Leonard the Lyrebird
Leonard is friends with everyone, and boy can he sing! But will his singing talents impress the one friend he really wants? Join this charismatic Blue Mountains bird in his search for the song that will change his life…
Created by Blue Mountains writer Jodie McLeod and local illustrator Eloise Short, Leonard the Lyrebird is a story about friendship, bravery and being yourself, set in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia.
Including a mix of prose and verse, coupled with Eloise’s stunning paintings, this is a playful story that will have kids smiling… while on the edge of their seat!
The book at a glance:
• 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 at www.jodiemcleod.com/books
THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK
This is the story of how Leonard the Lyrebird turned from a little idea into a real-life book...
As a mother of two living in the Blue Mountains, I have long seen a need for a children's book set in this beautiful place – one that brings the animals and landscape to life. After searching for such a book online and discovering nothing like this existed (but for 1970s out-of-print Golden Book on the legend of the Three Sisters) – I decided to write one. I was also inspired by a particularly entertaining lyrebird in my backyard, which I caught singing on camera! After seeing this incredible creature I knew it would become a character in a story one day.
I wanted to work with a local illustrator and I knew if I went through a traditional publisher I probably wouldn't be able to do that (they generally like to use their own illustrators). I also wanted the book to happen quickly (I didn’t want to be waiting around for years for the approval of a publisher) so I decided to self-publish. With a degree in creative writing, a career in magazine publishing and as a mum of little ones, I felt I had enough know-how to produce a high quality book that I would want to buy. When I approached Katoomba artist Eloise Short (who I found online through local creative directory Mountains Made) with the idea of working on a book with her, she was on board immediately.
To get it off the ground I ran a successful crowdfunding campaign through Pozible, which enabled me to pay for the important up-front costs. (Note: It was during this crowdfunding phase that I was approached by international concert pianist and musical director Grace Kim to commission a musical composition based on the book! Read about Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story below…)
Leonard the Lyrebird is illustrated by the amazing Eloise Short – a Blue Mountains textile designer, illustrator and artist. Her painted illustrations for the book are so intricate and textured they make you want to run your fingertips over all the details, which in my experience is something children can't resist in picture books.
Leonard was designed by the lovely Melissa Mylchreest, a former Blue Mountains resident, from King St Press.
The story itself is a mix of prose and verse, with a little bit of tension towards the end in the form of a bunyip.
I'm so excited about this book and I just know that children and families with any kind of connection to the Blue Mountains – and simply just to the Australian bush and its animals – are going to love it. And they do!
Read what people are saying about Leonard the Lyrebird here and leave your own review too!
You can purchase a signed copy of the book on Jodie's website or Etsy store. Or see stockists here.
LEONARD THE LYREBIRD – A MUSICAL STORY
Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story is an original composition by acclaimed composer Ian Munro based on the children’s book Leonard the Lyrebird – written by Jodie McLeod (me!) and illustrated by Eloise Short.
Watch the highlights video here.
When Blue Mountains-based concert pianist and music director Grace Kim had an idea to create a classical music work based on a Blue Mountains children's story, she consulted her trusted research assistant: Google. Unfortunately it uncovered zero children's books with a local focus, but it did reveal one in the works... Leonard the Lyrebird.
Grace contacted me while we were in the middle of crowdfunding Leonard to tell me about her idea and asked if she could read the story. Being a classical pianist myself and realising both her talent and that of the proposed composer – Ian Munro – I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, after that first read, Grace knew it was the story she'd been looking for.
Fast-forward one year, and Leonard the Lyrebird: A Musical Story had its world-premiere performance at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains in 2019. Featuring Grace on piano, Opera Australia Orchestra principal cellist Teije Hylkema and associate principal clarinet Philip Green – and with Ian narrating – the performance played to packed audiences against the backdrop of the Three Sisters in Katoomba – precisely where the story of Leonard the Lyrebird is set.
When anyone asks me to describe the music, all I can say is: it's a truly enchanting musical experience for families – an imaginative blend of storytelling, illustration and instrumentation. What a thrill it was to hear my story adapted into the most delicate and powerful music I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful to Ian for his time, talent and care in making the piece as emotive as it could possibly be.
So ... what's next for this project?
While a date has not been set for a tour, plans are in the works. In the meantime the score is available from Australian Music Centre, and a media kit with imagery and illustrations to facilitate performances will be available very soon. Send your enquiries here.
With book-award nominations, the musical and numerous related projects in the pipeline for Leonard the Lyrebird, there’s no doubt that for this little book from the Blue Mountains, the only way is up.
~ Jodie