Mandy is an award winning, best selling author and illustrator of more than 25 picture books, predominantly with an Australian theme. She holds a Bachelor of Design specialising in Illustration from the University of South Australia, is an Ambassador for Raising Literacy Australia, a Role Model for Book in Homes, the Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI SA branch (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and a huge animal lover.
Mandy's career highlights include a lengthy relationship with the Adelaide Zoo Education Service, drawing enough animals to fill an encyclopedia. Her obsession with drawing, particularly animals, and giving them an abundance of personality began when she was around 2, with chalk, on her grandparents pavement (she has been told by numerous students she was drawing a giraffe or a frog or a chicken - really, they were simply wonderful scribbles). She loves sharing this with students to inspire and encourage their own creativity.
When she is not drawing or painting, she spends time walking her two border collies (or stepping over them) and her pony Piccy, who she drew in ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’. Side note, he doesn’t really like apples but can hear a carrot crunch a mile away.
The only thing Mandy loves more than being in the studio or time with her animals, is sharing her passion of literacy, creativity and drawing with thousands of school students each year through workshops and presentations, especially during Book Week - discussing the process of creating a picture book, the roles of both author and illustrator and bringing along her sketchbook and paintings for show and tell… she may even draw a chicken.
Let the Singing Begin, Little Book Press, 2023.
Written by Mike Dumbleton.
What Snail Knows, University of Queensland, 2022. Written by Kat Apel.
Notable CBCA, Children's Book Council of Australia 2023 Book of the Year Awards - Young Reader
The Last Dragon, National Library of Australia, 2021. Written by Charles Massy.
Winner, ACT Notable Awards Children’s Book 2021 - Big Press.
Warna-Manda Baby Earth Walk, Little Book Press, 2021. Written by Susan Betts, co-illustrated with Susan Betts.
Shortlisted, The Wilderness Society Karajia Award for Children’s Literature.
Published Titles
Bev and Kev, Little Book Press, 2022
Written by Katrina Germein
Shortlisted CBCA, Children's Book Council of Australia 2023 Book of the Year Awards - Early Childhood.
Lucy and Copper, Hachette, 2021
Esmeralda's Nest, Midnight Sun Publishing, 2020
The Hip Hop Barn, Little Book Press, 2019
written by Phil Cummings
Joey and Riley, Hachette Australia, 2019
Longlisted for Booktopia's Favourite Australian Book Award 2019
Winner of the Little Pink Dog Books Authorstrator Award 2021
Hush Say the Stars, 2018, Little Big Book Press
Shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Awards 2019
The Bush Santa, 2016, Hachette Australia
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, 2016, Hachette Australia
This Little Roo went to Market, 2015, Hachette Australia
Bums and Tums, 2015, Hachette Australia
Captain Kangaroo Saves the Day, 2014, Hachette Australia
Knick Knack Bushwack, 2014, Hachette Australia
Captain Kangaroo and the Footy Final, 2013, Hachette Australia
Shut the Duck Up!, 2013, Hachette Australia
Captain Kangaroo and the Big Bush Bash, 2012, Hachette Australia
Below Deck on the Sunken Wreck, 2012, Hachette Australia
Captain Kangaroo and the Great Balloon Race, 2012, Hachette Australia
All Set for the Big Wet, 2012, Hachette Australia
Come Fly with Captain Kangaroo, 2012, Hachette Australia
Old McDonald had a Farm, 2013, Hachette Australia
Awarded Number 1 Best Selling Children’s Book for Hachette Australia, 2013 (number 4 within Australia)
The Wheels on the Bus, 2011, Hachette Australia
