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Stephen Michael King
Photo Credit: Trish Hayes

Stephen Michael King

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Stephen Michael King has been described as an artist who 'draws from the inside out', and it is this gentle, intuitive truth that gives heart and playfulness to his work. Stephen Michael King is an internationally renowned, award-winning author and illustrator whose career has spanned over thirty years, producing more that one hundred titles. He has worked with a stable of Australia's best children's book authors including Glenda Millard, Margaret Wild, Nick Bland, Peter Carey and Tim Winton. Books that Stephen Michael King has written and illustrated include: Three; Rainbow Bear; Mutt Dog!; Leaf; and Milly, Jack and the Dancing Cat. His books have been translated into over twenty languages, and he is frequently honoured in children's book award categories – including winning the CBCA Book of the year, and the Prime Minister's Literary Award.

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9 audiobooks for the whole family to enjoy

The perfect way to listen and learn! 

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CBCA Book Award Notables 2022

Fourteen Penguin and Puffin books have been selected for the CBCA Book Awards Notables list.

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Let's read a story together

Picture books read aloud by Matt Preston, Zoë Foster Blake and more!

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Bear and Rat by Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King | Read aloud by Christopher Cheng

Buy now: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bear-and-rat-9781760896287 Bear and Rat are the best of friends who do everything together, but Rat wonders if Bear will always be there to hold her hand, no matter what happens. #BearandRat #ChristopherCheng #StephenMichaelKing

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Bear and Rat by Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King | Meet the Creators

Buy now: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bear-and-rat-9781760896287 A powerful and uplifting story about loving friendship, even through the hardest of times. Bear and Rat are the best of friends who do everything together, but Rat wonders if Bear will always be there to hold her hand, no matter what happens. #BearandRat #ChristopherCheng #StephenMichaelKing

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Bear and Rat by Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King | Read aloud by Christopher Cheng

Buy now: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bear-and-rat-9781760896287 Bear and Rat are the best of friends who do everything together, but Rat wonders if Bear will always be there to hold her hand, no matter what happens. #BearandRat #ChristopherCheng #StephenMichaelKing

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Atticus Van Tasticus by Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King | Book series trailer

Buy now: https://www.penguin.com.au/brand/atticus-van-tasticus Hoist the Jolly Roger, sharpen yer cutlass, and load the cannons - 'tis time for ye to EMBRACE YER INNER PIRATE! Get on board The Grandnan, the fantastic ship owned by Atticus Van Tasticus, 10 year old rookie pirate. It's 1750, when times were tough and teeth were rotten, when kids could be pirates and clocks went tick-tock. As part of an ancient family tradition, young Atticus Van Tasticus narrowly escapes a life down the coal mines – or worse, going to school – when he gets to choose the gift of a pirate ship from his Grandnan’s treasure pile. It’s a choice that will change the course of history – well, OK, his story, at least. Atticus pulls together a rag-tag bunch of misfits – AHEM – a tough, brilliant crew, and sets out to wreak havoc – I mean – live a piratin’ life. With little else to his name, Atticus has a taste for adventure, beauty and danger – where any minute might be your last, and your next minute could be your best (…if only they could get off the dock). #AtticusVanTasticus #AndrewDaddo #StephenMichaelKing

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Puffin Celebrates 80 Years | Author Q&A Part 4

Buy now: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/lists/puffins-80th-picks To commemorate our 80th anniversary, we asked some of our favourite people -- our Puffin authors and illustrators -- a bunch of weird and wacky questions! Hear what Aleesah Darlison, Aura Parker, Mark Greenwood, R.A. Spratt, Stephen Michael King and Heath McKenzie had to say. Keep your eyes peeled for more Puffin videos, coming soon!

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At home lesson: pirate inspired imaginative writing

All hands hoay with these creative writing tips!

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Easy activities for kids at home

Keep the kids entertained with these fun book-related ideas. There's an activity book for every age: one for littlies, one for kids and one for grown-ups too!

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Puffinalia for educators

Celebrating 80 years of Puffin!

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Atticus Van Tasticus 2: The Map of Half Maps by Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King

ATTICUS VAN TASTICUS is back. And this time he means business. Having escaped certain disaster on the high seas, he’s on the scent of treasure. Then the call comes from above: 'Ship ahoy, Captain, ship ahoy!' If only it were good news, which of course it ain't. Vicious, mean and mighty unclean Bjorn Ironhead is on the warpath – and Atticus and his crew are in his sights. Stay and fight, or run and hide? But where do you hide a pirate ship, and who’s this Captain Half Map, and, most of all, where’s that TREASURE OF TREASURRRRES?! Join Atticus and his crew as they roll from one adventure to certain disasterrrrr… Available in paperbacks, ebooks and audiobooks: Atticus Van Tasticus 1: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/atticus-van-tasticus-9780143796541 Atticus Van Tasticus 2: The Map of Half Maps: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/atticus-van-tasticus-2-the-map-of-half-maps-9781760892913 #AtticusVanTasticus #AndrewDaddo #StephenMichaelKing

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Win a mural by Stephen Michael King

Plus a visit from Andrew Daddo!

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Jolabokaflod - Your new favourite Christmas tradition

Jolabokaflod is the beautiful Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve.

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Atticus Van Tasticus by Andrew Daddo & Stephen Michael King

As part of an ancient family tradition, young Atticus Van Tasticus narrowly escapes a life down the coal mines – or worse, going to school – when he gets to choose the gift of a pirate ship from his Grandnan’s treasure pile. A fabulously funny new illustrated junior fiction series from the brilliant and whacky creative minds of Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/atticus-van-tasticus-9780143796541