Charlie's Whale

About the Author

Libby Gleeson (Author)

Libby Gleeson AM has published over 30 popular, highly acclaimed books for children and teenagers, been shortlisted for 13 CBCA Awards, and won three. Libby has been a teacher and lecturer and contributes regularly to national conferences. She chaired the Australian Society of Authors from 1999-2001, and in 2007 was awarded membership to the Order of Australia. She won the 2011 Dromkeen Medal, awarded for contributions to children's literature.

Her books have been shortlisted numerous times for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards and Libby has won several times with Hannah Plus One (Fiction for Young Readers Book of the Year 1997), An Ordinary Day (Picture Book of the Year 2002) and Amy and Louis (Early Childhood Book of the Year 2007). Libby received the prestigious Lady Cutler Award for Services to Children's Literature in 1997.

Hannah Sommerville (Illustrator)

Hannah Sommerville is a best-selling picture book illustrator who creates enchanting watercolour, guache and digital illustrations in her home on the South Coast of NSW. Hannah earned a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts and Graphic Design) at the University of Wollongong in 2006.

Hannah began illustrating in 2010 after the arrival of her young children from whom she draws inspiration. She is a storyteller who enjoys creating picture books that capture the imagination, tenderness and playfulness that surround children and family life. Her picture book Digby & Claude, written by Emma Allen, was selected for the CBCA 2019 Notables list. Anisa's Alphabet, written by Mike Dumbleton, was selected for the CBCA 2021 Notables list.