The Drover's Son
  • Published: 3 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761341977
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $28.00

The Drover's Son

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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 his mother and his brothers and sisters and go droving with his father.
But then he meets Yadaka, and Danny finds another path - one in which a man can be wiseandgentle,and awarrior 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.
  • Published: 3 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761341977
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $28.00
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About the authors

Leah Purcell

Leah Purcell is a multi-award-winning and self-made author, playwright, actor, director, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and showrunner. At the heart of her work are female and First Nation themes, characters and issues. The Drover’s Wife was first a play written by and starring Purcell, which premiered at Belvoir St Theatre in late 2016 and swept the board during the 2017 awards season, winning the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award for Playwriting and Book of the Year; the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Drama and the Victorian Prize for Literature; the Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Best Stage Work, Major Work and the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre; the Helpmann Award for Best Play and Best New Australian Work; and the Sydney–UNESCO City of Film Award. The feature film adaptation of The Drover’s Wife, written, directed and starring Leah Purcell, is slated for a 2020 release. Leah Purcell is a proud Goa, Gunggari, Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland.

portrait photo of Leah Purcell

Dub Leffler

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.

portrait photo of Dub Leffler