Author spotlight: Phil Cummings

Phil Cummings is an award-winning author who was born in Port Broughton on Yorke Peninsula. He’s the youngest of eight children and lived on the family farm until he was about nine years old when the family moved to the mid-north railway town of Peterborough. 

Phil is the author of more than 70 children’s books, including picture books and novels. His first published book was “Goodness Gracious” which was published in 1989. His work has now been published in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S.A., Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, the U.K. and many parts of Europe.

A registered teacher, Phil has also been a Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador in South Australia since its inception in 2004.

Phil has won numerous awards for his work, including the Children’s Peace Literature Award (“Boy” 2017), Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book (“Feathers” 2018, “Wilbur, Grace and Joe” 2018, “Bridie’s Boots” 2014, “Breakaway” 2002), Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Picture Book of the Year (“Ride, Ricardo, Ride!” 2016).

As well as winning awards, Phil has also been shortlisted for many more of his books, including the Children’s Literature Awards at the Adelaide Festival of Arts (“Danny Allen was here” 2008), the Western Australian Young Book Readers Awards (“ANZAC Biscuits” 2013), the Australian Speech Pathology Children’s Book Awards (“Night Watch” 2013, “Bridie’s Boots” 2015).

Cummings has also had a brush with royalty, with his books “ANZAC Biscuits”, “Boom Bah!” and “Night Watch” being presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2014 as a gift for their son Prince George.

As well as writing children’s books, Phil  has co-written two musicals with accomplished songwriter/composer and arranger Glyn Lehmann – ‘Arlie Abbstock and the Incredible Cape’ and ‘One Drop of Rain’.

Many of Phil’s books are available from your local library.

www.philcummings.com