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.

Buy a signed copy of Leonard the Lyrebird AND its follow-up 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 published in 2021 by Italian Publisher Voglino Editrice. Download press release.
  • 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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