In 1986, Graeme Base was a 28-year-old illustrator who had already released a picture book entitled “My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch” and was on the verge of debuting his next project.
This second book, titled “Animalia,” was an intricately illustrated alphabet book characterized by Base’s distinctive baroque style. While the necessity for yet another A-B-C book was questionable, his publisher, Bob Sessions, decided to take a chance on it.
The first indication of the book’s remarkable success came when it debuted at number five on the New York Times bestseller list for 1987, following a pre-release exhibition of its artwork. All the pieces, except for two that Base kept for himself—his favorites, “Lazy Lions” and “Horribly Hairy Hogs”—were sold before the exhibition opened.
This pivotal moment changed the lives of Base and his wife, Robyn. “Suddenly we had this little pot of money,” Base recalls. “Instead of investing it or putting a deposit on a house, we bought two round-the-world tickets and set off for a year-long adventure.”
While backpacking through India and Nepal, they received updates about “Animalia” as it was released. “We were getting telegrams—showing how long ago this was—from Bob saying ‘we’ve reprinted again,’” Base recounts. The first print run of 5,000 copies was quickly increased to 10,000, marking a successful launch.
“Three weeks later, they printed another 10,000, followed by more 10,000 runs,” Base says. “Eventually, they decided to print 25,000 copies at once. While we were traveling, we learned they had just reprinted 50,000 copies.”
Since its initial release four decades ago, “Animalia” has maintained its popularity, with anniversary editions published in 1996 and 2012. It has sold over 5 million copies globally and, in early 2026, ranked fifth in Guardian Australia’s poll of the best children’s picture books in the nation.
This year marks another celebration for the book with the launch of the “Animalia: 40th Anniversary Edition” and an accompanying coloring book.
Originally hailing from the UK, Base moved to Australia at the age of eight. In England, he was a confident child, but the transition to a new school in Australia was challenging, accentuated by his strong English accent and unfamiliarity with local games. “Any kid in that situation starts figuring out how to stand out and make friends,” Base notes, which led him to pursue drawing.
After completing a degree in graphic design, Base ventured into advertising, only to realize it was not the right fit for him. “I lasted maybe 18 months, going through three jobs and getting fired from the last one,” he admits. Nevertheless, his passion for art remained. He used his final paycheck to print some of his best illustrations, which he presented to publishers in hopes of landing work designing book covers.
As opportunities began to emerge, Base decided to create his own picture book, resulting in the 1981 publication of “My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch.” When he showed the initial pages of what would become “Animalia” to Sessions, the publisher was enthusiastic. Sessions presented the completed pages at the prestigious Bologna Book Fair, where they caught the interest of Paul Gottlieb, an editor in the United States, who agreed to publish it.
Base admits it took him three years to complete the book due to his commitment to pursuing a music career simultaneously. Juggling both endeavors, he worked on “Animalia” during the day and played in a band named Rikitikitavi at night, a name inspired by Rudyard Kipling. The lead singer of the band, Robyn, eventually became his wife, and the couple recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
What propelled “Animalia” to extraordinary heights was its unprecedented reception in the United States. While still traveling, the couple made a stop in New York for promotional activities. Base’s first interview was with Charlie Gibson on “Good Morning America,” a major television show. As the interview began, Base greeted Gibson with a casual “g’day,” which charmed the host. However, in his nervousness, Base forgot to mention the book, which lay untouched on the coffee table.
Fortunately, Gibson quickly saved the moment. “With 30 seconds left, he picked up the book and held it up to the camera, promoting it in a way I couldn’t have managed,” Base recalls. “He said, ‘If you buy one book for your kids this Christmas, make it this one.’”
The impact was immediate, with “Animalia” flying off bookstore shelves and publishers scrambling to restock. That year, it became the fifth best-selling book on the New York Times list, validating Base’s youthful impulsiveness. “If we hadn’t been foolish enough to buy those round-the-world tickets, we wouldn’t have made it to New York, and I wouldn’t have done that interview,” he reflects, calling it one of those remarkable life moments.
The success of “Animalia” launched Base into a thriving 30-year career in publishing in the U.S., a rare achievement for an Australian author. While he notes that his prominence in America has diminished, he has discovered a burgeoning audience in China, following a visit to the Beijing Book Fair in 2017, where a publisher expressed interest in “The Waterhole,” a counting book featuring various animals. This book gained significant popularity and was included on a government-recommended reading list.
