News

Chris Palazzolo, author of Personal Logistics, has won the 2026 Mattie Furphy Short Story Competition for his piece, ‘The Water Getting Red’. Judge Brooke Dunnell described Chris’s work as an experimental story that used vivid and complex detail to describe the experiences of a man returning to a pivotal moment of childhood on the last […]

Join us at AH Bracks Library + Creative Space to celebrate the launch of Gone Guru by Nadine Browne, as part of our 2026 Great Big Book Club series.

Bernice Barry received an extra special birthday gift this year when she learned her novel The Names of a Hare was longlisted for the 2026 Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. Now in its 25th year, this national literary prize has become an established and respected part of the literary landscape, with books scrutinised […]

Ninni Yabini by Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana has been selected for the IBBY-UNESCO Collection of Remarkable Books for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages. Chosen by an international committee of influential experts on children’s books after a global call for submissions, the list was unveiled at the 40th IBBY World Congress in […]

In his new cookbook, Gather, Chef Eddie Bulatao brings together native ingredients with classic recipes to create simple yet delicious dishes – such as his cinnamon myrtle damper recipe.

Join authors Barb Hostalek and Valerie Swift for a conversation about Worlds Within a World, moderated by Nandi Chinna. This free event takes place on Tuesday 25 August at the Old Midland Courthouse from 4.00–6.00 pm. In Worlds Within a World, five First Nations women show what it is like to navigate challenges and deprivations […]

Celebrate our unique WA stories this Book Week with outfits that don’t need a full costume department. This year, go local with easy ideas inspired by West Aussie books and creators. Adventure with Cristy Burne Cristy Burne’s adventure series calls for raincoats, outdoor wear and tools like binoculars or a torch! Blast into Space with […]

Colour Me is a children’s picture book that uses the rainbow as a metaphor for our diversity and uniqueness. Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Moira Court use screen prints and evocative prose to deliver a strong message of diversity and inclusion. The Colour Me colouring-in activity sheet encourages individuality, creativity and self-awareness. For more teaching activities, download […]

Activity Sheet

'Colour Me Activity'

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Get the classroom thinking creatively, and help Quokka find a friend, with this free teaching activity. Working together or solo, kids can brainstorm the animals that a quokka would encounter on the beach and draw a friend for them.

Activity Sheet

'Draw a Friend for Quokka'

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Old Bertie by Perrella and Osborn is set in a dystopian society where all aspects of life are strictly controlled. In this new teaching activity, students can create their own dystopian society and the main character who lives in it, to help students connect world-building and character. Explore our free teaching notes for more classroom […]

Activity Sheet

'Two Old Bertie activity sheets'

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The creators of A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future pulled off a 12-hour build to win another season of LEGO® Masters, splitting $100,000 in prize money. Jackson and Alex teamed up with Fleur Watkins in a Jurassic Park-themed build that featured two mechanised flying dinosaurs attacking a monorail. Tensions were high with […]

Palyku creator Professor Helen Milroy has won the ASLA DANZ (Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand) Children’s Book Award with her chapter book Sunny & Shadow.   The DANZ Children’s Book Award recognises children’s books that challenge stereotypes and celebrate diverse and marginalised people and communities. It is designed to support educators and families when looking for books that provide accurate, fair and authentic representations of disability, culture, class, LGBTQIA+, race and religion in a way that […]

‘I am a Noongar girl and I live by the sea. This is wardan country. It’s a special place for me.’ I Call the Ocean Wardan is a new picture book by Ebony Froome, and illustrated by Dellas Bennell and Korrine Bennell-Yarran. A young Noongar girl reflects on her favourite things about wardan (the ocean […]

Activity Sheet

'How Is Wardan Special to You?'

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Eight books representing nine writers have been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. They are in the running to win a $15,000 prize from a total pool of $120,000. Administered by the State Library of Western Australia, the Premier’s Book Awards support and promote authors, illustrators and publishers, while encouraging readers to engage […]

The Shameful Isles by David Price is in the running for the Margaret Medcalf Award. This is the second time the author has been shortlisted for the prize, which recognises excellence in research – particularly as it pertains to the use of materials housed in the State Records Office of Western Australia.  The Shameful Isles reveals […]

Worlds Within a World is a powerful collection of stories from five First Nations women. Edited by Ballardong Noongar woman Casey Mulder, these honest and wise reflections provide insight into what it means to grow up as a First Nations woman in the second half of the twentieth century. In this interview, authors Barb Hostalek, […]

Fremantle Press’s first permanent home, the SEC Substation at 10 Parry Street, is set to crackle and hum with the sound of new podcasts and new audiobooks, thanks to the generosity of Stott Hoare, in partnership with Microsoft. A dedicated podcast room with microphones, audio recording equipment, a big screen and a dedicated laptop were […]

Tim Winton won the first Environment Award for Children’s Literature back in 1994. Now, he and illustrator Cindy Lane are in the running for another award for Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder. CEO and publisher of the book, Alex Allan, said she was heartened by the recognition. Alex said, ‘This book acknowledges the profound part young […]

Relics from a legendary lost island, or just an elaborate hoax? Whatever the truth is behind the mysterious and legendary crystal skulls featured in The Crystal Skulls by Mark Greenwood, this is a chance for curious students to unleash their imagination. In the first free activity sheet, students can give their skull a name, some […]

Activity Sheet

'Invent a new crystal skull and investigate another ancient wonder activities'

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Bring geography to life with a treasure hunt! In this free activity inspired by The Unlucky Pirate by Mark Greenwood, students will design their own treasure map to a legendary hidden treasure. Don’t forget to draw landmarks and fill in the map legend! Then, after researching flags and their meanings, design your own pirate flag […]

Activity Sheet

'Treasure Island and Pirate Flag Activities'

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Fremantle Press is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Jones as Chair of Board and Sue Wilson as Deputy Chair. Louise replaces Clair Medhurst, who stepped down from the Board at the 2026 AGM. Longtime board members David Ansell and John Hoddinott have also stepped down. Louise Jones has been on the board for […]

Fremantle Press is happy to announce that Julia Lawrinson’s real-life tale of the Bonnie Vale mine rescue is in the running for the 2026 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. The judges said the book brought Australia’s history vividly to life, thanks to Lawrinson’s insightful language. They said, ‘Real characters come to life on […]

Palyku creator Professor Helen Milroy has two books on the ASLA DANZ (Diversity in Austrlia and Aotearoa New Zealand) Children’s Book Award shortlist: her picture book The Boab Tree and her chapter book Sunny & Shadow.   Children’s publisher Cate Sutherland said the books provided a First Nations perspective on the special connection to the place we call home and what happens when that gets severed. She said, ‘Both of Helen’s books are […]

Taking a moment to reminisce on Clair Medhurst’s history with Fremantle Press, current Chair of the Board Louise Jones shares some of her fondest memories of their time together. If I were to properly catalogue Clair’s contributions to Fremantle Press, and particularly her stewardship of the Board as Chair, over the past eight years this […]