LIBBY HATHORN
Libby Hathorn is one of Australia's most highly regarded writers for children and is also published extensively overseas. Libby has been writing for the past 25 years and is the author of numerous bestselling and award-winning books including The Tram to Bondi Beach, All About Anna, Looking out for Sampson and The Extraordinary Magics of Emma McDade. Her books for older readers include Feral Kid, Rift, the Ghostop series and Thunderwith and its sequel Chrysalis. Thunderwith is studied extensively in schools, has been translated into several languages and sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. It has now been made into a telemovie, The Echo of Thunder, starring Judy Davis and Ernie Dingo which is shortly to be screened on Australian TV. Her picture book collaboration with Greg Rogers, Way Home, was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in the UK. She has published another book with Greg Rogers, The Gift and her most recent releases are The Wishing Cupboard, a picture book illustrated by Elizabeth Stanley and Over the Moon, another picture book with Caroline Magerl.

Libby has won commendations for her books both in Australia and overseas and her work has been translated into many languages. She is the winner of the inaugural NSW Children's Week Medal 1992 for literature and she has been awarded several fellowships to write novels and poetry. Libby has also written successfully for film, opera, stage and multimedia and this year sees the re-release of her picture book, Grandma's Shoes (with new illustrations by Caroline Magerl) which she transformed into an opera with music written by Graeme Koehne. The opera was performed in January 2000 in conjunction with Opera Australia and the Theatre of Image.

Libby tours extensively throughout Australia and overseas, talking to children, parents and teachers. She is an articulate and compelling speaker, often invited to offer keynotes at major conferences. Have a look at Libby's website and at the Penguin website.

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