Bob Kerr (born 1951)^[1] is an author, illustrator and artist based in Wellington, New Zealand.^[2][3][4] He writes and illustrates children’s books and has won several awards for his work.^[1] He lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.

Bob Kerr was born in 1951 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Tokoroa and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons) in 1974 from the University of Auckland.^[2] In 1973 he was an editor of Craccum (the Auckland University Students' Association weekly magazine) along with collaborator Stephen Ballantyne, with whom he went on to create Terry and the Gunrunners,^[5] which has been adapted for television twice. The first series was released in 1985 and is hosted in full on NZ On Screen.^[6] The 2016 series^[7] was "a darker, edgier, more mature reboot of the show".^[8] The comic was re-issued in 2015.^[9][10]

He was a judge of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2005 and 2012; in 2005 he was the convener of the panel.^[2]

Many of his stories have appeared in the New Zealand School Journal.^[11] He was included in the book A Nest of Singing Birds: 100 Years of the New Zealand School Journal.^[12]

Kerr's paintings are often based on historical events.^[4] His work has featured the stories of conscientious objectors,^[13] scientists,^[14] the New Zealand Wars,^[15] the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu,^[5] a New Zealand soldier's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign,^[16] and the Waihi miners' strike of 1912.^[17] His best-known work appears on the cover of Michael King's book The Penguin History of New Zealand (2003).^[18]

• Lucy’s Big Plan, text by Christine Harris (Collins 1977).
• Lucy Loops the Loop, text by Oz Kraus (Collins 1979)
• Terry and the Gunrunners, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Collins 1982)
• Terry and the Yodelling Bull, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Finlayson Hill 1986)
• Terry and the Last Moa, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Hodder & Stoughton 1990)
• For a Living, co-edited with Linda Mitchell (Working Life Publications 1991)
• The Optimist (Mallinson Rendel 1992)
• The Day of the Rain, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1993)
• The Day of the Snow, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
• The Paper War (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
• Mechanical Harry (Mallinson Rendel 1996)
• Strange Tales from the Mall (Mallinson Rendel 1998)
• Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle (Mallinson Rendel 1999)
• After the War (Mallinson Rendel 2000)
• Field punishment No.1., text by David Grant with paintings by Bob Kerr (Steele Roberts, 2008)
• Waiheathens. Voices from a Mining Town, text by Mark Derby with paintings by Bob Kerr (Atuanui Press, 2013)
• Best Mates, text by Philippa Werry (New Holland Publishers, 2014)
• Changing Times, The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper (Potton and Burton 2015)

• 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Best First Book for The Optimist.
• 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for The Optimist.
• 1994 AIM Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for The Day of the Rain.
• 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Children’s Choice Winner for Mechanical Harry.
• 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for Mechanical Harry.
• 1999 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for Strange Tales from the Mall.
• 2000 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle.
• 2001 Russell Clark Award Winner for After the War.
• 2001 Esther Glen Award Shortlist for After the War.
• 2001 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for After the War.
• 2001 PANZ Book Design Awards Best Use of Illustration Winner for After the War.
• 2001 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for After the War.
• 2016 Storylines Notable Book Award (Picture Book) for Changing Times: The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper.
• 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award for Changing Times.
• 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Changing Times.