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  • Published: 3 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761341977
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $29.99

The Drover's Son



Survival, truth telling and hope . . .
A unique and powerful illustrated book inspired by Leah Purcell’s bestselling novel The Drover’s Wife.
A yarn of bonding and the sharing of stories that celebrates the impact of a good man and a strong role model, and stands as a testament to the hardships and resilience of Australia's First Nations peoples.

With his father away for much of the year, Danny has had to grow up fast. He thinks that soon he will have no choice but to leave home and go droving with his father. But then he meets Yadaka, and Danny finds another path - one in which a man can be wise and gentle, and a warrior too.

A story of healing, care and connection that also shares challenging truths about the history of this country and life on the land in the late 19th century.

Based on the Henry Lawson short story, this piece of literature has been part of Leah Purcell’s life since she was five years old. Her adaptation of The Drover’s Wife started off as a play, was turned into a film, then a novel, and this picture book brings the powerful campfire chats between Yadaka and Danny to a younger audience.

  • Published: 3 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761341977
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $29.99

About the authors

Leah Purcell

Leah Purcell is an internationally acclaimed actor, writer, director, producer and one of this country’s leading polymaths. She has starred in, written, produced and directed landmark Australian films, TV, theatre and opera such as Lantana and The Proposition, Wentworth and High Country, Radiance and The Drover’s Wife. Leah’s own writing is also a pillar of the First Nations canon with landmark work such as Box the Pony, Black Chicks Talking, The Drover’s Wife, as well as classic Blak works Bran Nue Dae, The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, Brothers Wreck, All My Friends Are Racist, Redfern Now and Cleverman. The Drover’s Wife – The Opera premiered at the Sydney Opera House. Leah is a proud Koa – Gunggari – Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland.

Dub Leffler

Dub Leffler is a proud Bigambul man. In a career spanning twenty-five years, he has written and illustrated over thirty books for children and taught workshops in over 300 schools nationally and overseas. He has earned many shortlistings and won multiple awards along the way, including the CBCA’s Book of the Year in 2019 for the seminal work Sorry Day (with Coral Vass). He has collaborated with other artists, including Banksy, Shaun Tan and Quentin Blake to name a few. Celebrated internationally, Dub’s illustrations have featured at The Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy and his work is held in permanent collections around the globe, including The Library of Congress in the US.

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