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The Drover's Son

By Leah Purcell
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Brief Description
Survival, truth telling and hope . . . A unique and powerful illustrated book inspired by Leah Purcell's bestselling novel The Drover's Wife. A yarn of bonding and the sharing of stories that celebrates the impact of a good man and a strong role model, and... Read More
Format: Hardback
$2800
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Survival, truth telling and hope . . .

A unique and powerful illustrated book inspired by Leah Purcell's bestselling novel The Drover's Wife.

A yarn of bonding and the sharing of stories that celebrates the impact of a good man and a strong role model, and stands as a testament to the hardships and resilience of Australia's First Nations peoples.

With his father away for much of the year, Danny has had to grow up fast. He thinks that soon he will have no choice but to leave home and go droving with his father. But then he meets Yadaka, and Danny finds another path - one in which a man can be wise and gentle, and a warrior too.

A story of healing, care and connection that also shares challenging truths about the history of this country and life on the land in the late 19th century.

Based on the Henry Lawson short story, this piece of literature has been part of Leah Purcell's life since she was five years old. Her adaptation of The Drover's Wife started off as a play, was turned into a film, then a novel, and this picture book brings the powerful campfire chats between Yadaka and Danny to a younger audience.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761341977

Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 March 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: Puffin

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Dub Leffler

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 1.0mm

Width: 1.0mm

Height: 1.0mm

Weight: 1g

Pages: 40

Collections

Children's Books Children's Picture Books Children’s & Teenage Non-Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Leah Purcell Penguin Books

About the Author

Leah Purcell (Author) Leah Purcell AM is a proud Goa, Gunggari, Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland. She is a playwright, actor, director, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and author. At the heart of her work are female and First Nations themes, characters and issues. In 2021, she received a Member of The Order of Australia (AM) for her service to performing arts, First Nations youth and culture, and to women. The Drover's Wife was originally an award-winning play, written by and starring Purcell, based on the Henry Lawson short story. She was the lead actor, writer, director and a producer of the acclaimed feature film adaptation, The Drover's Wife The Legend Of Molly Johnson. Her bestselling and award-winning novel, The Drover's Wife, was released in 2019. In 2026, Leah will direct The Drover's Wife - The Opera, libretto by Leah Purcell with George Palmer, opening in Brisbane and Sydney. Among her many other film, tv and theatre credits, Leah headlines the recent drama series, High Country. Dub Leffler (Illustrator) Dub Leffler is a proud Bigambul man. In a career spanning twenty-five years, he has written and illustrated over thirty books for children and taught workshops in over 300 schools nationally and overseas. He has earned many shortlistings and won multiple awards along the way, including the CBCA's Book of the Year in 2019 for the seminal work Sorry Day (with Coral Vass). He has collaborated with other artists, including Banksy, Shaun Tan and Quentin Blake to name a few. Celebrated internationally, Dub's illustrations have featured at The Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy and his work is held in permanent collections around the globe, including The Library of Congress in the US.

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  • Is That You, Ruthie? The Play
    Adapted for the stage by acclaimed actor-writer-director Leah Purcell, Is That You, Ruthie? The Play brings Ruth Hegarty's iconic memoir to a new audience. In the 1930s, a family seeking refuge from the Depression arrived at Queensland's oppressive Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission. Unbeknownst to them, they were stepping into a life dictated by 'The Act'. The eldest daughter, Ruby (Buthalangi), and...
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    The Drover's Wife is now in cinemas, from Leah Purcell, named as one of the 100 figures shaping Australia's creative future. The novel is utterly authentic, brilliantly plotted, thoroughly harrowing, and entirely of our times, exploring race, gender, violence, and inheritance. Deep in the heart of Australia's high country, along an ancient, hidden track, live Molly Johnson and her children....
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    The semi-autobiographical story of Leah Purcell - or her alter ego Stephanie - traces the events of her life growing up on an impoverished Aboriginal mission in Queensland. Despite the poverty, violence, lack of education and opportunity, Stephanie is nurtured through the love of her family. Box the Pony beautifully captures Stephanie's journey, highlighting the resilience and strength that define...
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