Griffiths named Australian Children’s Laureate; Australia’s best children’s picture book; DIY Publishing Toolkit
Local news
This week, Author Andy Griffiths was named the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2026 and 2027; Simon & Schuster reorganised its Australia and New Zealand sales team, with Elissa Baillie moving into a wider role and Keiran Rogers departing the organisation; and Keeperton appointed former S&S staff member Dan Ruffino to the newly created role of head of commercial strategy. Australia Reads has become an independent not-for-profit organisation with a new board; and Kill Your Darlings announced Laura Elizabeth Woollett and Sam Twyford-Moore as two regular critics for the magazine.
Diverse public library collections in NSW will be protected under new legislation and “respond to challenges to materials from individuals or groups seeking to restrict their scope”; and a new website, Folio, has been launched showcasing stories from the Australian comics community.
Sadly, former publisher and bookseller Robert Ungar has passed away.
Awards
Adding to Griffiths appointment as laurette, the children’s book world has been buzzing with awards this week. Local children’s publishers were shortlisted for the 2026 Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year; the Guardian announced the winner of its poll for Australia’s best children’s picture book as Magic Beach by Alison Lester (A&U Children’s); and the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the introduction of the Middle Readers Book of the Year category from the 2027 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
The Hunter Writers’ Centre announced the 2025 shortlist for the $15,000 Newcastle Poetry Prize.
Features
Books+Publishing features this week included the republication of Angela Glindemann discussion on the role of writing centres in an article for the Conversation; Junior Book Club, with books for young readers; and academics Alexandra Dane and Kim Wilkins sharing information on their DIY Publishing Toolkit.
Events
The Sorrento Writers Festival announced its 2026 festival program, running from 23 to 26 April 2026 in Sorrento, Victoria; and Hachette Australia, Australian Publishers Association, Media Diversity Australia and Diversity Arts Australia partnered to present “Belonging and Storytelling: Diversity in Publishing”.
Acquisitions
Allen & Unwin acquired world rights to Musquito: The real story of a legendary colonial warrior, a biography of the First Nations resistance warrior known as Musquito, written by Naomi Parry Duncan; Penguin Random House acquired Australian rights to I Love the Whole World! by Victoria Hannan, a novel about friendship, ageing and the extra/ordinary act of deciding to begin again, via a deal brokered by Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown Australia; Affirm Press acquired world rights to Call Girl Confidential by Blue-Eyed Kayla Jade, via a deal brokered by Lem Zakharia from Bedou; and Riveted Press has acquired world rights to The Stolen Bairn, a middle-grade historical fantasy by children’s author and media professional Katrina Macdonald Roe.
International
The Taipei International Book Exhibition finished its 6-day event this week, under the theme “Reading Is Amazing”, reported Publishers Weekly (PW); in the UK, Hachette Children’s Group launched 3 imprints “as part of a branding refresh […] under the new leadership of managing director Ruth Alltimes”, reported the Bookseller; and Victoria Pepe has been appointed publishing director of a new Simon & Schuster UK (S&S) digital-first imprint to be launched later this year, reports the Bookseller.
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Category: This week’s news
