Ken Wilson-Max

About

I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where I trained as a graphic designer and discovered illustration.

I learned by observing how similar people are, whether they are learning to read, or running large corporations, and I put those observations into my work.

After a decade of designing books for children and young adults, I became a children’s author and illustrator. I love working with children and teachers or parents. They help me improve and keep my work relevant. 

I believe it is worth celebrating how people are more similar than different. It’s much better it is for children of all backgrounds to see or read themselves and their friends in books.

I am represented by Clare Wallace of Darley Anderson

Here is a list of my books for children:

Career Highlights

2022

  • Made Patron of CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education)
  • Illustrator of CLiPPA award winner, “Stars With Flaming Tales”
  • Nominated for the Astrid Lingren Memorial Award (ALMA)
  • Made Patron of the Jericho Prize

2021

  • Publisher of Kumusha Books, Harper Collins Children’s (UK) first imprint

2020 

  • Astrid Lingren Memorial Award (ALMA) 2021 nomination
  • Winner of STEAM AWARD for Early Years Picturebooks 2020 
  • World Book Day Steering Committee
  • Judge, Wales Book of the Year 2020
  • Bank Street College (USA) – 20 best books of the Year 
  • Launched 17Promises magazine in partnership with UN, Govt of Zimbabwe

2019

  • Nominated- Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Awards 2019 (UK)
  • Mentor, Pathways into Publishing
  • Included in Breaking New Ground as one of the most influential black authors/illustrators in the UK
  • Honourable Mention, Moveable Books Society Meggendorfer Prize for Best Paper Engineering (US)

2017 

  • Owner & publisher, Alanna Max 

2015 

  • Awarded one of the 50 best books on diversity in the last 50 years by the Guardian Newspaper
  • Centre for Literature in Primary Education core list (Early Years) UK
  • African American Literature Bookclub (AALB) Top 154 Recommended African-American Children’s Books 

2014 

  • Launched Chicken Newspaper for Children. A quarterly printed tabloid-sized publication for primary school children

1994 – present

  • Over 70 books for children worldwide in more than 10 languages

1984– Silver Medal for illustration- Brno Biennale

Download my CV

Comments

14 responses to “About”

  1. George avatar
    George

    Ken is a great writer and illustrator who creates fun books that stimulate kids. I find they are subtle and the colours intrigue children.

    Reply
  2. Suzie White avatar
    Suzie White

    We have just seen Ken at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and bought a copy of his book The Flute. Our little girl loved his performance of his books with the live drumming and Ken was fun, engaging and kind. Thank you for a lovely morning.

    Reply
  3. Daniele Giovannucci avatar
    Daniele Giovannucci

    Ken is a gifted and exceptional human being whose steady creative and soulful contributions to children – and us adults too – are both brilliant and deeply valuable.

    Reply
    1. Laura avatar
      Laura

      We love the Lenny books. They are hard to find in the USA, but worth the effort and price. They are favorites of both my children.

      Reply
  4. Danielle Surwald avatar
    Danielle Surwald

    Max’s Letter has been an absolute favourite book of every child through my house. Shame I haven’t been able to purchase any more copies here is Australia. It would make the ideal gift.

    Reply
  5. jay Gaver avatar
    jay Gaver

    I earned my private pilots license when my twin boys were toddlers. Their favorite book of all was , “Little Red Plane”, We enjoyed flying together almost nightly with that wonderful book. Thank You for creating such a interesting creative children`s book. One day soon my grand son and i will go flying again with it. Jay G

    Reply
  6. Dawn Oh avatar
    Dawn Oh

    I recently purchased a couple copies of Big Blue Engine and Big Red Fire Engine as gifts. My 21-year old son, home from uni, found them and on opening and revisiting the train-in-motion started quiet crying. He’d worn out nearly every moving part of these books as a little guy and the magic is clearly still there. Thank you Ken Wilson-Max for all that book art magic and the ones you’ve created since!

    Reply
  7. Melanie Tarver avatar
    Melanie Tarver

    Thank you for your presentation during the STEMMIE Fest event. Inspiring work! Very excited to explore this website and the book with my daughter! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Thomas Willans avatar
    Thomas Willans

    Halala Ken!

    Tom Willans here from the old days. How on earth are you? Hope the dreaded C19 isn’t having too drastic an effect on you and yours.

    After 16 years teaching, I’m sniffing about for publishing work. If I stay in the classroom I’ll be dead by 50 (4 years time)…

    Reply
    1. admin avatar
      admin

      Tom!
      Believe it or not I was thinking of you this week!!
      I’ll email you

      Reply
  9. Kerry Barner avatar
    Kerry Barner

    Dear Ken
    I was recommended to check out your website as I am compiling a list of children’s book recommendations with diversity in mind for my son’s former school. It was particularly noted how important it is for kids to see themselves reflected in books they read for pleasure and not just ones they study formally in the classroom. Their school budget is tight and there is currently no money to buy books for the reading corner. They do take part in World Book Day and are sometimes gifted books through other charities, but these are often by white authors featuring white characters.
    Which kids’ books would you recommend that promote diversity well?
    Ideally the recommended books would be amazing, fun and exciting, featuring or by BAME characters / authors and not ones that specifically deal with issues of diversity and inclusion. It’s important the characters in the books have fun and “just happen” to be people of colour rather than ones that feature a plot line about race, which can often present a negative feeling about BAME people.
    Please list some of your own as well as others you admire.
    Many thanks in advance!
    Kerry

    Reply
  10. Tan Cheng Kim avatar
    Tan Cheng Kim

    Hello,
    I am from Malaysia and was introduced to Big Yellow Taxi by a friend. My grandson loves it. I am unable to get another copy of Big Yellow Taxi anywhere – Amazon, MPH, Google book. Can you show me a website where I can purchase the book please? Or can I get it directly from you?

    Reply
    1. KWM avatar
      KWM

      Hello
      I’m always pleased to hear good news about my books. Big yellow Taxi was one of my first books and had several editions. I don’t know of other places to try besides the ones you mentioned as it has been out of print for some time. But you might try to reach the publishers Pavilion Books in the UK, or Scholastic in the US in case they have copies or know of any other places that stock it.
      If you send me your email address I can update you as I hear any information.

      Ken

      Reply
  11. Govender avatar
    Govender

    Thank you for books that can be relative to young learners in South Africa. I teach at a pre-primary school.
    Our classroom comes alive with books especially when learners can identify with the story.
    Wonderful work.

    Reply

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