Fuzzball is the latest junior fiction novel in the Paw Prints series from Walker Books.
It’s written by the awesome Nathan Luff and illustrated by me.
Here’s the official blurb:
When Luca’s mum and dad give him a special present for his birthday, he hopes it’s the pet dog he’s been waiting for. Instead, he gets Fuzzball. But a guinea pig can’t play fetch, go for walks or learn fun tricks like a dog can. Just when Luca is ready to give up on Fuzzball, he finds something that Fuzzball CAN do …
This was a dream to illustrate – it’s such a funny story from Mr Luff. I hope you enjoy it! Available now from bookstores across Australia and NZ. Links below.
The amazing team at Barking Gecko Arts have adapted my picture book Stelllarphant for the stage. I am so excited for everyone to see this … I’ve been checking out the rehearsals and it’s going to be epic!
From the official blurb:
Join Stella, an elephant who dreams of becoming an astronaut, as she builds her own spaceship and proves that anyone can reach for the stars … this uplifting 55-minute production for children aged 6-12 and their families is packed with heart, humour, and imagination. Perfect for the April school holidays.
Photo: Daniel J Grant
The run opens with general public shows at Subiaco Arts Centre, followed by school group shows around the metro area and regional WA. Full dates below.
Fremantle Press was the publisher of my very first book, and we’ve worked on many more since. They’re a WA institution, having kickstarted the careers of many local authors and illustrators. And this year they’re turning 50!
Here’s some ways you can help celebrate.
OPEN DAY, APRIL 24th
Freo Press have got fresh new digs at the old SEC substation in Parry St – check it out at their Open Day! It’s on April 24th from 9:30am-2pm, and includes panel sessions about publishing, as well as tours of the new building.
Wear your support in style! Show your love for Fremantle Press with an exclusive building fund supporter pin or limited-edition tote bag with original artwork by author-illustrator Kelly Canby.
Purchase a 50th anniversary tote bag from the Fremantle Press website before 5.00 pm AWST on Sunday 29 March and it might arrive stuffed full of books! There is a bag of children’s books and a bag of adult books up for grabs. Winners will be drawn at random.
What a wonderful bit of news – my book Bigfoot vs Yeti: a Love Story is on the Notables list for the 2026 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year Award!
There are so many wonderful books on the list; congrats all! Check out the list below.
The shortlist will be announced on March 31, and the honour books and winner will be announced on August 21 at the start of Children’s Book Week.
“pure joy … silly, expressive and full of laugh out loud moments. This was reread twice in one sitting because they wanted to look again. One of our favourites!” – @playful.childhood, Instagram
You can find a copy at your local indie bookshop or online – links below.
Happy Barry Capybara: Gone Bananas
🇦🇺🇳🇿 Australia/NZ edition, published by Scholastic Australia, Feb 2026 ISBN: 9781761725296 (hardback)
Happy Barry Capybara is the most chilled-out animal on the savannah. But when his friend the cheeky squirrel monkey, Harry, and his cousins are fighting over the last banana, Barry is left to decide who will get it. Which monkey will win the favour of Barry? Or will Barry have a new lesson to teach them about what it means to share?
I’m honoured to have some artwork included in the 2026 SQUIGL calendar! But the artwork isn’t just mine – it’s a collab between me and a kid living in regional Queensland called Will Thomas.
SQUIGL Club is an awesome online drawing group for kids in regional Queensland. It was developed by author-illustrator Andy Geppert along with Somerset Storyfest and the Longreach School of Distance Education.
Andy had a brilliant idea – let’s raise funds for regional kids to visit a writers festival, and let’s sell calendars to do it! Each month’s artwork is an artistic collaboration between a kid living on a remote property and a professional illustrator. The kids each drew a bird or a flying creature, then the illustrators worked it into a schmick piece of art.
And now you can take the artwork home with you! The 2026 SQUIGL Club Art Calendar looks great on kitchen walls, fridges – even dunny doors.
Check out the illustrators involved: Niña Nill, Sami Bayly, Peter Cheong, Matt Stanton, Mandy Foot, Natasha Carty, Terry Whidborne, Tony Flowers, Brent Wilson, Kate Isobel Scott, Andy Geppert, and me!
All proceeds support literacy in regional communities by funding transport and tickets to regional Somerset Storyfest events in Longreach, St George, and Emerald.
Here’s a little bit about my piece for the calendar. I started off with Will Thomas’ excellent drawing of a toucan …
… and ended up with a tree FULL of toucans! Can you spot Will’s initial drawing in there?
I’ll show some more process in a later post.
In the meantime, why not hit the link and order yourself a whizz-bang, feel-good 2026 calendar?
It’s a biennial award from the Psychologists for Peace interest group (part of the Australian Psychological Society).
Also on the shortlist are friends and colleagues Deborah Abela, Karys McEwen, Amy Freund, Kooky Chooky, Jared Thomas, David Metzenthen, Larissa Ferenchuk and Prue Pittock . Congrats all!
This one is part of Walker Books’ Paw Prints series – junior fiction books by funny authors and illustrators. Fuzzball is written by Nathan Luff, illustrated by me! Out in April.
I don’t have a cover to share with you yet, but I can tell you it’s a non-fiction follow up to my most popular book, Stellarphant. It will be my very first non-fiction book! More news on that soon.
James Foley 