Meet our Story Scoop Presenters
'Combat Wombat to the Rescue!, I'm Combat Wombat, Wildlife Warrior of the Bush!' With only his wombat wits, strong claws and big behind, Combat Wombat leads his bush pals in a race against a raging bushfire. But will he outsmart sneaky Bingo Dingo?
Walking Your Human, Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking? It turns out they know just what humans want – to be walked! And once they’re on their way, these dogs will share exactly how to do it.
Bindi, Meet 11 yr old, Bindi. A new year starts like normal—school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn’t gone to plan! There’s a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist AND the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen!
Have You Seen A Tree For Me? Enzo the koala thought it was time to find a tree of his own. Like all koalas living in the wild, Enzo has to deal with lots of challenges in his search for a new home.
Heroes of the Secret Underground, Year 2000. International Year of Peace. Louie and her brothers live in the Majestic Hotel run by their Hungarian grandparents. Dark mysteries spin the kids into the past. Budapest 1944 where they meet their grandparents as children to discover truths.
Katrin is a German-born language teacher but moved to Australia with her husband and three children and became an illustrator.
Katrin creates quirky illustrations that feature different media. Her first picture book “The World’s Worst Pirate” by Michelle Worthington has been awarded Notable Book 2018 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube.
Katrin was awarded the Harper Collins Illustrators Showcase Award 2019 at the biannual SCBWI conference in Sydney. She is represented by Essie White at Storm Literary Agency. She also conducts illustration workshops.
A Perfect Pig is the fast-paced, cake hunting story of perfectionist Anton Pig trying to organise the perfect birthday surprise. When things get bumpy, Anton learns from his friends that there is beauty in the imperfect, too.
MidnightSun In 1956 Melbourne hosted the Summer Olympic Games. But when world tensions made bigger headlines than the event, John wrote an urgent letter suggesting how to change the Closing Ceremony to bring all nations together as one.
Trace Balla has just self published The Heart of the Bubble - a story with 2020 vision set in the time of corona. A touching tale of a family’s awakening to what really matters, set during the coronavirus pandemic. A Graphic Novella for all ages .
Trace is the much-loved Australian author illustrator of Rivertime, Rockhopping, The Thank You Dish, Shine and Landing With Wings. Her books are about care for the planet and one another. They also explore themes of first nations peoples, death, gratitude, resilience, friendship, community, sustainability, and are popular in schools and for all ages.
Landing with Wings 'loving portrait of community life in Dja Dja Wurrung Country, achieves something like a contemporary visual bush poetry. It is spellbinding.' The heart of the bubble
a family’s awakening to what really matters, set during the pandemic.
Dee has published more than 20 books for children and young adults in Australia, USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand.
She has travelled the world and her home country, Australia, exploring stories, and spent a month in Paris (thanks to a Creative Victoria grant) researching Beyond Belief, inspired by the true story of Muslims at a Paris mosque who saved Jewish children during WW11.
Dee has a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing and runs actual and virtual classes and workshops for writers of all ages from all over the world, helping them to publication.
Beyond Belief, In the Paris Grand Mosque (1942), 11-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis and must pass himself off as a Muslim in order to survive. One hint of his true identity and he'll be killed. Inspired by a true story.
Amelia writes funny picture books. She made her debut with CBCA Notable Book (2020), The Book Chook. Her second picture book, Bad Crab, published soon after in Australia, NZ and France. Amelia has several more funny, rhyming picture books coming out with Scholastic Australia and Allen and Unwin.
My Bird, Bertie, Two quiet friends. One little car. Just the way Bertie and Bear like it. But what happens when a bunch of their boisterous mates want a ride? Full of rhyme, rhythm and repetition, My Bird, Bertie is for 2-6 year-olds.
Aura is a children's author and illustrator based in Sydney. Her picture books are whimsical with a playful sense of humour, brimming with details to explore. Aura Parker's storytelling though words and pictures inspires imagination, courage and confidence in young readers.
Aura also shares her enthusiasm for drawing and reading in visual literacy presentations and illustration sessions, encouraging children to be creative and brave.
Aura has a background in design and regularly exhibits illustrations, screen printed art and handcrafted textiles.
Her picture books are Twig (CBCA Notable), Cocoon, Meerkat Splash (CBCA Notable) and the latest, Goodnight Glow Worms.
Goodnight Glow Worms is a cuddly, snuggly bedtime book, full of joyous, playful illustrations and bouncing rhyme - with a perfect ending to send little ones happily off to sleep.
Will those Glow Worms ever get to sleep?
Nathan is the author of middle grade novels Chicken Stu and Bad Grammar. He is also a playwright, having most recently penned the stage adaptation of Oliver Phommavanh's novel Thai-riffic! Nathan currently has two new series in the works with Scholastic Australia to be released over the next couple of years. When not writing, Nathan is also a primary school teacher, specialising in the performing arts and a judge of our very own COLLIDE! Book Trailer Competition.
The Nerd Herd, Barny the Lamb and his friends are sick of being picked on so they decide to form a gang to show everyone that they are not as soft as they look.
Elizabeth is a Sydney based author with a psychology and teaching background. I write on mental health as well as community, environmental and family health. An experienced speaker; I have presented at public events at libraries, schools, universities and educational and clinical conferences both here in Australia and internationally on topics such as my books, creative writing and storytelling as well as on family and mental health matters.
I also have a small indie imprint EC Press and have travelled to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as part of the Australian publishers collective.
I am currently the CBCA NSW Branch Eastern Suburbs Sub-branch President.
Rain Shaker, Erin lives on an Australian farm. When she discovers a snow shaker her imagination is ignited and she embarks on a magical journey of possibility of what if? Amidst climate change, Erin’s imagination helps her to make a better world.
Cate writes for children and young adults. Her first book for young readers, Trouble at Home, about a girl and her troublesome dragon, was published by Omnibus Scholastic in 2016. More stories about Trouble followed over the next couple of years: Trouble and the Missing Cat, then Trouble and the New Kid (which made the long list for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards in 2018), and, the final book in the short series, Trouble and the Exploding House.
Wyrd, for slightly older readers, was released in August 2018, and Cate’s latest book, Emergency Rescue Angel, came out in February 2020, just in time for the age of covid.
Emergency Rescue Angel, Cate talks about the story behind Emergency Rescue Angel and answers some questions about how the book evolved, its gentle humour, and what the book is about.
Benjamin works as a mild-mannered architect by daytime but roams imaginary streets as a masked vigilante-illustrator by night. Add to this that he is also a husband and dad of two girls and he is really looking forward to the day he might actually have enough time for everything he wants to get done. Drawing and illustrating for children have always been his passion. He is the illustrator of the STEM-inspired Engibears series and of Ling Li’s Lantern.
Benjamin enjoys collaboration with authors or editors. Benjamin lives and works in Sydney and probably always will, although Norway sounds nice.
Ling Li’s Lantern is a heart-warming story about compassion, kindness and the true nature of wisdom. Ling Li and her brothers are set a task to display their wisdom, however wisdom without compassion is like a lantern without a flame.
Serena is a storyteller who draws on her illustrations to capture the imagination of her readers. She encourages reluctant readers by providing visual insight into her stories, building relations between image and text. Serena brings ten years of picture book illustration and six years’ traditional animation experience, catering to preschool, primary and secondary year students.
She is the illustrator of over fifty titles and more recently author/illustrator to picture books ’Rosie and Rasmus’ and ‘Where the dragons live’ published by Simon & Schuster.
Rosie and Rasmus Two kindred spirits—a lonely young girl and a solitary young dragon—find each other and discover the power and magic of friendship in this sweetly simple picture book. Every day, Rosie waits and watches as children play together, laugh and share stories, hoping she can join in the fun and make a new friend
Sophie Masson was born in Indonesia of French parents, and brought up in France and Australia. Sophie is the award-winning author of over 70 books for children, young adults and adults.
In 2020 she has not only celebrated 30 years as a published author, but also has five books out this year.
A former Chair of the ASA, Sophie is the current Chair of the New England Writers’ Centre, Vice-President of the Small Press Network, and co-director of acclaimed children’s book publisher, Christmas Press.
In 2019, Sophie received an AM award in the Order of Australia honours list.
Santagram Santa loves getting letters, but the elves are fed up with sorting through the huge piles of mail. So they come up with a brilliant idea: an app, Santagram. Fun and so much easier!
Or is it?
Oliver Phommavanh loves to make people laugh on the page as an children's author and on the stage as a comedian. Oliver uses his experience as a primary school teacher to inspire kids to write funny stories. He has featured in Writers and Comedy festivals all across Australia and Asia. Oliver’s books include Don’t Follow Vee, Natural Born Loser, The Other Christy and Thai-riffic! His latest book is Brain Freeze.
Brain Freeze A crazy collection of funny short stories from the wacky mind of bestselling Thai-riffic! author, Oliver P, featuring characters who are all finding a way to step up and be brave
Sue Whiting is a children’s and YA author and editor. Sue was senior commissioning editor at Walker Books Australia for many years before leaving in 2016 to concentrate on her writing. As a schools’ performer, Sue has informed and inspired thousands of kids across the country. She is also a freelance editor and writing coach, and the author of numerous books, including the bestselling Missing, and the CBCA Notable Books, Platypus and Beware the Deep Dark Forest. Sue's latest books are The Book of Chance for readers 10+, and Good Question, a picture book illustrated by Annie White.
Good Question All Fox wants is a tasty meal to fill his hungry belly. But he keeps wandering into the WRONG stories. No dinner for him – just more trouble!
Will Fox ever find the RIGHT story? A TALE TOLD BACKWARDS.
Lian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War.
Lian is the best-selling author of three fantasy trilogies for children: The Keepers, The Hidden and The Rogues. Her novels have been translated into eleven languages, and her first picture book, Ella and the Ocean, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley, won the 2020 Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature. Lian’s latest book, A Clue for Clara, is a detective story starring a very determined chook.
A Clue for Clara Clara wants to be a famous detective. But she's a small scruffy chook, and no one takes her seriously - until she teams up with the daughter of the local policeman to solve a serious crime.
About Aleesah, Aleesah is the author of the hilarious League of Llamas series where the main characters are llamas … and secret agents! From an early age, Aleesah was surrounded by animals (not just her brother and sisters, although they could get pretty wild!) but the animals she had on her farm including oodles of poodles, heaps of horses, and cartloads of cows. Now that she’s grown up, she’s still surrounded by animals and loves writing about them in her books.
League of Llamas Series (4 books) Laughter is the best medicine and in this segment,
Aleesah Darlison introduces her laugh-out-loud series, League of Llamas, sharing tips on how she writes comedy and some loopy llama facts.
Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir is an Elder and Traditional Owner of Boon Wurrung Country. She is the senior linguist at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages in Melbourne. Fay is working with her own Boon Wurrung language, recording and putting language into the database for future and present generations. She presents language-related workshops to community members who are reclaiming their languages, as well as universities and TAFEs interested in understanding the many and challenging aspects of language reclamation. She also visits schools to educate students about language and culture and to teach language.
Nganga is her first children's book.
Respect is about a way of life that is older than flickering stars, stories that shimmer through tall grasses, and redgum leaves that tumble to a parched, red earth. It teaches children we need to listen, learn and share.
Renee is an author and illustrator of several successful picture books for very young readers, including Ten Little Owls, Sleep Tight, Platypup, and Roo Knows Blue.
Renee is also the creator of the highly engaging and funny junior fiction graphic novel series featuring the intrepid Sherlock Bones. Renee has a degree in environmental science and has a passionate love of natural history.
Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature Rumor has it there’s a monster wreaking havoc in the museum’s new aquarium exhibit. Can Sherlock Bones and his quirky team of detectives crack the case before it's too late?
About Carly I’m a children’s author. Big Beach BBQ is my first picture book. I started my career as a teacher and then went to work for Scholastic, where I held several positions including Book Club Editor and Classroom Essentials Manager. I started writing after having my second child. He required a lot of operations and writing was an awesome way to fill up all of those sleepless nights.
Big Beach BBQ, ‘G’day mates. Let’s grab some plates. It’s time to start the party.
Grab your tongs. Put on your thongs. Let’s have a beach-side barbie.’
About Nat, a Sydney-based writer and kidlit podcast host (One More Page) whose funny debut novel Secrets Of A Schoolyard Millionaire came out in 2019 with Penguin Random House. It had great success as both Dymocks and QBD's 'Kids Book Of The Month', becoming Australia's #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019.
Her second book The Power Of Positive Pranking was released in 2020, with two further books set for 2021.
More importantly, she was a trapeze artist, had a pet kangaroo and her secret super power is making stuff up (not lying, that's totally different!).
About The Power Of Positive Pranking, Green Peas is our name and pranking’s our game! But it’s about more than just fun. We’re determined to make a difference. No activist is too small, no prank too big... and things are about to get personal.
About Candice Lemon-Scott, she is an internationally published Australian author and presenter. She has published 14 books, including the Jake in Space and Eco Rangers series’.
Her novel Unloched was commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Her book Eco Rangers: Microbat Mayhem is shortlisted in the Wilderness Society’s Environmental Awards for Children’s Literature.
Candice has a Bachelor of Communication / Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing). She is currently undertaking a Master of Philosophy (English). She’s also a Books in Homes role model. When not writing, she can usually be found on a beach somewhere.
About Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue There’s been a devastating wildfire in the bushland. When the Eco Rangers rescue a cute little possum with burned paws, they discover that some people have been camping in the area hit by the fire. What were they doing there?
About Liz, she is an English born illustrator with over 20 published titles and a handful of awards. She illustrates picture books and junior fiction and now – after a gap of too many years – is writing them too. She draws all the time and it makes her very happy. Liz also loves exploring on her bicycle and creates huge illustrated maps for her hometown of Newcastle’s Tourism Industry. Liz’s recent publications are Maddie’s First Day, Ten Pound Pom, One Photo, Grace and Katie, Desert Lake, Howzat! With Dry to Dry, and The Biscuit Maker, up-coming this spring.
About Dry to Dry. This Nature Storybook follow-up to the award-winning Desert Lake is a stunningly illustrated and extraordinary story of the yearly weather cycle and attendant changing wildlife of Kakadu National Park, from the Dry to the Wet to the Dry again. Non-fiction
About Katrina, she is a children’s author, former primary school teacher, wife, and mother to two tweenagers and a cocker spaniel. She’s written many children's picture books and educational readers including No Baths Week, Up To Something, Isla’s Family Tree (April, 2020), and Chasing Rainbows (August, 2020). She’s highly involved in CBCA, SCBWI, literary conferences and festivals, and loves visiting schools. She’s left-handed, loves tea and rollercoasters, and is addicted to mint chocolate. While in lockdown in Disney World a few years ago, she survived Hurricane Gene (Category 5) by eating awful brownies.
About Chasing Rainbows, Sam and Ruby love rainbows. After listening to Dad's stories of rainbow magic, they set off to find some of their own. An entertaining story with a new discovery that will change the way Sam and Ruby see rainbows forever.
About Deborah, she trained as a teacher, produced and wrote a kids’ TV show before writing twenty-seven internationally published and awarded books. There’s her climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm, The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery.
About Marjorie, she’s illustrated over twenty children’s books, including The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses (Susanne Gervay), One Christmas Eve (Corinne Fenton), Say Cheese (Frances Watts) and Dinosaur Dads (Lesley Gibbes). She’s won the CBCA Eve Pownall Award.
About Bear in Space. Bear is different. And he’s obsessed with space. When he builds a rocket, the other bears laugh. When he flies into space, it’s quiet, but soon he’s lonely, until something extraordinary happens. A story about being different and finding friends who love you just the way you are.
About Victoria, she is a new and exciting picture book author who loves to play with language and tell rich and vivid stories. Her debut - the hilarious and magical RIBBIT RABBIT ROBOT - will be followed by two more books in the next two years. Fluent in French and Italian, and visitor of 51 countries and counting, Victoria is a direct descendant of King George III (the one who went mad!).
Ribbot Rabbit Robot. When a friendly frog, a greedy rabbit and a robot with a short fuse find a magic lamp, chaos follows and friendship is found ...
A hilarious tale about kindness and always reading the fine print.