Graham (W.) Meadows (1934–) Biography

Born 1934, in Bristol, England. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Bristol, B.V.Sc., 1958.

Addresses

Agent—Ray Richards, Richards Literary Agency, 49c Aberdeen Rd., Castor Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.

Career

Writer and photographer. Veterinarian, in Evesham, England, 1958–67; Matamata Veterinary Club, Matamata, New Zealand, veterinarian, 1967–71; Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand, curator and veterinarian, 1975–80; Animal Concepts Ltd., managing director, 1975– World Wildlife Fund, regional coordinator, 1980–82; Graham Meadows Ltd., Helensville, New Zealand, founder and managing director, 2003–. Host of television programs for New Zealand television.

Writings

JUVENILE NONFICTION; SELF-ILLUSTRATED

Animal Sanctuaries, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1988.

Zoos Past and Present, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1988.

The Underwater Zoo, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1988.

Extinction Is Forever, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1989.

Photography, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1989.

Discovering the Past, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1989.

Animals Talk Too, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1989.

Who Looks after Me?, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1989.

Pets Need People, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1990.

Animal Friends, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1990.

Cass Becomes a Star, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1990.

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1991.

Fascinating Facts about Animals, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1991.

Rabbits, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1991.

All about Donkeys, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1992.

Cats, Cats, Cats, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1992.

Nests, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1993.

In the Park, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1993.

Look Out!, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1993.

Toes, Wendy Pye Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand), 1994.

Cats, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

A Visit to the Vet, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

Happy Face, Sad Face, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

Hot Potato, Cold Potato, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

Big and Little, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

Watching the Whales, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1995.

The Bird Barn, Lands End Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1996.

Duck Magic, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1996.

Lady and the Champ, Celebration Press (Lebanon, IL), 1996.

After the Rain, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1997.

Hands, Hands, Hands, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1997.

Beaks, Shortland Publications (Auckland, New Zealand), 1997.

Animals Are Not like Us: Horses, Ashton Scholastic (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Animals Are Not like Us: Pigs, Ashton Scholastic (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Animals Are Not like Us: Dogs, Ashton Scholastic (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Animals Are Not like Us: Cats, Ashton Scholastic (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Keeping Clean, Getting Dirty, Macmillan Education (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Whales Have Tails, Macmillan Education (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Some Animals Have Horns, Macmillan Education (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Eating, Macmillan Education (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

This Is My Garden, Macmillan Education (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

A Bean Bonanza, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

The Glass Bottle, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

The Pine Tree, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

Champions in the Making, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

Behind the Scenes at the Zoo, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

Making a Motorway, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

A Vet's Day, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

Taking Off, Barrie Publishing (Melbourne, Australia), 1999.

Pets and Other Animals, Bridgehill Publishing (Alexandra, New Zealand), 1999.

"DOMINIE WORLD OF ANIMALS" SERIES; JUVENILE NONFICTION; AND ILLUSTRATOR

(With Claire Vial) Lions, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Elephants, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Zebras, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Giraffes, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Baboons, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Hippos, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Rhinos, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Leopards, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Kangaroos, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Koalas, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

(With Claire Vial) Foxes, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Gorillas, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Otters, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Wolves, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Polar Bears, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Brown Bears, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Orang-utans, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Tigers, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Cheetahs, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

(With Claire Vial) Pandas, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2000.

"DOMINIE WORLD OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES" SERIES; JUVENILE NONFICTION; AND ILLUSTRATOR

(With Claire Vial) About Amphibians, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Introducing Frogs and Toads, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Newts and Salamanders, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Fascinating Frogs, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) About Reptiles, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Introducing Lizards, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Introducing Snakes, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Tortoises and Turtles, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Constricting Snakes, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

(With Claire Vial) Chameleons, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2001.

"DOMINIE WORLD OF INVERTEBRATES" SERIES; JUVENILE NONFICTION; AND ILLUSTRATOR

(With Claire Vial) Introducing Invertebrates, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Introducing Arthropods, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Ants, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Beetles, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Butterflies and Moths, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Flies, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Grasshoppers and Crickets, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Snails and Slugs, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Spiders and Scorpions, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

(With Claire Vial) Wasps and Bees, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2002.

"DOMINIE WORLD OF BIRDS" SERIES; JUVENILE NONFICTION; AND ILLUSTRATOR

(With Claire Vial) What Is a Bird?, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Perching Birds, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Non-Perching Birds, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Where Birds Are Found, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Bird Feathers and Flight, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) What Birds Eat, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Bird Migration, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) How Birds Keep in Touch, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Bird Families and Life Cycles, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

(With Claire Vial) Birds and People, Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 2004.

ADULT NONFICTION; AND ILLUSTRATOR

Graham Meadows on Pets, Wilson and Horton (Auckland, New Zealand), 1979.

Graham Meadows' Guide to Pet Care, Pan Books (Auckland, New Zealand), 1988.

(With Howard Loxton) The Noble Cat, David Bateman Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand), 1990.

An Illustrated Guide to Dogs, Reed Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1992.

An Illustrated Guide to Cats, Reed Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1993.

A New Zealand Guide to Cattle Breeds, Reed Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1996.

Sheep Breeds of New Zealand, Reed Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1997.

(With Elsa Flint) Before You Call the Vet: Horses, Ponies, and Donkeys, Reed Publishing (Auckland, New Zealand), 1998.

(With Elsa Flint) The Dog Owner's Handbook, Struik Publishing, 2001.

(With Elsa Flint) The Cat Owner's Handbook, Struik Publishing, 2001.

(With Elsa Flint) The Chunky Cat Book, New Holland Publishing, 2003.

OTHER

A Seal on the Motorway (adult novel), Hodder and Stoughton (Auckland, New Zealand), 1982.

The Adventures of Granny Gatman (juvenile fiction), Dominie Press (Lebanon, IL), 1999.

Columnist for a New Zealand newspaper. Author of television series.

Sidelights

Graham Meadows practiced for nine years as a veterinarian in England before immigrating to New Zealand. There he practiced for an additional four years before taking on the position of curator and veterinarian at the Auckland Zoo. In addition to his career as an animal doctor, Meadows is also a prolific author who has written over one hundred books, most of which seek to educate children about animals. Among his many titles are An Illustrated Guide to Dogs: Their Selection and Care, Cats, Dogs, Newts and Salamanders, and Introducing Frogs and Toads. Skilled in the use of a camera, Meadow has illustrated many of his books with his own photographs.

Meadows told Something about the Author: "My writing stems from my passion, which is to interest my readers, especially children, and provide them with information that not only answers their questions but also gets them thinking. Coming from a veterinary background, my main focus has been in animals, natural history and conservation, but plenty of other subjects interest me and are incorporated into my books.

"I write mainly for children because they are the future. I try to stimulate their interest in a particular subject, and get them to think about issues, in particular the need to respect all forms of life, and have concern for conservation, recycling, and the future of our environment.

"My inspiration for subjects almost always stems from sights that I have seen or photographs that I have taken. The image of a duck preening beside a lake prompted me to write a children's nonfiction book titled Keeping Clean, Getting Dirty.

"My writing has certainly changed, and improved, over the last twenty years. In the early days I wrote the subject matter first and then looked for the photograph to match it. Now I usually select the photograph that best shows the subject matter, and then write the text to describe it."