Fremantle acquires Winton picture book

Fremantle Press has acquired world rights to Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder by Tim Winton, with illustrations by Cindy Lane, in a deal brokered by Jenny Darling of Jenny Darling & Associates.

Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder is an illustrated hardback picture book, focused on Western Australia’s Ningaloo region, with watercolour images. Fremantle Press CEO Alex Allan, who commissioned the title, described it as ‘a nonfiction children’s book celebrating the beauty, diversity and interconnectedness of the area’s ecosystem, and all that dwell within it’.

A four-time winner of the Miles Franklin Award, Winton is also known for his environmental activism – including his 25-year effort to preserve the biodiversity of the Ningaloo region. He said, ‘Ningaloo has been a big part of my life.  I’ve spent over 30 years learning about this remarkable and unrepeatable place, and I’m so pleased to be able to share it in this way with young people all over the world.’

Lane is a Perth-based artist, illustrator and children’s book creator whose first picture book, Great White Shark (written by Claire Saxby, Walker Books), won the Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Award for Best Children’s Book.

Discussing the acquisition, Allan said: ‘Ningaloo is a place like no other. […] Tim’s connection to the place and his vast knowledge made him the only possible author for this book, and I was thrilled when he agreed to work with us and Cindy to bring Ningaloo to life in stunning watercolour.

‘I hope it will be a positive and inspirational read for generations of Australian children who want to get involved in protecting Ningaloo and other endangered environments.’

Ningaloo is scheduled for publication in October 2025.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions