Anne Cottringer (1952-) Biography

Born 1952, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Education: University of Western Ontario, B.A.; Slade School of Fine Art, London, England, Dip.Ad.; Royal College of Art, London, M.A.

Addresses

Agent—Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1F 9HA, England.

Career

Freelance cinematographer and director for films and television, 1980—; writer.

Writings

Ella and the Naughty Lion, illustrated by Russell Ayto, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1996.

Danny and the Great White Bear, Macmillan Children's (London, England), 1999.

Movie Magic: A Star Is Born, Dorling Kindersley (London, England), 1999.

Gordon, illustrated by Russell Ayto, Orchard Books (London, England), 1999.

Buster's Bark, illustrated by Candace Whatmore, Orchard Books (London, England), 2001.

Buster's Bone, illustrated by Candace Whatmore, Orchard Books (London, England), 2002.

Bruna, illustrated by Gillian McClure, Bloomsbury Children's Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Rosa and Galileo, illustrated by Lizzie Finlay, Red Fox Books (London, England), 2003.

Mary Is Scary (picture book), Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2005.

Contributor to magazines. Member of editorial board, Vertigo, a film and television magazine.

Work in Progress

A novel for young adults, Chip in Her Shoulder.

Sidelights

As a child, Anne Cottringer used to be lulled to sleep by the roar of Niagara Falls. Years later she would leave Canada for a career in England that includes filmmaking

Lonely little Bruna learns that the only thing that can truly make her warm is friendship. (From Bruna, written by Anne Cottringer and illustrated by Gillian McClure.)

and writing for children. Cottringer traveled widely to make documentaries for British television, visiting Africa, South America, India, and many destinations in Europe. She still continues to work in the film industry, but now part of her time is also devoted to creating picture books.

In Cottringer's first book, Ella and the Naughty Lion, little Ella, sister of newborn baby Jasper, watches closely as a rambunctious lion pushes the baby out of his crib, tears up his teddy bear, and acts out all her mean feelings. When Jasper is really in danger, however, Ella comes to the rescue and discovers the pride and joy of being "Big Sister" and heroine of the day. In a Booklist review of the title, Ilene Cooper suggested that children would like the "homey" atmosphere "juxtaposed with the antics of a beast wild with rivalry."

The title character in Bruna is a lonely little girl who just cannot get warm, no matter how hard she tries. After saving the life of a drowning bear, however, Bruna discovers a new spark within that provides enough warmth for both her and her new furry friend. A Publishers Weekly reviewer compared Bruna to a "fine, nineteenth-century fairy tale."

Cottringer has published several other books in the United Kingdom, including a pair about a dog named Buster and a nonfiction early reader about a girl who wins a small role in a science fiction film.