Fox wins 2026 Lloyd O’Neil Award
Mem Fox has been named as the recipient of the 2026 Lloyd O’Neil Award in the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA).
Fox has written more than 40 books for children, including Possum Magic, Where Is the Green Sheep?, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Time for Bed , and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.
Born in Melbourne, Fox grew up in Zimbabwe and studied drama in England before returning to Australia in 1970. Her books have sold millions of copies, won multiple awards, are regularly featured in Australian picture book bestseller lists, and have been translated into 23 languages.
In 1993 Fox was awarded an AM for services to children’s literature. She lives in Adelaide and is a retired associate professor of literacy studies at Flinders University, South Australia.
Said Fox: “When I heard I’d won the Lloyd O’Neil award I didn’t scream with delight because I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a mistake. When it was verified, I glowed. ‘Awesome!’ I thought. And then I thought of the honour of it. Here I am a writer of picture books joining the ranks of previous winners including Ruth Park, Thomas Keneally, Peter Carey, David Malouf, Helen Garner and Tim Winton. It really is quite something.
“If you had told me in 1983 when my first picture book, Possum Magic, was published, that one day I would be the recipient of such an important industry award I would not have believed you. I am so proud to be part of our Australian publishing community. So thank you to everyone.”
The Lloyd O’Neil Award recognises outstanding service to the Australian book industry by an individual from within its ranks, including publishers, booksellers, authors and other industry representatives with exceptional long service to the industry. The 2025 winner was Ross Gibb.
Shortlists for the ABIA book awards and business awards were announced last month. The Hall of Fame Awards – the Lloyd O’Neil Award and the Pixie O’Harris Award – will be presented alongside the book and business winners at the ABIA ceremony at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney on Thursday 21 May.
Category: Local news
