Mentorship Program
Little Book Press Mentorship Program
An exciting initiative dedicated to the discovery and growth of new storytellers for young readers.
The Little Book Press Mentorship Program provides unpublished South Australian creatives with the opportunity to embark on a career in children’s publishing under the guidance of some of the industry’s most celebrated children’s authors and illustrators.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process and receive a publishing contract with Little Book Press. Working closely with their mentor, successful mentees produce a picture book for a baby, toddler or preschool audience.
Launching April 2026
Casey Keys and her Powerful Sneeze!
By 2025 mentees Meg Riley and Garth Cochrane.
Casey Keys feels like a walking disaster as her sneezes cause chaos all over town! Embarrassed and overwhelmed, Casey runs away in search of peace ... but instead, discovers a wild, whirling power within herself.
Take a look inside
Meg Riley
Mentored by award-winning South Australian author Phil Cummings.
Born in the UK, Megan Riley's love of language and literature led to an early career teaching English and Drama, but her dream was always to write. She has published poetry, and articles on travel and knitting, while filling countless notebooks with story ideas. After fortuitously emigrating to South Australia, she joined a knitting circle and became one of founding members of Yarn magazine.
A proud recipient of the Little Book Press Mentorship Program 2025, Megan is thrilled that her debut picture book will be published early 2026.
Garth Cochrane
Mentored by acclaimed illustrator and author Andrew Joyner.
Garth Cochrane studied Visual Communications (Illustration) at the University of South Australia and has worked as an animator, freelance illustrator and videogame artist for clients including LucasArts, Warner
Brothers and Halfbrick. Now a passionate primary visual arts teacher, Garth brings his love of storytelling and creativity into the classroom every day.
He was the winner of the 2025 Little Book Press Mentorship Program, and this debut picture book marks the exciting beginning of his journey as a children's book illustrator.
The Little Book Press Mentorship Program has been made possible through grant support from the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation.
Updates will be shared to our Submissions page and social media channels.