The 2025 Little Hare Prize for Illustration by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing is now open!
The Little Hare Prize for Illustration was established by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing to inspire new work from unpublished and emerging artists.
The winner will receive a publishing contract and full editorial support to illustrate a new story for Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing.
This year’s Little Hare Illustration Prize text is Dinosaur Stomp by Sandhya Parappukkaran, author of the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Award–winning Stay for Dinner.
More details and eligibility requirements at the link in bio.
@sandhya_librarybagbooks #IllustrationCompetition #AustralianIllustrators #ChildrensBookArt #KidLitArt #AussieArtists #IllustratorChallenge #PictureBookIllustration
To coincide with @idpwd_au we wanted to share some details about our upcoming release World We Can Build. This is a warm-hearted picture book about the social model of disability from the creative team behind Come Over to My House: co-authors Eliza Hull (writer, musician and disability advocate) and Sally Rippin (Australian Children's Laureate) and award-winning illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett.
Carla and Sam want to play together, but there's nowhere in their neighbourhood that's accessible to them both! That is, until Carla and Sam put their heads together to dream up a place where all kids can play together, and a wonderful new space is born.
On this day, co-author Eliza Hull writes: 'I have been disabled since I was five. When I was in school, I used a wheelchair whenever I’d had surgery. Sometimes I’d have to do a whole different class than my friends because the classroom had stairs; or, if they were doing physical education, I couldn’t participate so I’d have to sit and watch, which always felt so unfair.
The social model of disability was developed in the 1980’s by disability rights activists, it focuses on the barriers the world creates, rather than on a person’s impairment. We as disabled people don’t need to be fixed, the world needs to be more inclusive and accessible!!!!
I wanted to create a children’s book that explains the social model for kids, through a beautiful friendship story.'
World We Can Build is available for preorder now.
@elizahull@sallyrippinauthor@dgraybarnett@brightlightpublishing
'Words That Taste Like Home', our new book, out on September 4th, is a story about holding onto your first language portrayed through the heartwarming relationship between Rohan and his muthassi (grandma).
When my youngest, (I call him Tee on socials) was 1, his paternal grandparents came from Kerala to live with us here in Australia for a year. He flourished in their love and care. They were eager about all aspects of his growth including language development. As they hurried to read him English words and numbers, I insisted they only focus on Malayalam words instead.
There's a cute video of Tee pointing to animals in a book and reciting the Malayalam names! Over the years we visited Appapen & Ammama during the school holidays and Tee would speak to them profusely and ungrammatically in Malayalam! 😂
I also witnessed his grasp on Malayalam dwindle as the interactions and visits reduced. At home we speak a mix of Malayalam and English, but Tee will default to English, even if I start the conversation in Malayalam. 😩
After a pandemic induced, mostly speaking English only couple of years, we visited Kerala in 2022 and something amazing happened with Tee and his Malayalam language. I wrote this story inspired by what I observed. I hope you'll love it as much as we do! ❤️
Over the coming month I'll share the ways we keep our family immersed in our first language.
Shout out to Pooja @poojades for the stunning cover design and Andie for these beautiful tiles I've been sharing!!
#wordsthattastelikehome
#HardieGrantChildrensPublishing
#languageattrition
#mothertongue
#firstlanguagelove
#malayalamlanguage
The twigs are coming to North America 🌱🪵🌳
We’re proud to announce that TWIG FRIENDS will be released by @brightlightpublishing and @chroniclebooks on September 3rd 2024 in the US and Canada.
Published as HELLO TWIGS in Australia, TWIG FRIENDS is the first book in a graphic novel series for young readers. It follows the adventures of Ziggy, Red, Noodle and Stump – as they explore nature, friendship, art and even ... VOLCANOES 🌋
The book contains three individual stories – including one never-before-seen twiggy comic. If you know a kid who likes Pizza and Taco or Narwhal and Jelly, we think they’ll also enjoy TWIG FRIENDS.
To top it all off, we’re thrilled that @rrremylai has contributed a TREE-mendous pun to the cover. Thanks Remy!
And if that’s not enough woodwork for you, a second volume called TWIG FRIENDS STICK TOGETHER will follow in early 2025.
So – who’s ready to get twiggy with it!?
Twig Friends is published by @pintadoguy , edited by @johannagogos , designed by @roman_italic and out through @brightlightpublishing and @chroniclebooks . Pre-order now, fellow twiggy friends!
HAPPY FRIYAY: There have been so many wonderful stunning new books released recently, but few surpass Worms Are Our Friends by my friend Toni D'Alia.
Much like it's predecessor Bees Are Our Friends it's a book of absolutely beautiful illustrations written in sweet educational rhyme so you learn as you are mesmerised by the illustrations. Ada picked it herself because she has great taste.
Well done Toni, Mimi and Brightlight on a book that is stunning in every way 🙂
#wormsareourfriends #tonidalia #mimipurnell #brightlight #hardiegrant #loveozkidlit #loveozpb #readtokids #auskidlit #beautifulbooks
How beautiful is this book?!
Worms Are Our Friends invites readers into a stunning garden to admire the important work of one tiny worm.
Discover how earthworms help our soil, plants and environment thrive, and encourage your kids to love nature exploration and outdoor learning.
Worms Are Our Friends is available at your local bookseller or online now!
@mimimoo_illustration@toni.dalia_author #hardiegrantchildrensbooks #hardiegrantkids #brightlightpublishing
#wormsareourfriends #worms #wormbooks #wormpicturebook #childrensbooks #picturebook #newpicturebook #newbook
#ourfriendsinthegardenseries #ourfriendsinthegarden
✨ NSW Premier’s Literary Award winners! ✨
Congratulations to the incredible Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira, who have won the Multicultural NSW Award for their picture book, Stay for Dinner! The Multicultural NSW Award is offered to work that considers aspects of cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Australian society.
Here are some of the judges’ beautiful comments:
‘Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira present a gorgeous food and cultural safari for children that is as much about appreciating and embracing the diverse ways families share a meal together, as it is a reminder that differences are mutually enriching when they are encountered without hierarchy or judgment but rather acceptance and respect. The result is a story that will have you grinning from the first page and ravenous by the last!’
@sandhya_librarybagbooks@michellepereira.illustration@statelibrarynsw
#picturebooks #picturebookstagram #picturebookswelove #kidsbooks #kidsbookswelove #childrensbooks #diversebooks #diversereads #aussieauthor #comingsoon #ownvoices #bipocauthors
Grow Big, Little Seed is a tender, hopeful picture book about miscarriage and pregnancy after loss.
Illustrated by the extraordinary papercut artist, Sarah Capon (@eyepicturedthis ), it’s perfect for children aged 2 to 7, and any family celebrating their new baby.
@becnanayakkara
#kidsbookswelove #kidsbooks #picturebookstagram #picturebookswelove #australianpicturebooks #booklaunch #newpicturebook @antigoneduchesne
Grow Big, Little Seed is a tender, hopeful picture book about miscarriage and pregnancy after loss. Illustrated by the extraordinary papercut artist, Sarah Capon (@eyepicturedthis ), it’s perfect for children aged 2 to 7, and any family celebrating their new baby.
Exciting things were happening in Nina’s home.
‘While we wait,’ said Mum, ‘let’s plant a seed and watch it grow.’
When Nina plants a pumpkin seed, she imagines herself and a little sister playing in the leaves of a large pumpkin plant. Nina’s mum is pregnant and it seems that Nina’s dreams may soon come true. But despite Nina’s loving care, her seedling stops growing as her mother’s pregnancy ends early.
As time goes by, her mother is pregnant again, and Nina finds the courage to plant another seed. This time, Nina’s seedling grows and grows, and her family embraces a joyful surprise with not one but two rainbow babies.
The perfect picture book to share with any growing family, coming to you this April!
@becnanayakkara
#kidsbookswelove #kidsbooks #picturebookstagram #picturebookswelove #australianpicturebooks #booklaunch #newpicturebook
From best-selling author Sophie Beer comes this loving tribute to real-life mama bears.
A bear hug from my mama is the warmest place to be.
We’ll sleep inside our cave, all snuggly brave ... my Mama Bear and me.
Bears can be cuddly soft and grizzly grumpy. But who is the cuddliest, grizzliest bear of all? Why, it’s MAMA BEAR!
Find a copy at your local bookseller or online now!
@sophiebeerdraws
#picturebookstagram #kidsbooks #kidsbookswelove #picturebookswelove
Maymoona's Moon is a heartwarming picture book about the excitement of waiting for Eid. Written by Razeena Omar Guta (@razeenareads ) and illustrated by Zayneb Haleem (@idotdoodle ) readers aged 3 to 8 years will delight in searching for the crescent moon. The hullabaloo is contagious!
Eid-al-Fitr is a joyous time of year for Muslims. It marks the end to Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, praying and deep spirituality – so the build-up to Eid is exciting and exuberant. In this gorgeous story about anticipation, celebration and tradition, a young girl called Maymoona – self-proclaimed future astronaut – cleverly finds a way to be the first to see the crescent moon in the sky, and to announce that Eid has begun.
#kidsbookswelove #kidsbooks #picturebookstagram #picturebookswelove #australianpicturebooks #EidCelebration #Eid
Inclusive, uplifting and celebratory, I Can Feel Lots of Things! empowers children to discard age-old ideas like boys shouldn't cry and girls can't be angry – and to feel whatever emotions they like!
Author–illustrator Susann Hoffmann has included a range of emotions that all toddlers and preschool kids may feel at different times. Her simple language and inclusive artwork will make I Can Feel Lots of Things! a firm favourite with both little and big readers.
@susannhoffmann_illustration #kidsbookswelove #kidsbooks #picturebookstagram #picturebookswelove #australianpicturebooks #booklaunch #newpicturebook
