Author and illustrator Bob Graham, winner of the Kate Greenaway medal for Jethro Byrde - Fairy Child, says making money was not his intention when he began writing for children - but he also never thought he would be giving the stuff away.
Yet, almost as soon as he heard of his win, Graham dispensed of his �5,000 prize money.
He donated the cash to various groups assisting asylum seekers and refugees in Britain and Australia, where Graham lives.
One of the principal uses for the money was to buy books to help asylum seekers fill their time and learn English.
"These are very vulnerable groups in huge need. I thought it would make a good connection to turn the money back into books," explains Graham.
He began his award-winning career almost by chance, he adds.
"It was a bit of a hobby that has gone on year upon year and I consider myself very lucky to be able to sit at home and write and draw pictures for a living."
The result has been some 25 titles - and numerous awards - in a career spanning almost 50 years.
Many of Graham's books have been included in a consignment to Australia.
Everyday life
His latest award-winner, Jethro Byrde, is a tale of traveller fairies in an urban setting.
They are befriended unquestionably by a little girl and her parents - even though the adults cannot see them.
 Jethro Byrde is underscored by the theme of tolerance |
Graham likes to base his children's stories on contemporary reality, he says.
"I never like to wander far from my desk for my stories. They are about events going on in and around where I am living.
"I work from memory, notes - and a lot of looking out of the window."
Previous titles include Queenie the Bantam and Let's Get a Pup, both of which made previous Greenaway shortlists.
Graham does not begin his stories with a "message" to children in mind, he says. Yet, a recurring theme does come through.
"A common denominator could be the tolerance of the characters that take part, both humans and animals," says Graham, whose work has also earned him human rights awards.
Learning curve
Graham's illustrations are equally strong, and words and pictures fit together like "patchwork", he adds.
Graham grew up in Sydney just after World War II and had plenty of Australian and European books to read.
 | Books by Bob Graham Max Queenie, One of the Family Let's Get A Pup, Said Kate Benny: An Adventure Story Crusher is Coming |
But increasingly, English and American literature filtered through.
To Australians, the UK's Boys' Own annuals seemed very strange, with their cosy fire-side Christmases, says Graham.
However, AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, with the illustrations of EH Shepherd, made a strong impression.
"I can't have looked at those books for more than 50 years and when I did recently, lots of thoughts and feelings came over me," says Graham.
"I didn't realise how grown-up the text is. I also realised how brilliant Shepherd was at drawing fir trees."
Graham now reads these stories to his three-year-old grand-daughter.
It gives Graham a lot of pleasure to see her reaction - but it also keeps him on his literary toes.
"I have realised just how accepting children are of situations and difficult concepts and how strong their perception is - writing is something I am still learning an awful lot about."
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It was a bit of a hobby that has gone on year upon year and I consider myself very lucky to be able to sit at home and write and draw pictures for a living 
