The Peach King
Published on 30. September 2025
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-0-7344-1851-7 (ISBN)
Description
A contemporary fable about the resilience of nature from Inga Simpson, one of Australia's leading nature writers, with paintings by acclaimed illustrator Tannya Harricks
When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, all they could see was row upon row of other peach trees. And, on top of the hill, watching over the orchard - the Peach King.
As seasons pass, bringing cycles of change, Little Peach Tree grows and grows.
But darker changes are stirring. Soon rain is scarce, the forests turn brown, animals flee and the sky turns red.
To protect the orchard, the Peach King faces grave danger and Little Peach Tree must find their voice.
'A modern classic . . . An exquisite book destined to be treasured by generations . . . Its timeless quality and gentle wisdom invite return visits, making it a rewarding and enduring read' BOOKS+PUBLISHING
'Simpson's writing is exquisite: spare, lyrical and deeply evocative. There is not a word wasted or out of place. Her story is perfectly matched with illustrations that sweep from corner to corner bringing the seasons alive. Together they create a timeless tale of growth, change and resilience . . . A book destined to become a classic' GOOD READING MAGAZINE
'A fable for our times - one that feels both timeless and urgent' AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW
When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, all they could see was row upon row of other peach trees. And, on top of the hill, watching over the orchard - the Peach King.
As seasons pass, bringing cycles of change, Little Peach Tree grows and grows.
But darker changes are stirring. Soon rain is scarce, the forests turn brown, animals flee and the sky turns red.
To protect the orchard, the Peach King faces grave danger and Little Peach Tree must find their voice.
'A modern classic . . . An exquisite book destined to be treasured by generations . . . Its timeless quality and gentle wisdom invite return visits, making it a rewarding and enduring read' BOOKS+PUBLISHING
'Simpson's writing is exquisite: spare, lyrical and deeply evocative. There is not a word wasted or out of place. Her story is perfectly matched with illustrations that sweep from corner to corner bringing the seasons alive. Together they create a timeless tale of growth, change and resilience . . . A book destined to become a classic' GOOD READING MAGAZINE
'A fable for our times - one that feels both timeless and urgent' AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Publishing group
Hachette Australia
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 to 5 years
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 314 mm
Width: 240 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
440 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7344-1851-7 (9780734418517)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
Inga Simpson (Author)
Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Nest, Inga's second novel, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga's third novel, the acclaimed Where the Trees Were, was published in 2016.
Inga was awarded the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and has obtained a second PhD, exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga's account of her love of Australian nature and life with trees, Understory, was published in 2017. Her first book for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson, was published in 2021. The Last Woman in the World, her critically acclaimed environmental thriller, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for the 2022 Fiction Indie Book Award. Her bestselling and critically acclaimed 2022 novel Willowman was shortlisted for the BookPeople Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2023 and in 2024 was selected by Australia's leading booksellers in BookPeople's 100 Must-Read Australian Novels. Her 2024 literary thriller The Thinning has been shortlisted for the 2025 ACT Literary Award for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize and the 2025 Fiction Indie Book Award. The Peach King, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, is her second book for children, and published in 2025. Once We Were Wildlife is her eighth novel.
Inga lives on the New South Wales south coast among trees.
Tannya Harricks (Illustrator)
Tannya Harricks is an illustrator and artist who lives in Sydney. Her award-winning art practice draws inspiration from the Australian landscape, its animals and her love of adventure. Tannya studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Randwick TAFE (now Design Centre Enmore) and will soon complete a degree in Visual Culture at Curtin University. She has previously illustrated six picture books, including Night Watch and Mallee Sky, both by Jodi Toering. Tannya illustrated The Heartbeat of The Land by Cathy Freeman and Coral Vass which was shortlisted for the Wilderness Society Karajia Award. Tannya has illustrated the titles Kookaburra and Dingo both by Claire Saxby. Dingo was joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature at the NSW Premier's Literary Award (2019), won the Royal Zoological Society of NSW's Whitley Award (2018) and was shortlisted in 2019 for the CBCA New Illustrator Award as well as for Best Picture Book in the Educational Publishing Awards.
Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Nest, Inga's second novel, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga's third novel, the acclaimed Where the Trees Were, was published in 2016.
Inga was awarded the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and has obtained a second PhD, exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga's account of her love of Australian nature and life with trees, Understory, was published in 2017. Her first book for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson, was published in 2021. The Last Woman in the World, her critically acclaimed environmental thriller, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for the 2022 Fiction Indie Book Award. Her bestselling and critically acclaimed 2022 novel Willowman was shortlisted for the BookPeople Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2023 and in 2024 was selected by Australia's leading booksellers in BookPeople's 100 Must-Read Australian Novels. Her 2024 literary thriller The Thinning has been shortlisted for the 2025 ACT Literary Award for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize and the 2025 Fiction Indie Book Award. The Peach King, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, is her second book for children, and published in 2025. Once We Were Wildlife is her eighth novel.
Inga lives on the New South Wales south coast among trees.
Tannya Harricks (Illustrator)
Tannya Harricks is an illustrator and artist who lives in Sydney. Her award-winning art practice draws inspiration from the Australian landscape, its animals and her love of adventure. Tannya studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Randwick TAFE (now Design Centre Enmore) and will soon complete a degree in Visual Culture at Curtin University. She has previously illustrated six picture books, including Night Watch and Mallee Sky, both by Jodi Toering. Tannya illustrated The Heartbeat of The Land by Cathy Freeman and Coral Vass which was shortlisted for the Wilderness Society Karajia Award. Tannya has illustrated the titles Kookaburra and Dingo both by Claire Saxby. Dingo was joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature at the NSW Premier's Literary Award (2019), won the Royal Zoological Society of NSW's Whitley Award (2018) and was shortlisted in 2019 for the CBCA New Illustrator Award as well as for Best Picture Book in the Educational Publishing Awards.