Susan Wardell

Susan Wardell is from Dunedin, New Zealand. She lives by the harbour, and teaches at the University of Otago, while raising two small humans and a modest indoor jungle. Alongside academic writing Susan publishes in a variety of creative genres. Her poetry, micro-fiction, book reviews and literary essays have been published in a variety of journals throughout Australasia, and won several awards. Her first picture book for children, The Lighthouse Princess, was selected for the 2021 Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Illustration, and earned Susan and illustrator Rose Northey the Best First Book Award at the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Books by Susan Wardell

The Lighthouse Princess

Susan Wardell, Rose Northey

The 2021 Storylines Gavin Bishop Award-winning picture book is a delightful contemporary fairytale about an independent princess, who looks after a very special lighthouse lamp, fishes off the balcony and goes swimming with seals.

Awards & recognition

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner • 2023 • Best First Book for The Lighthouse Princess

More features

Article

The Lighthouse Princess colouring sheet

Colouring in is the perfect afternoon activity! Why not download this gorgeous colouring sheet for The Lighthouse Princess for your little one?

Article

The Lighthouse Princess spot the difference

Spot the difference between these two beautiful illustrations by Rose Northey from The Lighthouse Princess!