Sally Rippin
Sally Rippin is a best-selling and beloved author for children with over ten million copies of her books sold around the world and translated into over sixteen languages. Her most popular series include Billie B Brown, Hey Jack! and School of Monsters and she is the co-author of The World We Can Build, with Eliza Hull, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett.
Sally has also published Wild Things: How We Learn to Read and What Can Happen If We Don’t as a resource for adults wanting to better support neurodivergent and dyslexic children in the home and classroom.
Sally was named the Eighth Children’s Laureate for 2024 – 2025: the national ambassador for reading and Australian children’s literature. In this role, Sally aimed to create public awareness around learning difficulties as well as the most effective practice in teaching children to read.
Sally's advocacy work spotlights the reading challenges faced by millions of Australian children – including but not limited to discussions around neurodiversity, disability, mental health, access to books and language barriers.
More recently, Sally joined the newly formed Writing Australia Council to advise on developing national initiatives to support writers, readers and the book industry as a whole.
Currently, as well as working on new books and her council duties, Sally is working to adapt some of her work for screen.
Meet the Speaker
Where were you born?
I was born in Darwin, but spent most of my childhood in South-East Asia, moving every two years because of my father’s job. As a young adult I lived in China where I studied traditional Chinese painting for three years, then later lived in France for another three. Now I am happy to call Melbourne home – as long as I still get to travel!
What other jobs have you had?
Over the years I have tutored English as a Second Language to students in Australia and overseas. Along with my writing and illustrating, I have also taught a course called Writing For Children at RMIT University as a part of the Professional Writing and Editing program.
What themes are recurring in your work?
Having lived overseas for most of my childhood, particularly in countries where English wasn’t the first language spoken, I am particularly drawn to stories of the outsider or the foreigner. Whether they be stories of migrants or artists, or angels and vampires, this is a theme that recurs in much of my work.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about cultural diversity in children’s literature. Having lived in many different countries the thing I like the most about Australia is our vibrant diversity and I would like to see this reflected more in our books for children.
Click below to watch a trailer of Sally's Virtual Visits
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