About the Author

Deborah Niland has been drawing and painting all her life. She has painted for art exhibitions and galleries, and illustrated for newspapers and magazines. Most of all, she has built a successful career illustrating children's books. Some well-known and popular titles include Mulga Bill's Bicycle, When The Wind Changed and There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake and Chatterbox. Deborah now enjoys writing and illustrating her own stories. She has had great success with Annie's Chair. This picture book, first published in 2005, has won many awards, including the 2006 Children's Book of the Year- Early Childhood, and several Children's Choice awards. Annie to the Rescue, a follow-up tale of the intrepid little girl, was published in 2007. Now that her own children have grown up, Deborah has enjoyed spending time widening her knowledge of different illustration techniques, both traditional and digital. Other interests include doodling, fine art painting, photography, and playing with the grandchildren. More information about Deborah and her books can be found at www.deborah-niland.com.au

Reviews

Learning to share doesn't come easily to most preschoolers, and Miland captures this challenge masterfully and humorously in a tale about a girl who refuses to relinquish her favorite seat. For Annie, her chair represents not only a place where she can daydream, but also a comfort zone ("She can be a fairy queen or a jumping bean... Sometimes Annie just likes to sit and think"). Miland's range of images, from Annie bathing her doll while standing atop her chair, to reclining outdoors and donning fetching sunglasses, demonstrates why this is the heroine's treasured item. And even while Annie makes it abundantly clear that only she can sit in that spot, it's no surprise when someone manages to usurp the space-Miland adds to the comedy by making the culprit Annie's dog, Benny. The array of tactics the girl uses to bodily remove Benny is both inventive and amusing. Yet with all her efforts, she resorts to childish tears. Before readers can dismiss her as a whiny girl who cries to get her way, however, Annie comes up with a twist, and proves that sharing can double the fun. Ages 2-5. (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

PreS-K-Annie has had a favorite chair ever since she was a baby, and she is the only one allowed to sit in it. When she finds her dog comfortably snuggling there, she gets very angry. Benny will not budge, even after she yells at, begs, and bribes him to move. When she starts to cry, Benny howls in sympathy and jumps down to give her a cheer-up lick. Annie reminds him, "Never ever sit on my chair again...without me." The gouache and digital art is fluid with round lines and multiple soft patterns on clothing and decor that echo the form and feel of the chair. The book's pink cover and flowery endpapers may turn boys off, which is too bad since most youngsters could relate to Annie's predicament. While adults may be searching for books that show children learning to share unequivocally, Annie's solution to her problem is closer to the truth of a young child's experience.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.