An author, illustrator, designer and editor of books for both children and adults, Tania McCartney has been writing professionally for over 35 years, and has over 65 books in print (predominantly children's books). An experienced magazine writer and editor, she has well over a thousand columns, feature articles, news articles or reviews, both in print and online. She also has 15 years' experience in book publishing, layout and design.

During her time China (2005-2009), Tania was an editor, features writer and columnist for several English language publications, including Time Out, City Weekend and BeijingKids. and has also written for several major sites and magazines in Australia and internationally.

Tania has lived in France, England, China and almost every Australian state and territory. She currently lives in Canberra, Australia.

career roles

magazine + webs articles
A comprehensive list can be found here.



kids' book review
Tania's great passion is Kids' Book Review which she founded in 2009, and is now run by a sensational team headed by author Dimity Powell.


image: Penny Fisher
52-week illustration challenge
Tania founded the hugely successful 52-Week Illustration Challenge in January 2014. Peaking at over 7,500 members, the Challenge closed at the end of its fourth year, due to the burgeoning careers of its admin crew. The Challenge was under the direction of Nicky Johnston for 2015, 2016 and 2017. See the archived Facebook page here and the blog here.

https://taniamccartney.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-happy-book-childrens-book-podcast.html
The Happy Book podcast
The Happy Book is all about the creative processes and production of kids’ books. Weekly podcasts  cover a variety of topics, experiences, tips, tricks, insider info and advice on creation and publication—from baby board books through to middle grade. Designed to inspire, uplift and enlighten, The Happy Book is idea for emerging creators and those who want to take their careers up a level, or come away inspired.

school visits + speaking
An experienced presenter, Tania has visited countless schools, libraries and other organisations, reading books and presenting or speaking on a wide range of topics from publishing to marketing and story writing. She has run workshops through various schools and organisations including the ACT Writers Centre, the Australian Society of Authors, the Children's Book Council of Australia, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Asian Festival of Children's Content (Singapore). See more here.

awards
  • Wildlife Compendium of the World WINNER for Non-Fiction Children's Book, ACT Literary Awards 2024
  • Wildlife Compendium of the World LONGLISTED (Notable Book) CBCA Book of the Year 2024 for non-fiction
  • Dorrie LONGLISTED CBCA Book of the Year 2024 for picture book
  • Wildlife Compendium of the World LONGLISTED Australian Book Design Awards, Children's Picture Book 2024
  • Plume: Festival Seeker LONGLISTED Australian Book Design Awards, Children's Picture Book 2023
  • Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather RUNNER-UP ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, 2022
  • Wonderful Shoes Notable Book, CBCA Book of the Year 2022
  • Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather WINNER Museums Australasia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards, 2021
  • I Heart the World SHORTLISTED Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature, New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, 2021
  • Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather NOTABLE BOOK CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2021
  • Ivy Bird US Edition WINNER Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures WINNER ACT Writing & Publishing Awards 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures WINNER Museums Australasia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures SHORTLISTED Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2020
  • This is Home: Essential Australian Poems for Children SHORTLISTED Speech Pathology Awards 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures SHORTLISTED Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature, Non-Fiction 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures LONGLISTED World Illustration Awards, Children's Books, Australia/NZ 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures LONGLISTED Australian Book Design Awards, Children's Non-Fiction 2020
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures LONGLISTED Booktopia's Book of the Year 2019
  • Mamie SHORTLISTED SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (Australia/NZ region) 2019
  • This is Banjo Paterson HIGHLY-COMMENDED, ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2018
  • Merry Everything a NOTABLE BOOK CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2018
  • Australia Illustrated SHORTLISTED Speech Pathology Awards 2017
  • Smile Cry WINNER SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Australia/New Zealand 2017
  • CBCA Laurie Copping Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature 2017
  • Smile Cry Notable Book, CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2017
  • This is Captain Cook HIGHLY-COMMENDED, ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2016
  • Australian Kids Through the Years a NOTABLE BOOK in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2016
  • This is Captain Cook SHORTLISTED Museums Australasia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards 2016
  • An Aussie Year SHORTLISTED WA Young Readers' Book Award 2016
  • Tottie and Dot RUNNER-UP ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2015
  • An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids WINNER ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2014
  • When I Was Little HIGHLY-COMMENDED, Emerging Illustrator Mentorship, Australian Society of Authors 2014
  • Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo SECOND PLACE, Outstanding Picture Book, University of Canberra's Get Real Canberra Award 2014
  • Ella McZoo: Animal Whisperer SECOND PLACE, CYA unpublished manuscript awards
  • How to Be Ten SHORTLISTED and HIGHLY-COMMENDED, CYA unpublished manuscript awards
  • The Books, short story HIGHLY-COMMENDED, National Year of Reading’s It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Read competition

notable achievements

  • Mamie StoryWalk for Libraries ACT, Haig Park, Canberra (2022)
  • Panelist and presenter for the CBCA Canberra Conference (2022) 
  • Plume: World Explorer Readings' Book of the Month (Nov 2021)
  • Mamie StoryWalk for Libraries ACT at the National Arboretum (May 2021)
  • Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures as cover art for the 'Hello! from Australia' catalogue for Bologna Children's Book Fair (2020)
  • Illustrator Showcase poster for SCBWI Australia/East (2019)
  • Project grant for junior fiction series, Evie + Pog, from artsACT (October 2017) 
  • May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust Fellowship to Adelaide (2018)
  • Featured author at the Prime Minister's Lodge, Hands Across Canberra event (2017) 
  • Inclusion in the Australian Society of Authors' The Style File
  • Beijing Tai Tai translated into simplified Chinese and published in China (2016)
  • ACT Chief Minister's Reading Challenge - Ambassador (2016 - current)
  • Australian Kids Through the Years featured book and visual inspiration for the Australian Bookseller's Association Kids' Reading Guide, 2015/2016
  • Grant for work-in-progress, Australia Illustrated, from artsACT (October 2015)
  • Very first Kirkus review (for Peas in a Pod, June 2015)
  • Presenter and panelist, Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore (2015)
  • Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo chosen by the ACT Government as official gift for royal baby, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
  • Workshop presenter for SCBWI, Perth (2015)
  • Books in Homes - role model
  • Presenter, SCWBI Sydney Conference (2014)
  • Panelist (+ chair) for the CBCA Canberra Conference (2014)
  • Workshop presenter for the Australian Society of Authors (2014)
  • Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo equal second place, Outstanding Picture Book, University of Canberra's Get Real Canberra Award
  • Featured author, Griffith Readers' Festival (2012)
  • Second-placing for Ella McZoo: Animal Whisperer in the CYA unpublished manuscript awards, Brisbane
  • Workshop presenter for the ACT Writers Centre
  • Keynote speaker, International Women’s Day event, Cowra
  • Featured author at the Smith Family’s Government House Open Day 
 

co-editions

  • Wildlife Compendium of the World, New Zealand, North America, UK, Italy
  • Plume: World Explorer, New Zealand,  North America, UK
  • Plume: Global Nibbler, New Zealand,  North America, UK, English for China
  • Plume: World Explorer, New Zealand, North America, UK, Romania, Spain (also Catalan), Arabic, English for China
  • I Heart the World, New Zealand,  North America, UK, the Netherlands, Spain (also Catalan), South Korea, Germany, China
  • AlphaKid, New Zealand,  Taiwan
  • Ivy Bird, USA, Korea
  • Merry Everything, Korea
  • Hip-Hip Hooray, Korea
  • Smile Cry, New Zealand,  Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, China, Macau, Hong Kong
  • Beijing Tai Tai, China
  • The Kids' Year series (7 books), New Zealand,  China


past/current memberships + affiliations

  • Kids' Book Review - founder 
  • 52-Week Illustration Challenge - founder 
  • The Happy Book children's book podcast - founder
  • Chief Minister's Reading Challenge - ambassador
  • Australian Society of Authors (ASA) - member 
  • The Style File - illustrator
  • Society of Australian Book Writers and Illustrators - member, ACT Branch consultant
  • Children's Book Council of Australia - lifetime member
  • The National Year of Reading (2012) - ambassador
  • ACT Chief Minister's Reading Challenge (2016-current) - ambassador
  • Love2Read Canberra - friend
  • The Reading Hour - ambassador
  • Books in Homes - role model
  • Libraries ACT Reading Champion - friend
  • Indigenous Literacy Foundation - support via Kids' Book Review
  • Australian Festival of Australian Children's Literature - social networker

bibliography + tie-in products
  • Plume: Christmas Elf, Hardie Grant Explore (Oct 2023)
  • Wildlife Compendium of the World, Hardie Grant Explore (2023)
  • Dorrie, HarperCollins (Feb 2023)
  • Plume: Festival Seeker, Hardie Grant Explore (Nov 2022)
  • Plume: Global Nibbler, Hardie Grant Explore (2022)
  • Mrs Koala's Beauty Parlour, with Catherine Jinks, Working Title Press (2022) 
  • Plume: World Explorer, Hardie Grant Explore (2021)
  • Wonderful Shoes, with Emma Bowd, Windy Hollow (Apr 2021)
  • AlphaKid, Windy Hollow (Nov 2020)
  • Australia's Wild, Weird, Wonderful Weather, with Stephanie Owen Reeder, National Library Publishing (Oct 2020) 
  • The World Map Puzzle, Hardie Grant Travel (Sep 2020) 
  • Birds of Australia Puzzle, Hardie Grant Travel (Sep 2020)
  • Animals of Australia Puzzle, Hardie Grant Travel (Sep 2020)
  • Meet Matilda at the Festival, with Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, Penguin (Aug 2020) 
  • Ivy Bird, ill. Jess Racklyeft, Blue Dot Kids Press (2020) 
  • Evie and Pog Take Off! HarperCollins (2020)  
  • Evie and Pog Puppy Playtime, HarperCollins (2020) 
  • Evie and Pog, Party Perfect, HarperCollins (2020) 
  • I Heart the World Hardie Grant Travel (2020) 
  • Fauna: Australia’s Most Curious Creatures, National Library Publishing (2019) 
  • The Helper Monkeys, story in Funny Bones anthology, Allen and Unwin (2019) 
  • An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids, paperback, EK Books (2019) 
  • A Kiwi Year: Twelve Months in the Life of New Zealand’s Kids, paperback, EK Books (2019) 
  • Ivy Bird, ill. Jess Racklyeft, Windy Hollow Books (2019) 
  • Australia Map Puzzle, Hardie Grant Travel (2019) 
  • Hip Hip Hooray!, ill. Jess Racklyeft, Windy Hollow Books (2019) 
  • This is Home, collaboration with Jackie French, National Library Publishing (2019) 
  • Mamie, HarperCollins (2018) 
  • Australia Illustrated, Second Edition, EK Books (2018) 
  • The Gum Family Finds Home, ill. Christina Booth, National Library Publishing (2018) 
  • World: Illustrated Map, Hardie Grant Travel (2018) 
  • See Hear, ill. Jess Racklyeft, EK Books (2018) 
  • Merry Everything, ill. Jess Racklyeft, Windy Hollow Books (2017)  
  • Australia: Illustrated Map, Hardie Grant Travel (2017)  
  • This is Captain Cook, Chinese Language Edition, ill. Christina Booth, National Library Publishing (2017)  
  • A Kiwi Year: Twelve Months in the Life of New Zealand’s Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2017)  
  • A Canadian Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Canada’s Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2017)  
  • Australian Story: an illustrated timeline, Second Edition, National Library Publishing (2017)  
  • This is Banjo Paterson, ill. Christina Booth, National Library Publishing (2017)  
  • Australia Illustrated, EK Books (2016) 
  • Beijing Tai Tai: Life, laughter and motherhood in China’s capital, Chinese Language Edition, Exisle Publishing (2016)  
  • A New York Year: Twelve Months in the Life of New York’s Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2016)  
  • A Texas Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Texan Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2016)  
  • Smile Cry, ill. Jess Racklyeft, EK Books (2016)  
  • Australian Kids Through the Years, ill. Andrew Joyner, National Library Publishing (2015)  
  • An English Year: Twelve Months in the Life of England’s Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2015) 
  • A Scottish Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Scotland’s Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2015) 
  • Peas in a Pod, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2015)  
  • This is Captain Cook, ill. Christina Booth, National Library Publishing (2015)  
  • Tottie and Dot, Illustrator Tina Snerling. EK Books (2014)  
  • An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids, ill. Tina Snerling, EK Books (2013) 
  • Caroline Chisholm: The Emigrant’s Friend, New Frontier (2013)  
  • Eco Warriors to the Rescue! National Library Publishing (2013)  
  • Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo: A journey around Canberra, ill. Kieron Pratt, Ford Street Publishing (2013)  
  • Australian Story: an illustrated timeline, National Library Publishing (2012)  
  • Beijing Tai Tai: Life, laughter and motherhood in China’s capital, Exisle Publishing (2012)  
  • Riley and the Grumpy Wombat: A journey around Melbourne, ill. Kieron Pratt, Ford Street Publishing (2012)  
  • handmade living: a designer collective, ill. Tina Snerling, Handmade Press (2010)  
  • Riley and the Curious Koala: A journey around Sydney, ill. Kieron Pratt, Tania McCartney Press (2010)  
  • Riley and the Dancing Lion: A journey around Hong Kong, ill. Kieron Pratt, Tania McCartney Press (2009)  
  • Riley and the Sleeping Dragon: A journey around Beijing, ill. Mo Qovaizi, Tania McCartney Press (2008) 
  • You Name It, Hodder & Stoughton (1995)

More ...

http://taniamccartney.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-things-people-say.html

http://taniamccartney.blogspot.com/2012/11/quick-facts-faqs.html