Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective

As a lover of children's books, I know that there is far more to creating one that most people would ever imagine. Ideas can take years to develop, write, hone and polish. That's why I was keen to see Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective, an exhibition celebrating her work. Over the years, her books have become household names, not only in New Zealand but all around the world.  For those who are unfamiliar with Dodd's work, there are copies on display to read and reread - something which we really enjoyed doing.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

The exhibition shows how Lynley Dodd first began illustrating children's books once she had young children of her own. She also illustrated children's teaching materials before collaborating on a children's picture book with a family member. We saw how Dodd's sketches developed through various stages when illustrating My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes and were delighted to still be able to remember almost every cat in the book! We also met Hairy Maclary and his friends and learned how Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy came to be such a popular hangout for him and his canine buddies.

Whether you have children or not, or simply love children's books, Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective is a delightful exhibition that worth checking out at the Dowse Art Museum until 28 October.