Larrikin House acquires Barkla’s ‘Robo-teacher’

Larrikin House has acquired Robo-teacher, a picture book written by Charlotte Barkla (All Bodies Are Good Bodies, Little Hare) and illustrated by Gabrielle Petruso.

According to the publisher, Robo-teacher follows 10-year-old Hazel, who has ‘the meanest teacher at Plonkton Primary’. When Hazel’s teacher, Miss Horrid, cancels a class excursion, Hazel and her friends design an AI Robo-teacher to replace Miss Horrid.

‘It’s not long before Robo-teacher turns robo-evil, controlling traffic lights across the city, making satellites fall from the sky and trying to demolish the town to make way for a gigantic robot-building factory,’ said the publisher. 

Barkla is a Brisbane-based children’s author and teacher. Her books have been shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards and the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

Discussing the acquisition, Barkla said: ‘I had so much fun writing this book. It’s quirky and humorous with Roald Dahl vibes. My favourite character is Miss Horrid, the evil teacher. (But is she really evil, or just misunderstood?) Either way, kids will love reading her horrible exploits.’

Larrikin House publisher Dani Vee said: ‘What better way to explore the impact of AI through creating your own teacher, and it doesn’t go well? A fun way to explore technology gone wrong!’

Larrikin House plans to release Robo-teacher in September 2025.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions