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Katrina Nannestad

カトリーナ・ナンスタッド

Katrina Nannestad

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality
Australia
Languages
English
Residence History
Central New South Wales (grew up) → Bendigo, Victoria (resident as of 2022)

Career

Occupations
Author, Children's writer, Former teacher
Active Years
2001-

Education

University of New England (Australia)
Arts/Education (English and Education) / English and Education
Country: Australia
Obtained qualifications in English and education; worked as a school teacher before beginning a writing career.

Awards

Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books
2014
Work: The Girl Who Brought Mischief
Category: 児童書
Organization: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
Result: Winner
Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books
2025
Work: Silver Linings
Category: 児童書
Organization: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
Result: Winner
Historical Novel Society Australasia (Children & Young Adult)
2021
Work: We Are Wolves
Category: 児童・ヤングアダルト
Organization: Historical Novel Society Australasia
Result: Winner
Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature (Children's Literature Award)
2022
Work: We Are Wolves
Category: 児童文学
Organization: Adelaide Festival
Result: Winner
Indie Book Awards
2022
Work: Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
Category: 児童書
Organization: Indie Book Awards (Australia)
Result: Winner
Booksellers' Choice Award – Children's Book of the Year
2022
Work: Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
Category: 児童書
Organization: Booksellers' Choice
Result: Winner
CBCA Book of the Year (Younger Readers) & Shadowers' Choice
2022
Work: Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
Category: Younger Readers
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)
Result: Winner
Queensland Literary Awards (Children's Book Award)
2023
Work: Waiting for the Storks
Category: 児童書
Organization: Queensland Government
Result: Winner
NSW Premiers Literacy Award (Red Dirt Diaries)
2012
Work: The Red Dirt Diaries (series)
Category: 児童文学
Organization: New South Wales
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Bungaloo Creek

2001 Children's literature

Nannestad's debut novel for children.

childrengrowing up

The Red Dirt Diaries

2010 Children's literature (series)

A three-book series about children's lives and friendships set in regional Australia.

friendshipregional life

The Girl Who Brought Mischief

2013 Historical fiction (children)

A story about a girl living in Denmark in 1911, blending humour with historical context.

historyfamilyadventure

Olive of Groves

2015 Children's series

A three-book illustrated series (illustrated by Lucia Masciullo) about everyday life and small adventures for young readers.

friendshipgrowing up

The Girl, the Dog and the Writer

2017 Children's series (travel-themed)

A three-part series set in Rome, Provence and Lucerne following journeys and mysteries that lead to personal growth.

travelmysteryfamily

Lottie Perkins

2019 Early readers (children)

A four-book series published 2019–2020, illustrated by Makoto Koji, aimed at emerging readers.

humoureveryday life

Mim and the Baffling Bully

2021 Children's series

First book of The Travelling Bookshop series, addressing friendship and school life.

friendshipschool life

Waiting for the Storks

2022 Historical fiction (children)

Based on the real-life Lebensborn program, told from the perspective of Zofia Ulinski, a girl taken from her family in Poland.

wardisplacementidentity

We Are Wolves

2022 Historical fiction (children & YA)

Follows three German children fleeing their town in East Prussia after it was besieged by the Red Army; loosely inspired by the Wolfskinder.

warsurvivalfriendship

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

2022 Historical fiction (children)

Inspired by the true story of Sergey Aleshkov, about six-year-old Sasha who is taken in by the Red Army after being orphaned.

warorphanhoodmoral conflict

Silver Linings

2023 Historical fiction (children)

Set in post-WWII Australia, focusing on community and rebuilding.

post-war rebuildingfamilycommunity

All the Beautiful Things

2024 Historical fiction (children)

Set in Nazi Germany, exploring moral questions and human relationships.

warmoralityrelationships

Bibliography

  • Bungaloo Creek
  • The Red Dirt Diaries (series)
  • The Girl Who Brought Mischief
  • Olive of Groves (series)
  • The Girl, the Dog and the Writer (series)
  • Lottie Perkins (series)
  • Mim and the Baffling Bully (The Travelling Bookshop)
  • Waiting for the Storks
  • We Are Wolves
  • Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
  • Silver Linings
  • All the Beautiful Things

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Concise, empathetic prose for children grounded in historical settingsFocus on characters' emotions
Recurring Motifs
war and its effectschildren's perspectivefamily and belongingsurvival and resilience

Legacy

Nannestad is acclaimed for historical children's fiction, receiving numerous national awards for works addressing war, displacement and family. She is recognized for bringing historical topics to young readers.

Trivia

  • Grew up in central New South Wales.
  • Former school teacher; teaching experience influenced her children's writing.
  • Resident of Bendigo (as of 2022).
  • Has won multiple awards for historical children's novels.
  • Official website: www.katrinanannestad.com