Phil Cummings

Reading is Important

‘I recall my childhood growing up as the youngest of eight children in a country town and the doors that were opened up to me as I developed my skills in literacy and numeracy. There weren’t many books available to me but the ones I managed to find I loved and read over and over and over again. One of those, which remains a favourite, is The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien.

These life-long learning skills have helped me to explore many opportunities, pathways and possibilities. Now as a writer for children, and as an ambassador, I am happy to play a small part in opening those doors for others.’

Fact File

My worst injury
I broke my leg in three places when I was ten. OUCH!

My favourite movie
It’s an old one called It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart.

The funniest thing that has ever happened to me
A child on one of my school visits tugging at my leg to see if I was real – he had been told he was going to meet a REAL LIVE author – He wanted to be sure I wasn’t a dummy!

My favourite colours
Blue

My hero and why
My mum, for raising eight children!

My favourite possession
Original illustrations from my first published book Goodness Gracious! It was illustrated by Craig Smith, a great South Australian!

If I wasn’t doing my current job I would like to be
A teacher

The most important things in life
My family

My Ambassador Reading Tip
Run, play, read and write

from the time you rise …..

……. ’til you sleep at night!

Other Information

Phil Cummings is an award-winning author of over a hundred books for children (from picture books to novels) in a career that has spanned more than thirty years. Phil has been a Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador since its inception in 2004.

His work is published extensively overseas and has received many awards and honours.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia has named a number of Phil’s books as Notable Books including titles such as:

ANZAC Biscuits, illustrated by Owen Swan, Scholastic Press.

Bridie’s Boots, illustrated by Sara Acton, Harper Collins.

Wilbur, Grace and Joe, illustrated by Amanda Graham, Little Book Press.

Ride, Ricardo, Ride! illustrated by Shane Devries, Omnibus Scholastic.

BOY, illustrated by Shane Devries and published by Scholastic Press.

Feathers, illustrated by Phil Lesnie, Scholastic Press.

Other awards:

Ride, Ricardo, Ride! illustrated by Shane Devries, was named an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards in 2016.

Feathers, illustrated by Phil Lesnie, Scholastic Press was shortlisted for the Prime Ministers Literary Awards in 2018.

BOY, illustrated by Shane Devries and published by Scholastic Press, has won a number of awards including The Children’s’ Peace Literature Award in 2017. It was named an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards in 2018. BOY has also recently received international acclaim, being named as an outstanding book for children with disabilities by the International Board of Books for Young people in Basel, Switzerland.

New titles due for release in 2022 are:

ANZAC Biscuits, Special Edition, published by Scholastic Press, is due for release in March.

CRUMBS, illustrated by Shane Devries and published by Scholastic Press, is due for release in April.

The Garden on Redgum Road, illustrated by Danny Snell and published by The Little Book Press, is due for release in May.

Phil and composer, arranger, Glyn Lehmann, are working on a new commission with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to be performed in 2022.

Also, Phil has co-written two musicals available online for schools to perform. Both musicals, created with Glyn Lehmann, renowned songwriter, composer and arranger, are a complete package, containing backing tracks, music sheets, scripts, ideas for classroom teachers, everything that schools need to perform the work in their own chosen environment. The first musical is entitled Arlie Abbstock and the Incredible Cape, and is available from www.songlibrary.net for schools to produce and perform as part of their Performing Arts program. The second musical, One Drop of Rain is set in a harsh rural landscape. Covering themes of drought, family, resilience, the importance of creative play and a child’s imagination. The musicals are available online through the song library at www.songlibrary.net.

A Book Will Take You There is a song Phil and Glyn wrote for Book Week and is also available now on the song library at www.songlibrary.net.

For more detailed information on Phil’s books and career go to: www.philcummings.com