Mei Matsuoka
Encyclopedia
Mei Matsuoka is a Japanese
-English
children's illustrator and author.
, Japan
, Matsuoka spent the early part of her childhood there before moving to England at the age of 11, settling in the Cotswolds
.
She graduated from Kingston University
with a BA Hons in Illustration
, and has since been working as a freelance illustrator, specialising in children’s books.
Matsuoke wrote and illustrated Ten-san, Kame-san and Muri-san go on a Journey which won the 2004 Annual 'Aozora' Environmental Picture Book competition. Burger Boy by Alan Durant, won the "Portsmouth Children's Book" award in January 2007.
Matsuoke wrote and illustrated her book Footprints in the Snow, which was published by Andersen Press
in 2007. This book was shortlisted for the "Read it Again! The Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Awards" in December 2007. In January 2008, the book was longlisted for the Booktrust
Big Pictures's "Best New Illustrator Award". Footprints in the Snow has also been nominated for the 2009 Kate Greenaway Medal
.
Footprints in the Snow has been translated into Welsh
, and published by Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion
under the title Olion yn yr Eira, and was 10th on the Welsh Books Council
's list of children's bestsellers in September 2007.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
-English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
children's illustrator and author.
Biography
Born in Suginami-ku, TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Matsuoka spent the early part of her childhood there before moving to England at the age of 11, settling in the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
.
She graduated from Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
with a BA Hons in Illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
, and has since been working as a freelance illustrator, specialising in children’s books.
Matsuoke wrote and illustrated Ten-san, Kame-san and Muri-san go on a Journey which won the 2004 Annual 'Aozora' Environmental Picture Book competition. Burger Boy by Alan Durant, won the "Portsmouth Children's Book" award in January 2007.
Matsuoke wrote and illustrated her book Footprints in the Snow, which was published by Andersen Press
Andersen Press
Andersen Press is a British book publishing company. It was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge, and was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Random House has a holding in the company and has a strong association with Andersen....
in 2007. This book was shortlisted for the "Read it Again! The Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Awards" in December 2007. In January 2008, the book was longlisted for the Booktrust
Booktrust
Booktrust is an independent British charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and cultures to engage with books. Established in 1992, it has received UK government funding since 2004, and inspired similar schemes in over 20 countries. In December 2010 it was announced that the government...
Big Pictures's "Best New Illustrator Award". Footprints in the Snow has also been nominated for the 2009 Kate Greenaway Medal
Kate Greenaway Medal
The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
.
Footprints in the Snow has been translated into Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, and published by Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion
Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion
Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion was a Welsh publisher, established in 1954, specialising in books of interest to Ceredigion, and Welsh language children's books, including adaptations and original works...
under the title Olion yn yr Eira, and was 10th on the Welsh Books Council
Welsh Books Council
The Welsh Books Council or Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru was established in 1961 under the name of Cyngor Llyfrau Cymraeg . Today it is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Council's aims are to promote the interest in Welsh language books and English language books of interest to Wales...
's list of children's bestsellers in September 2007.
Works illustrated
- Ten-san, Kame-san and Muri-san go on a Journey, Mei Matsuoka, April 2005, All Nippon Air LineAll Nippon Air Lineis a one-shot Japanese manga written and illustrated by Kei Azumaya. It is licensed in North America by Digital Manga Publishing, which released the manga through its imprint, Juné, on February 26, 2008.-Publication:...
- Burger Boy, Alan Durant, October 2005, Andersen PressAndersen PressAndersen Press is a British book publishing company. It was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge, and was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Random House has a holding in the company and has a strong association with Andersen....
- Hannibals Marchen, Boris von Smercek, May 2006, Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- A Friend for All Seasons, Julia Hubery, September 2006, Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- Footprints in the Snow, Mei Matsuoka, October 2007, Andersen PressAndersen PressAndersen Press is a British book publishing company. It was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge, and was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Random House has a holding in the company and has a strong association with Andersen....