My mission

My mission is to create a follow-up to my award-winning Blue Mountains children’s book Leonard the Lyrebird, illustrated by Eloise short, titled Lilah the Lyrebird. 

About the book

Lilah the Lyrebird is a story about resilience, bravery and love, weaving the concept of bushfires and how this remarkable bird rises courageously in the face of danger. Written by Blue Mountains writer Jodie McLeod and illustrated by Katoomba artist Eloise Short, it includes all the elements readers love about Leonard the Lyrebird – rhythm and rhyme, incredible illustrations that capture the beauty of the Blue Mountains and an engrossing tale that inspires children to find inner confidence, trust their instinct and challenge self-limiting beliefs. 

Inspiration

I always intended to give the leading lady of Leonard a book to herself, for a number of reasons:

1. Go the girls! As a mother of two young daughters I'm very aware of the need for strong female lead characters in picture books. One recent study on bestselling children’s books showed male protagonists outnumbered female leads in children’s book by 3 to 2! I’m looking forward to adding another to the rising number of female-led picture books.  

2. Female lyrebirds: It's a little-known fact that female lyrebirds are just as clever singers as male lyrebirds; they're just pickier about when they sing – usually when threatened. Male lyrebirds are often given all the singing credit, perpetuated by many a viral YouTube clip of them mimicking chainsaws or flutes, which feels like an interesting parallel to the voice (or lack thereof) given to female protagonists in the picture-book world. I want to draw attention to the female lyrebird's extraordinary talent! 

3. Bushfires in the Blue Mountains: 

The 2019/2020 bushfire crisis in the Blue Mountains and Australia – which destroyed an estimated 80 per cent of the Blue Mountains National Park along with 50 per cent of the superb lyrebird’s habitat – brought home just how precious our native flora and fauna are. It’s scary to think how much wildlife has been affected, but experts suggest the devastation is so severe that even the lyrebird may become endangered.

I want to use storytelling to inspire a love for nature within children everywhere so that they might become champions of our wildlife and national parks in the future as our world faces increasing climate-driven disasters.

I also want to directly help animals, which is why I am donating 5 per cent of profits from every book sold through Pozible and online thereafter to WIRES, which helps save and protect Australian wildlife. So you know your pledge is giving a little bit back to the bush.

4. Obeying the muse: I have always had a feeling that the stories of Leonard – and now Lilah – needed to exist. These characters demanded their stories be told, and I had no choice but to obey! 

Lilah is the voice of truth in the first book – an insightful character that helps Leonard discover his authentic self. But she herself is also battling some self-beliefs that prevent her from truly becoming who she's meant to become. Lilah's tale of overcoming her own fears in the name of love simply had to be written and shared. 

Success of Leonard the Lyrebird

Why should you trust this will be a darn good book? Because we've done it before. 

Here's a snapshot of the cool things Leonard has done...

•  Winner: 2019 Whitley Award for Best Young Children’s Book, 
Royal Zoological Society of NSW

•  Shortlisted: 2019 REAL Awards – Reading and Enjoying Australian Literature Awards (KOALAs in NSW, YABBAs in Victoria) 

•  On the Book List for the 2019 NSW and Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenges

•  Written & published by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short, published in September 2018 

•  Successful Pozible crowdfunding campaign in Nov 2017.

•  Adapted into a classical music composition – Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story – composed by internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Ian Munro, produced by Blue Mountains-based concert pianist and music director Grace Kim, which premiered in Feb 2019 at Scenic World, Blue Mountains. 

•  “Production quality is high, redefining expectations for self-published children’s books.” - Maura Pierlot, CBCA. Read review.

•  Stockists in Blue Mountains, Sydney, NSW, ACT, Vic, Qld, WA.

•  Read testimonials, buy online and find stockists here.

About the author

My name is Jodie McLeod and as well as authoring Leonard the Lyrebird I'm a copywriter, journalist, editor and incessant dabbler in creative side projects. I'm also mum to two girls aged 4 and 6. I've completed a Bachelor of Creative Writing (Hons) at the University of Wollongong, and am thrilled to be bringing this second Blue Mountains story – which has the tick of approval from my own children – to life. 

You can see more of my work (and side projects) here.

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About the illustrator

Hi, my name is Eloise Short and I’m an illustrator, textile designer and artist, based in the Blue Mountains where I live with my family. I loved illustrating Leonard the Lyrebird and I’m looking forward to working with Jodie again and revisiting the Australian bush and these two delightful characters.

We all know the positive benefits that come from reading to our kids from the moment they’re born but there is another reason that stories like this should be told.

Most Australians live in urban environments and don’t get regular opportunities to directly connect with our amazing flora and fauna, yet the future of our planet relies on humans feeling connected to the natural world and wanting to protect it. Igniting a passion for and inspiring our children to connect with nature is key to this and I feel stories like Leonard’s and Lilah’s provide an opportunity for this connection to happen.

Our indigenous plants and animals are more vulnerable than ever following the bushfires of 2019-2020. Lilah’s story touches on these themes and gives our kids a chance to gently understand the experience from the perspective of the animals affected, but with all the charm, amusement, drama and hope, that Jodie’s stories are known for.

Will I be illustrating another bunyip? You'll have to make a pledge to find out! 

Thank you so much in advance if you pledge to help make this book happen. We can’t wait to deliver the finished product to you!

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. 

Why pledge? 

We urge all parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, godparents, friends of parents and friends of people who are thinking of becoming parents – who love excellent quality, stunningly beautiful and heart-warming picture books – to make a pledge to this locally created project!

Connect with the nature: Not only will this book be a souvenir of the Blue Mountains and the Australian Bush – it will awaken your little one’s wonder at the world around them, and will take a seat alongside some of your favourite Australian bush animal stories.

High quality production: You know and trust the quality of the original Leonard the Lyrebird – and Lilah matches that same standard with a brand new story but with the familiar look and feel of the first book. These two books simply have to be a pair on the bookshelf!

Giving back to the bush: Every book sold through Pozible will go towards helping save Australian wildlife through WIRES, so you know your money is supporting a relevant and worthwhile cause. 

The perfect gift: Making a pledge is also a fantastic way to tick off all your child-related presents from December 2020 onwards. You can buy multiple signed copies of the book by selecting the amount you want when you make a pledge. 

Support Aboriginal children's literacy: There's also the option of donating copies to the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation. PLUS – everyone who pledges will receive an invite to the very kid-friendly book launch at a yet-to-be-determined Blue Mountains location. There'll be activities, book readings and fun stuff for all.

A NOTE ON COVID-19: We realise this is a strange and unnerving time in the world with the spread (and containment) of COVID-19 and the ensuing financial uncertainty, but we felt it was right to forge ahead with this project, which we hope will give our community and families everywhere something positive to look forward to and celebrate. Children will always need books – especially excellent quality ones, and the arts and nature have proved themselves as saviours in difficult times by helping people cope and retain hope for the future. Support this project and it will help everyone keep sight of the light at the end of the tunnel!

Help us bring Lilah the Lyrebird into the world by making a pledge right now! 

After publishing Leonard the Lyrebird in 2018 I’m well aware of the costs involved in creating a high-quality children’s book. To cover unexpected costs I encountered the first time around I’ve upped my goal to $15k. 

The money raised through this crowdfunding campaign will be used to fund:

• Illustration
• Production
• Graphic design
• Typesetting
• Editing
• Cover design
• Printing
• Shipping
• Distribution

The wonderful thing about making a pledge is that you will receive an actual thing for your money! You’re essentially pre-purchasing a lovely, locally created product that will bring the children in your life joy for years to come. How’s that for value?!