Sarah Speedie is an internationally published children’s author whose picture books have delighted young readers around the world. Her work has been published by several leading publishing houses, including HarperCollins Publishers Australia, Scholastic Australia, New Frontier Publishing, CSIRO Publishing and Larrikin House, among others.
Before embracing her writing career, Sarah worked in IT and finance, but storytelling was always a part of her life. “I’ve loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember,” she says. Her passion reignited while reading aloud to her own children, inspiring her to complete writing courses and pursue her dream. The journey wasn’t easy, but Sarah persisted. Then, in 2019, the call came from Larrikin House that changed everything. “I was in complete shock! My dream of becoming a published author was going to come true!” she recalls, admitting that she didn’t fully believe it until the contract arrived in her inbox a few days later. Her debut picture book, Mozzies vs Flies (Larrikin House, 2021), inspired by a family bushwalk – and those all-too-familiar Aussie pests – was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards in 2022.
Always drawn to stories that are fun, filled with rhyme, and bursting with imagination, Sarah has recently expanded her horizons into children’s non-fiction, combining her love of language with a deep curiosity about the world. Whether it’s a rollicking rhyming romp or a lyrical look at the natural world, her stories inspire laughter, wonder, and a love of reading.
Based in beachside Melbourne, Sarah lives with her husband, two children, and their paddle-boarding bulldog, Dutch, who even makes an appearance in one of her books!
Since that first publication, Sarah has written a colourful collection of picture books that children love to read aloud again and again. Her titles include Meowster Chef (Larrikin House, 2022), a hilarious kitchen showdown full of feline flair; Wild About Book Week (Larrikin House, 2024), a rollicking costume conundrum; Wild About Halloween (Larrikin House, 2025), a spooktacular celebration of dressing up; and Boss Cat (HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 2024), inspired by her very own grumpy, opinionated cat.
Sarah’s most recent picture book Our Beautiful World (New Frontier Publishing, 2025) is a stunning celebration of nature’s colours and the rich and varied cultures found across the globe, taking readers from the red deserts of Australia to Morocco’s golden sands and Fiji’s sparkling blue seas. “It was inspired by my travels and my hope for young readers to feel wonder, appreciation, and curiosity about our amazingly beautiful and diverse world,” Sarah explains.
Writing with warmth, humour, and heart, Sarah is passionate about encouraging kids to embrace their creativity. She regularly visits schools, libraries, and festivals to share her love of books and proudly supports literacy programs through PETAA and Good Shepherd Australia, helping bring stories and storytelling to children who need it most.
Whether through rhyme, fact, fiction, or fun, Sarah Speedie creates books that remind young readers just how magical our world – and their imaginations – can be.
“Stories open minds, spark curiosity, and fuel creativity. When we nurture these qualities in children, we help grow a lifelong sense of wonder – and a joy for discovering more about the world around them.”
— Sarah Speedie