Jean Chapman

24 featured booksJean Chapman

Jean Erica Sherlock Lycett was born on February 15, 1926 in Sydney, the youngest of the three daughters of George Lycett and his wife, Margaret (nee MacLean). She went to Fort Street girls school on Observatory Hill, and had her first story, about a sick cow, published in the children's section of a Sunday newspaper when she was only 12. After finishing high school, she went to business college to learn touch typing, which was useful when she became a writer. Then she enrolled in the National Art School. She met Max Chapman on a blind date and they were married after World War II. They scrimped and saved to buy a block of land in Seaforth, where they built a house. Chapman wrote ceaselessly, and her writing career took off when she began writing for the ABC's Kindergarten of the Air. Her imaginative stories were so successful that Chapman was offered a place at the ABC's scriptwriting school, graduating in 1960, when she began working on Playschool, Let's Join In and Kindergarten of the Air. She was a scriptwriter for the ABC's children's programs for 25 years. Chapman also began approaching children's publishers. Some early successes were followed by a long-standing association with Hodder & Stoughton (Australia). In the 1970s, it published Tell Me A Tale, a collection of stories, rhymes, songs and activities illustrated by Deborah and Kilmeny Niland, the twin daughters of the authors Ruth Park and D'Arcy Niland. The hugely successful book was followed by Tell Me Another Tale and themed collections such as Pancakes and Painted Eggs and the Sugar Plum Christmas Book. Chapman published 63 books in total and won several awards for children's literature. Children and children's books were Chapman's life's work. She frequently visited schools and libraries to speak to her readers. She was a tireless worker for the Children's Book Council of Australia's NSW branch, was made a life member and was awarded the council's Lady Cutler Award for her contribution to children's literature. She was also a member of the group that fought and won the battle to save Nutcote, the home of her fellow children's author, May Gibbs, in Neutral Bay. In addition to her busy life as a writer, Chapman supported Max in his passion for veteran cars. They frequently travelled together on motoring trips and were active in the Veteran Car Club. The pair travelled the world and she always had to visit children's book sites, including Hans Christian Andersen's house in Denmark and Beatrix Potter's house in England. Jean Chapman is survived by Max, their children Gregory and Louise, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her seventh great-grandchild is due in October and Chapman had already knitted and sewn pieces for the baby's layette.

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OL419473A

Overview

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24 representative editions

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Display name
Jean Chapman
Personal name
Jean Chapman
Source identifier
OL419473A

Featured books

Representative editions for works actually authored by this person.

Works in catalog

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Danced Over the Sea
Representative edition published 2006
Open Work
And a Golden Pear
Representative edition published 2005
Open Work
A new beginning
Representative edition published 2002
Open Work
This Time Last Year
Representative edition published 2001
Open Work
The Soldier's Girl
Representative edition published 2000
Open Work
New Way (New Way)
Representative edition published 1998
Open Work
The red pavilion
Representative edition published 1996
Open Work
Favourite live thing
Representative edition published 1996
Open Work
Off to School! (Young Hippo School S.)
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
The Bellmakers ("Woman's Weekly" Fiction)
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
Velvet Paws and Whiskers
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
The Screaming Demon Ghostie (Young Hippo Spooky)
Representative edition published 1994
Open Work
The Bellmakers
Representative edition published 1993
Open Work
Tell Me Another Tale
Representative edition published 1993
Open Work
A World Apart
Representative edition published 1993
Open Work
Fortune's woman
Representative edition published 1991
Open Work
The wreck of the Georgette (Language works)
Representative edition published 1989
Open Work
Boss cat (Language works)
Representative edition published 1988
Open Work
Capturing the Golden Bird
Representative edition published 1988
Open Work
The forbidden path
Representative edition published 1988
Open Work
Savage Legacy
Representative edition published 1987
Open Work
Tangled Dynasty
Representative edition published 1984
Open Work
Haunts and Taunts
Representative edition published 1983
Open Work
The Sugar-Plum Christmas Book
Representative edition published 1982
Open Work