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Say Hello to Hello Cocky! -- The Most Dramatic Bird in the Business

KEAN & Creative

Key Facts:

Publication date: 5th August 2025.

Celebrated duo, Hilary Bell and Antonia Pesenti.

Distinctive Australian Wildlife: Showcases the charismatic cockatoo, celebrating its unique personality and place in Australian culture and environments.

 

 

Cockatoos: The Born Performers of the Bird World

With their flamboyant crests, expressive body language, and undeniable flair for drama, cockatoos are often called the actors of the avian world — and for good reason. These charismatic birds don’t just communicate; they perform. Whether it's a perfectly timed head bob, a theatrical screech, or a showy display of feathers, cockatoos command attention like seasoned stage stars.

Highly intelligent and social, cockatoos are natural mimics — capable of learning sounds, human speech, and even dance moves. Their exaggerated movements and cheeky personalities make them captivating to watch, and sometimes, impossible to ignore.

In short, if birds held auditions, cockatoos would always land the lead.

It’s no surprise, then, that celebrated Australian playwright Hilary Bell — known for her vivid characters and theatrical storytelling — has chosen the cockatoo to star in her latest children’s book, Hello Cocky, a feathery tale of flair and feathers.

Bringing the cockatoo’s antics to vibrant life is award-winning illustrator Antonia Pesenti, whose bold, playful illustrations are as expressive and energetic as the bird himself. With her signature use of colour, texture, and architectural whimsy, Pesenti perfectly captures the mischief, movement, and theatrical magic at the heart of Hello Cocky.

Much like the protagonists of Bell’s plays — and the pages of Pesenti’s artwork — cockatoos are bold, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. With Hello Cocky, Hilary Bell and Antonia Pesenti deliver a cheeky, charming celebration of creativity, confidence, and the belief that life is always better with a little drama — and a lot of feathers.

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Hello Cocky is published by Scribble, an imprint of Scribe Publications.
Publication: 5th August 2025
Children's Book Week 2025 theme: 'Book an Adventure' (August 16th to 23rd) 

 

About us:

Hilary Bell is an author of picture books, and a multi-award-winning playwright. Her other books with Antonia Pesenti are Alphabetical Sydney, Numerical Street and Summer Time.

Antonia Pesenti is a Sydney based architect and illustrator. She combines directing the design practice Studio Fable with illustrating/designing and making beauitful books - from zines through to picture books. 

Scribble is an award-winning independent publisher of children's books, part of Scribe Publications, based in Naarm/Melbourne. They are known for publishing titles that encourage conversations about emotions, experiences, and the world, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and artistic quality.

 

 

Contact details:

For review copies or to arrange an interview, segment, or article, please contact:

Jennifer Kean, Publicist
[email protected]
0413 711 389