Australian Creators visiting Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025

Author

Amy Adeney

After working in public relations for five years, and for ten years as a primary teacher, Amy turned her attention to actively pursuing her goal of writing for children. In 2017 she founded Busy Bookworms, a weekly bookclub class for preschoolers, which used picture books to inspire exciting educational activities. Amy is the author of the six-book junior fiction series Tilda Teaches (Five Mile), and the picture book Turning Cartwheels (EK Books). Her new junior fiction book Trick Shot Trevor (Five Mile), and picture book, The Little Street Library (Affirm Press), illustrated by Erin McClean, are out now.

When she’s not writing, teaching or reading, Amy can be found attempting (semi-successfully) to train her bichoodle Fred, trying (unsuccessfully) to find a recipe that both her children will like, and catching up on the latest goings-on in Summer Bay.

Illustrator & Author

Matt Shanks

Matt Shanks is an internationally-published and critically-acclaimed author/illustrator of over twenty picture books. Eric the Postie (2018) and Queen Celine (2019) were both awarded Notables by the CBCA for Picture Book of The Year. Rosie the Rhinoceros, written by Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, and Herman Crab, written by one of Australia’s favourite comedians, Peter Helliar, is available now. Matt is a two-time fellow of the May Gibbs’ Children’s Literature Trust, an Australian Literary and Numeracy Foundation ambassador, co-editor of Words Like This, and works primarily in watercolour. He lives on Boon Wurrung land with his partner and cat.

Author & Oracle Cards Creator

Jacinta Liu

Jacinta Liu is a Chinese-Australian children’s book author and oracle cards creator.

She walked away from a successful career at a prestigious investment bank in search of something more. That deeper purpose surfaced when her daughter’s life-threatening illness and recovery ignited a profound calling to write for children. She now writes to empower young readers to find their own answers.

Jacinta’s debut picture book is coming out with Hachette Australia in March 2025. Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is a heartfelt tribute to heritage, family, and the powerful women who shape us.

Besides writing, Jacinta can often be found stargazing, travelling or introspecting. She also authors, illustrates, and self-publishes her own sets of oracle cards, offering an invitation for adults and children alike to discover who they are and why they are here.

Illustrator & Author

Ramona ‘Mo’ Davey

Mo, short for Ramona, grew up on the tiny island of Jersey, home to the famous, big-eyed Jersey cows.  

She now lives in Sydney, Australia home of the mighty kangaroo, shy koala and wombats who are expert diggers! Mo spends her days drawing, writing and teaching art. Her book I Am Tree Rex! was published in 2024 with Berbay Publishing.

Illustrator

Sylvia Morris

Sylvia Morris is a children’s illustrator and science enthusiast, currently living in Marburg, Germany. She grew up in the Adelaide Hills, on the traditional lands of the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and has a Masters degree in Pure Mathematics.

While studying for that Masters degree, Sylvia got really excited by learning to draw and discovered how much she loves illustrating. It combines two of her favourite activities: reading and problem solving.

Her debut picture book The Best Hiding Place (written by Jane Godwin and published by Affirm Press) was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator Award in 2023. Her new books in 2024 are It Takes a Village, The Opal Dinosaur, and When the Stars Come Out.

Sylvia is also the cover illustrator for Amelia Mellor’s The Grandest Bookshop trilogy, and Nicki Greenberg’s The Detective’s Guide series. She has been illustrating for The School Magazine since 2018.

Illustrator

Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

As a little girl Marjorie escaped to the library as often as possible where she spent hours devouring picture books and minutely examining their illustrations. She was very young when she decided to become an illustrator like my then favourite illustrator C.W. Anderson (what little girl doesn’t love horse drawings?). Encouraged by her creative family, she gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Northern Illinois University. Following her move to Australia, she worked in many areas of illustration, including picture book illustration.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and son and spends her days happily illustrating books. She loves to experiment with new techniques for her illustrations, but always seems to return to her beloved and well-used colour pencils.

Author

Lian Tanner

Award-winning author of Rita’s Revenge, Ella and the Ocean and the Keepers trilogy.

Picture book illustrator & author

Emma Quay

Emma Quay (pronounced “kway”) is an illustrator and writer of many award-winning picture books; her memorable characters for My Sunbeam Baby, Rudie Nudie, Rudie Nudie Christmas, Baby Bedtime, Shrieking Violet, Bear and Chook and Daddy’s Cheeky Monkey are favourites on children’s bookshelves all over Australia. Her most recent title for young children is the much-anticipated Happy All Over, released in April 2024.

Emma grew up in the English countryside, and has wanted to illustrate children’s books for as long as she can remember. She works from a studio in her home and sometimes feels like she barely leaves it, but her illustrative work is held in collections around the world, including the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Author, Australian Children's Laureate (2024-2025)

Sally Rippin

Sally Rippin is Australia’s highest-selling female author and has written over 100 books for children and young adults, many of them award-winning.

As the current Australian Children’s Laureate (2024-2025), Sally is travelling around the country to chat about the ways we can share stories and support children who might struggle to read.

Sally writes stories with heart and characters that resonate with children, parents and teachers alike. Her widely popular books are beloved across the globe, and have sold more than ten million copies in eighteen countries.

A mum of three boys, Sally is particularly passionate about advocacy for kids who may have ADHD, Dyslexia or learning challenges. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is currently working on several books for children as well as adapting her work for the screen.

Illustrator & Artist

Evie Barrow

Author and Illustrator

Freda Chiu

Freda Chiu is an award nominated Chinese-Australian children’s author and illustrator. Alongside publishing, Freda’s work spans editorial illustration, public art installation, campaigns and retail graphics. Since graduating from university in 2016, she has worked with publishers and commercial clients including American Express, Walker Books and Allen and Unwin. Freda is also a tutor at the University of Technology Sydney lecturing in illustration and animation design.

Freda makes art that is colourful and humorous with a quirky edge, but always with heart. She is a lover of texture and colour, and works with traditional mixed-media.

Her books has been nominated for numerous awards, including the 2025 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards long-list for Early Childhood Books, shortlist for Best New Illustrator in The Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards 2022, and the Ena Noël Award 2022.

Author

Zanni Louise

Illustrator

Jade Goodwin

Jade Goodwin is a First Nations illustrator based in Australia.

Jade’s creative journey began at an early age in her grandparents’ screen printing studio, where she would spend an endless amount of time crafting anything she could from the studio supplies.

Her passion for creativity and illustration grew over time, eventually leading to a successful career in the children’s publishing industry where she brings imagination to life through her sweet and bright illustrations.

In November 2021, Jade signed her first picture book contract with Penguin Random House, which paved the way for her to work with leading publishers such as HarperCollins, Hachette, Allen & Unwin, Magabala, Hardie Grant (Bright Light) and Affirm Press.

Jade’s work is notable for its focus on diversity and representation. Jade has illustrated the 2024 campaign for Love Your Bookshop Day with BookPeople and was featured in an NITV/SBS article for her work in bringing authentic representation to children’s books.

She is committed to showcasing a range of perspectives through her illustrations, with the aim of inspiring children and adults alike.

Illustrator & author

Marc Martin

Marc Martin is an illustrator and author based in Naarm/Melbourne. He works across a range of commercial projects, murals, editorial work, gallery shows and picture books.

He is the author-illustrator of internationally award-winning books, including A Forest, A River, Everything & Everywhere and Masters of Disguise. He has twice been awarded Best Illustrated Picture Book by the New York Times, for A River (2017) and We Are Starlings (2023).

In 2025, illustrations from his new book Dawn were chosen for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition.

Book designer and illustrator

Sofya Karmazina

Sofya is an award-winning book designer and illustrator with a passion for great stories and children’s books. She creates her art both digitally and using traditional media. All her work is driven by curiosity and perseverance to achieve the best results.

Sofya’s combined skills in book design and illustration help maintain a versatile approach to any publishing project from initial ideas through to finished artwork.

Author

Sarah Armstrong

As a former journalist at ABC Radio – where she won a Walkley Award – and researcher/producer at ABC TV, Sarah always imagined writing a book one day. Her first novel (for adults) ‘Salt Rain’ was shortlisted for a few awards including the Miles Franklin Award. She then went on to write two more novels, ‘His Other House’ and ‘Promise’.

After becoming a mother and starting to read to her daughter, she was reminded of a love for children’s books – the thrill of endless possibility and sense of a vast world out there. ‘Big Magic’ is her first book for young readers and it includes all the things she has always loved reading about: a brave kid, the power of nature, growing up, parallel universes and circus.

Sarah lives on one acre near the town of Mullumbimby in northern NSW, with her partner Alan and daughter Amelia. They grow some of their own fruit and vegetables, following the principles of permaculture and have a dog, Louie – a much-loved, shaggy cavoodle-schnoodle – who likes to lie near her while she writes.

Children's Author, Researcher & Designer

Annabel Blake