Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud (2008)
  • The Greatest Sheep in History (2009)
  • The Raven's Wing (2014)
  • The Peony Lantern (2015)
  • The Chicken's Curse (2020)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Simple and engaging styleHumour for children
Recurring Motifs
Animal protagonistsFriendship and family

Legacy

Popular Australian children's author with multiple CBCA awards.

Trivia

  • Frances Watts is the pen-name of Ali Lavau.
  • Swiss-born, moved to Australia at age 3.