Deborah Frenkel is a writer of books, billboards, and the words on the back of shampoo bottles.
Since 2008 she has worked as both a freelance and advertising agency copywriter in Melbourne, Sydney and Shanghai.
Deborah’s previously published children’s books include The Truck Cat (Hardie Grant, 2024), 100 School Days (Affirm, 2024), The Sydney Harbour Fairy (Affirm, 2023), and Naturopolis (Storytorch Press 2023), which won a gold Nautilus Award in 2023. She lives in Melbourne and her hair, alas, is not spectacular.
Carla Hoffenberg is a children’s book illustrator, residing in Sydney. She grew up in Johannesburg and has also lived in NYC. Her previously published books include Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping (IP Kids, 2022) and Mia’s Glamma (IP Kids, 2023).
Carla is passionate about bringing joy to the world through optimistic and imaginative illustrations. Carla has three kids and loves seeing their individuality and self-confidence flourish. She is always working on her next children’s book project.
Boldilocks is a boy with spectacular, shimmering hair, who finds that differences can be difficult to deal with — and that sometimes, it’s best to be bold.
Bellamy Boldilocks’ hair is notorious. It swooshes and streams so strikingly that everyone looks at him and whispers, embarrassing him wherever he goes. But when Pa takes him to the hairdresser to do something about it, something unexpected happens. With a little salon magic and a whole lot of love, much more than hair is transformed.
This silly, fun picture book is perfect for preschoolers and up. It challenges gender stereotyping that can offer a narrow definition of what’s acceptable for boys or girls, often depriving little boys of bright colours, or rainbows, or sparkles — all the fun, self-expressive stuff!
Boldilocks is an uplifting story about being confident in your skin (and hair) and will resonate with anyone who has ever felt a little bit embarrassed about how they look. It celebrates the power of community and how it can makeover shame into joyful pride.
