Freda the Free-Range Chook

As a child David Metzenthen was a nature boy; he loved fishing and farm work, exploring the bush, and being outdoors under the stars. He also lived very much inside his own head; feeling that the world was a place of unlimited adventure. He harboured dreams of becoming a cowboy, a fisherman, a farmer, a sailor, or a writer. Instead he left home at eighteen, with a copy of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road for company, and hitch-hiked his way around New Zealand. Returning to Australia, David worked as a builder’s labourer and advertising copy writer before finding success as a writer of books for children and young adults.

Born in Sydney, Stephen has been illustrating for children since 1974. He has illustrated hundreds of stories and cartoon strips for The School Magazine, as well as many books such as COCKY COLIN (Richard Tulloch) and AUSSIE BITES (Margaret Mahy).