A woman with long brown hair smiling at the camera, with the text 'Hey Ashleigh' written below her.

ASHLEIGH Barton is a bestselling children's author of picture books, junior fiction and middle grade, including the acclaimed 2025 middle grade novel, How to Sail to Somewhere, and CBCA Shortlisted picture book What Do You Call Your Grandma.

Prior to becoming a full-time author, Ashleigh worked in some of Australia's biggest publishing houses, running marketing and publicity campaigns for local and international authors and illustrators, including Shaun Tan, Cressida Cowell, Ed Sheeran, and Lauren Child.

AWARDS

CBCA Notable 2021 - What Do You Call Your Grandpa?
CBCA Shortlist 2022 - What Do You Call Your Grandma?
CBCA Notable 2023 - How Do You Say I Love You?
CBCA Notable 2025 - Dinosaur In My Pocket
Speech Pathology Book of the Year Shortlist 2025 - Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet
CBCA Notable 2026 - How to Sail to Somewhere

Ashleigh’s Books

  • Book cover titled 'How to sail to somewhere' by Ashleigh Barton, featuring a stylized illustration of a hand holding a floating landmass with trees and a boat sailing underneath, set against a starry night sky.
  • A colorful illustrated book cover featuring a young boy with curly hair and a big smile, wearing a sports uniform with medals, standing on a red podium with a laurel wreath, surrounded by falling papers and confetti, with bold yellow and red text that reads 'Freddie Spector, Fact Collector' and a yellow note that says 'Go for Gold'.
  • An illustration of a circus tent with children and a lion in front. The text reads 'Eighty-Nine Questions for After' and 'Ashleigh Barton'. The scene is framed by trees and foliage.
  • Book cover titled 'What Do You Call Your Grandma?' by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek. The cover features colorful illustrations of children and a grandma with a pink background, including a girl playing the guitar, a girl on a seesaw, a girl with a bird, and a girl sitting on the floor.
  • Book cover titled 'What Do You Call Your Grandpa?' with colorful illustrations of children and adults engaging in activities like riding a bike, flying a kite, and playing soccer on an orange background.
  • Text on a yellow background reading: "Dinosaurs in My Pocket" with a cartoon illustration of a green dinosaur with blue spikes.

Ashleigh’s Services

  • Master the foundations of children's literature with premier children's book mentoring from Ashleigh Barton. These personalised writer mentorships are designed for authors navigating picture books, young fiction, and middle-grade concepts, helping you refine your narrative voice and understand the local publishing landscape.

  • In this informal virtual catch-up session, you’ll have one hour to ask Ashleigh anything you want to know.

  • As a former Marketing & Publicity Manager in a top five publishing house, Ashleigh can help you hone and implement a promotional strategy that helps your books stand out in a crowded market.

Not sure if this is the perfect fit? Explore our full range of author mentoring and manuscript assessment services or visit our FAQ page to view pricing structures.

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