Betty Rowlands

Betty Rowlands (born Elizabeth Margaret Matthews, 1941) is a British-born Australian author of children's literature. She has published over 30 books, primarily for children and young adults. Rowlands was born in England and moved to Australia with her family at the age of 11. She began writing in her early 20s, and her first book, "The Rabbit Who Didn't Want to Be King," was published in 1973. Over the years, Rowlands has received numerous awards for her work, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for Older Readers in 1988 for "The Barrakee Mystery," and the 1999 New South Wales Premier's Literary Award for Children's Literature for "The Patchwork Hero." Rowlands' books are known for their vivid characters, engaging plots, and insightful exploration of themes such as friendship, family, and environmentalism. Her work has been praised by critics and enjoyed by generations of readers.