Emma Bowd

There’s nothing Emma loves more than connecting with the children she writes for, and to support them and their teachers at all stages of the literacy journey. Emma particularly enjoys sharing her inspiring author journey, along with her top writing tips, and all the behind-the-scenes FUN she has with lyrical language when conjuring her stories and books! 

Emma’s acclaimed debut rhyming picture book, Wonderful Shoes was awarded a CBCA Notable Book (Early Childhood, 2022) and features on Play School Story Time (Series 5, ABC Kids TV, ABC iView). She is a former Occupational Therapist and has a keen interest in making storytelling props to dovetail with her picture books. An active participant in the Australian children’s literature community, Emma is a committee member of the CBCA VIC Branch, and an engaging speaker and storytime presenter at schools, libraries, bookshops and literature festivals (Clunes Booktown Festival). 

Some of the Melbourne schools Emma has enjoyed presenting to include: Melbourne Grammar School (Grimwade House), MLC, St Catherines, Wesley College, Overnewton Anglican College, Hume Anglican Grammar, Brunswick NW Primary, Fitzroy North Primary, Badger Creek Primary and Wembley Primary School. 

Emma has also presented to professional organisations such as: the School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV - Primary Branch); the CBCA Central Coast Sub-branch, NSW (Early Childhood PD Workshop); and the State Library of NSW. 

To find out more about Emma and her new publications, follow her on Instagram/Facebook @emma.bowd.au or visit her website.

Where were you born?

I was born in a small, seaside town in NSW, and was lucky to have a fabulously free and Famous Five style childhood. I’m a bit of a nomad, and have lived in Malaysia, Queensland and South Australia, as well as many years in London, before settling in Melbourne. I have a lot of empathy for kids who move to a new town and stand at the door of a new classroom for the first time! It has taught me that change can be scary, but that you ultimately make great friends wherever you go in the world!

What other jobs have you had?

When I was a university student, I spent one entire summer break on a tropical north Queensland island working in hospitality - where I loved meeting people from all over the world. And in my career as an Occupational Therapist (OT), it was my great privilege to work with children, adults and the elderly in all sorts of large and small hospitals and home-based settings in London, for more than ten years. Before travelling overseas, I worked as an OT in the industrial rehabilitation sector, and spent many happy days swapping my slingbacks for steel capped boots, and helping injured workers return to work on the car production lines at Ford Motor Company and General Motors Holden. I’ve also enjoyed running my own slow fashion bag-making small business. I consider being a mum/parent the most important job I’ve ever had - my two children are now young adults.

What themes are recurring in your work?

Shoes! I’m a living, breathing example of my Number #1 Rule of Writing: Always write about what you LOVE! 

I also very much enjoy combining my background in Occupational Therapy and Science (biochemistry and psychology) with my love for language (especially rhyme), family life, STEM, travel and contemporary culture to write fun, feel-good adventures that capture the joy of childhood. 

What have been the highlights of your career?

There’s nothing like the thrill of seeing your first published book in a bookshop in London – let alone on a poster on the London Underground! I also had a meeting with my publisher, Bloomsbury, in their London office just after JK Rowling had been in the building – which was very exciting!

It was a great honour to receive a CBCA Notable Book Award (Early Childhood) for my debut children’s picture book, Wonderful Shoes, in 2022. And I would be lying if I said that I didn’t shed a tear when I saw Wonderful Shoes being read on Play School Story Time, in 2022! I feel very lucky to have had such a wonderful journey so far with Wonderful Shoes.

I’m very proud of the ‘Writer in Residence’ program which I helped to establish and develop at the children’s education charity, Ardoch. From 2016 to 2024 I wrote eight books with primary school students in Melbourne’s Western suburbs, and witnessed the program expand to involve many authors and schools across Victoria, as well as Sydney. But, by far, the biggest highlight for me was fostering a love of literacy in children who were reluctant readers and writers. And seeing the students in these workshops stand up in class and proudly read aloud their work, often for the first time ever, was extremely rewarding.

I was very excited to create The Christmas Tree Catastrophe with illustrator, Matt Shanks (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2025) and honoured to have it featured in a Christmas StoryWalk®️, in Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens with Geography Victoria, Melbourne City Libraries and Readings Books in December 2025!

Where have your works been published?

My books for adults (non-fiction and fiction) have been published in the UK, US, Australia, Netherlands and Germany. To date, my children’s picture books have been published in Australia and the UK.

What are you passionate about?

As a former occupational therapist and a mum of two, I’m passionate about writing inclusive picture books that capture the joy of childhood, through imaginative and nature-based play. I love writing my read-aloud stories with vibrant rhyme and rhythm, and equally love collaborating with talented illustrators to bring them to life. I am absolutely passionate about children having equal access to education opportunities and becoming literate members of society – irrespective of their postcodes. And I am super passionate about getting picture books into the hands of as many children as possible, in the early years before they start school, to facilitate and enhance their literacy journeys at the earliest possible stage.