About Penny
Penny O’Loughlin is a mum of two wild-hearted energetic young boys. One of whom sees the world with a very unique lens.
Penny is a Melbourne-based children’s author and landscape designer who plants stories like wildflowers... curious, connected, and full of heart.
With a background in architecture and over 20 years in landscape design, Penny brings a love of form, flow, and nature into everything she writes.
Penny's books
Cartwheeling Sally and
Jumping Jack Jim
Cartwheeling Sally and Jumping Jack Jim just can’t keep still - no matter how much they’re told to! Whipping and whirling, wriggling and jiggling, their bodies have a mind of their own - until the time comes when their skills are needed to help save the day!
Bud and Buzz
Bud is just a tiny flower in Grandpa’s garden that few people see and no insects want to dance with. That is, until after a downpour, when Bud receives a visit from a bee named Buzz, who has noticed his nectar now he is beginning to bloom.
Winding Down
A beautifully crafted nighttime ballad that gently guides children and parents into a serene bedtime routine. Through its rhythmic and lyrical structure, the book captures themes of mindfulness, emotional well-being, and the importance
of connection.
Snap and Spike
Snap and Spike is a humorous and vividly illustrated story about friendship and respecting differences. It encourages children to be resilient and the importance of self-acceptance. Expressive illustrations bring warmth, humour, and character to this delightful story.
The Wonder of Walt
The Wonder of Walt is a thoughtful, vividly illustrated fable about empathy, peaceful conflict resolution, the beauty of being different, and the quiet wisdom of unlikely heroes. A rich, allegorical tale that teaches children how empathy, understanding, and communication can resolve conflict.
Author Visits and School Workshops
Kinder - Year 2
Stories, STEM & Feeling Good
A playful, hands-on experience combining picture books, early STEM concepts, movement and simple wellbeing strategies.
Using Winding Down, Bud and Buzz and Cartwheeling Sally and Jumping Jack Jim, students explore the natural world, language, friendship, resilience and the wonderful ways we are all different.
Year 5 to 6
The Battle of the Beast Creative Writing & Transition Wellbeing Workshop
Designed to support students as they prepare for the transition to leadership roles in year six and secondary school, using imaginative storytelling to explore change, challenges, identity, resilience and self-belief.
Inspired by Penny’s award-winning manuscript The Battle of the Beast, students turn the fears, pressures and obstacles that character’s face into imaginative creatures, and discover how those challenges can drive a compelling story.
Students can draw on their own experiences or invent entirely fictional characters.
CONNECT WITH PENNY!
PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO GET IN TOUCH
