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  • Published: 4 June 2019
  • ISBN: 9780143793489
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

Lights Out, Leonard



A cheeky story about night-time fears from award-winning Australian singer and songwriter Josh Pyke.

Leonard doesn't like bedtime, especially when there's a five-nosed, seven-tailed, eleven-handed, scaly-waily monster hiding in the corner of his bedroom. It seems like Leonard will never sleep again ... until he discovers a mysterious book called How to Frighten Monsters.

  • Published: 4 June 2019
  • ISBN: 9780143793489
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

About the authors

Josh Pyke

Josh Pyke is an Australian singer and songwriter known for his six award-winning indie/folk albums, including a best-of album released in 2017. He is committed to representing the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, as one of only six lifetime ambassadors for the charity (and the only non-author lifetime ambassador). He launched the initiative 'Busking for Change' in 2009 to raise support for the ILF. Josh co-wrote the ILF song ‘Words Make the World Go Round’ with Justine Clarke, as well as co-writing, producing and mixing five songs for Justine’s new ABC2 TV show, Ta Da!
Lights Out, Leonard
is his first picture book.

Chris Nixon

Chris Nixon is an illustrator and designer based in Perth, Western Australia. His work is influenced by surf, skate, music and contemporary pop culture with an emphasis on the hand-drawn form. Accompanying his commercial work, Nixon has created several large scale artworks which have been installed around the state. In addition to his commercial illustration, Nixon has been published in over 10 children's books. In 2011 Nixon was named in the top 100 New Creatives by CMYK magazine.

Praise for Lights Out, Leonard

This book is laugh-out-loud funny ... the resolution in this story is clever, with unexpected hilarious details, and wholly satisfying. Lights Out, Leonard is highly recommended for young readers, especially anyone afraid of the dark.

Kids' Book Review

This is a quirky book with a funny twist, and it’s always entertaining to see if the kids catch on to what the parents are really up to! You’ll be reading and re-reading this one . . .

Better Reading

This is an amusing, reassuring book with a universal theme and is a good addition to the range of bedtime books for children aged 3–6.

Louise Pfanner, Books+Publishing

Awards & recognition

Australian Book Design Awards

Longlisted  •  2020  •  Best Designed Children's Illustrated Book

Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards

Shortlisted  •  2020  •  Three to 5 Years

WA Young Readers Book Award

Shortlisted  •  2020  •  Picture Book Award

Australian Book Design Awards Longlist Announced

A huge congratulations to Penguin Random House designers Louisa Maggio, Marina Messiha and Tony Palmer, who have all been longlisted for Australian Book Design Awards in 2020. The awards ‘celebrate the bravest and brightest, the most original and beautiful books published in Australia’, and is administered by the Australian Book Designers Association (ABDA).

Here are our longlisted titles:

Best Designed Children's Fiction Book
Running with the Horses by Alison Lester

Best Designed Children's Illustrated Book
Lights Out Leonard by Josh Pyke

Best illustrated Children's Book
Lottie and Walter by Anna Walker

Best Designed Children’s/Young Adult Series
Shout Out to the Girls, High Five to the Boys and Stand Up for the Future

Best Designed Autobiography/Biography/Memoir Nonfiction Cover
The Prettiest Horse in the Glue Factory by Corey White

Emerging Designer of the Year
Louisa Maggio

The shortlist will be announced in April and the winners will be announced at an awards party on 22 May. To learn more about the awards, and to see the longlists for all categories, see the ABDA website.

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Lights Out, Leonard by Josh Pyke and Chris Nixon | Read Aloud by Josh Pyke

Author and singer-songwriter Josh Pyke reads his own book, LIGHTS OUT, LEONARD, with illustrations by Chris Nixon. Find out more: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/lights-out-leonard-9780143793489 #LightsOutLeonard #JoshPyke #ChrisNixon

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Teachers' notes
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Lights Out, Leonard activity pack

The ultimate pack for dealing with your five-nosed, seven-tailed, eleven-handed, scaly-waily monster problems