Leonard the Lyrebird - An award-winning Blue Mountains children’​s book

Leonard is friends with everyone, and boy can he sing! But will his singing talents impress the one friend he really wants? Join this charismatic Blue Mountains bird in his search for the song that will change his life…

Created by Blue Mountains writer Jodie McLeod and local illustrator Eloise Short, Leonard the Lyrebird is a story about friendship, bravery and being yourself, set in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia.

Including a mix of prose and verse, coupled with Eloise’s stunning paintings, this is a playful story that will have kids smiling… while on the edge of their seat!

Buy a signed copy of Leonard the Lyrebird here. 

Pre-order Lilah the Lyrebird here. 

The book at a glance:

• Winner: 2019 Whitley Award for Best Young Children’s Book, 
Royal Zoological Society of NSW
• Shortlisted: 2019 REAL Awards – Reading and Enjoying Australian Literature Awards (KOALAs in NSW, YABBAs in Victoria) 
• On the Book List for the 2019 NSW and Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenges
• Bilingual Italian/English translation scheduled for 2021 by Italian Publisher Voglino Editrice. 
• Adapted into a classical music composition – Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story – composed by internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Ian Munro, produced by Blue Mountains-based concert pianist and music director Grace Kim, which premiered in Feb 2019 at Scenic World, Blue Mountains.
• Featured on national TV on Channel 9 in an educational program called Reading@Home TV – produced by the Queensland Department of Education.
• Reviewed by premier Australian children's book online zines Kids' Book Review & CBCA.
• Featured as a Story of the Week on kids’ radio program, Kinderling.
• Written and published by Jodie McLeod.
• Illustrated by Eloise Short.
• Published in September 2018.
• Successful Pozible crowdfunding campaign in Nov 2017.
• Stockists in Blue Mountains, Sydney, NSW, ACT, Vic, Qld, WA.

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