tania mccartney
is an Australian author, editor, publisher, photographer, magazine writer, mango devourer and helipad.
She is the author of the Riley the Little Aviator travelogue series of picture books, as well as children's fiction and non-fiction, and adult non-fiction. Her first lifestyle book - handmade living - was published in 2010 and she has several new books coming out in 2012/2013. See BOOKS for a full bibliography.
Tania has recently become an ambassador for the National Year of Reading, representing the ACT. Her children's literature website, Kids Book Review is a partner for the NYR and Tania also runs Bedtime Stories, an NYR initiative with Australian Women Online.
Head to the NYR website for more!
school visits & speaking
are something Tania loves to do and can be tailored to suit ages, group size and school rehas much experience with readings, presentations and workshops ,and has even been a priry school writer in residence.
Tania has much experience speaking to and presenting to adults. You can see just some of the events she's been involved in here. You can book Tania directly or via CreativeNet.
did you know?
Tania has lived in France, England and China. She still speaks French très bien and can shop up a storm in Putonghua (that's Mandarin to you).
Tania loves mangoes, kids, wasabi (ouch!), books and sparkling mineral water.
She was born on a little island called Tasmania where she developed a loving relationship with raspberries.
She was born on the 19th of February and she is an Aquarian Earth Monkey Empress Master Jade Goddess.
Tania lives in Canberra with a very nice husband and two little Aussie adventurers... Ella and Riley. Ella will have her own book series soon. She's into horses.
Tania doesn't like paper cuts. She does like Japanese fabric. She doesn't like worms (although she does appreciate how important they are to our planet). She does like stickers.
Her favourite authors include Enid Blyton, Jackie French, Mo Willems, M. Sasek, Emily Gravett, Morris Gleitzman, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Oliver Jeffers, Maurice Sendak, Davide Cali, Bob Gill, David Shannon, Bill Bryson, A.A. Gill and Shakespeare. Her favourite books include Knuffle Bunny and Chicken Soup with Rice.
One of her favourite things in the whole wide world is reading to kids.
photo gallery
Click here for a gallery of author, event and school visit photos that you are welcome to use.
the real Riley
Oh yes, there is a real Riley. He may not travel in a red tin plane but he is a little adventurer and he's Tania's son! Here he is having a laugh over one of his favourite authors, David Shannon.
Riley is football mad (any code will do) and has a mean drop kick.He was born in 2003 and is an Aquarian Goat (I really think he's a bit of a monkey) Sports Mad Coocoolala.
He likes food that crunches and cracks - nothing smooshy, like marshmallows.
He loves books, boardgames, electronic games (sigh) and anything that involves running or swimming or a ball.
If you want to, Riley can also sign a book for you, yes he can.
Tania has a gorgeous daughter called Ella, too. She is a little bit older than RIley and she's waiting very patiently for her own book series. Ella loves horses, horses, horses and... horses.
illustrators
Kieron Pratt and Tina Snerling are responsible for all the gorgeous critters and peeps dotting this website. They are also responsible for making Tania a very happy author, because they make her books look good, and kids love books that look good, do they not?
Kieron Pratt and Tina Snerling are responsible for all the gorgeous critters and peeps dotting this website. They are also responsible for making Tania a very happy author, because they make her books look good, and kids love books that look good, do they not?
