Susea Spray
ALLi Author Member
Location: Australia
Genres: Adventure, Children's fiction, Children's general
Susea is a retired classroom teacher who majored in English and Children’s Literature and spent 23 wonderful years turning literacy lessons into joyful adventures. Her absolute favourite part of every school day? Snuggling into a story or two and inviting her students to step softly into the rich, magical world of books. Writing has always been stitched through Susea’s life like a bright thread. She tried (and tried!) to write picture books for years; but the words simply refused to behave. They hid. They sulked. They would not play nicely together. Then, more than a decade ago, she and her husband set sail on the adventure of a lifetime: an around-the-world voyage by sea. As the ocean stretched wide and blue around them, Susea began recording their travels on her sailing blog. Mile by mile, wave by wave, something shifted. The stories gathered. The ideas grew. And at last, the words decided to come out and play. Today, Susea shares her love of language, sailing, and the sea through stories told in the voice of a big blue boat and a determined young girl, its Captain. Although she loves the peaceful rhythm of writing, Susea’s favourite part of being an author is meeting children. Each year she packs her books (and plenty of enthusiasm!) for Autumn and Spring author tours, working with students from Preschool to Year 6. She has visited tiny schools with just two students and bustling schools with more than 400; and she treasures every single one. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find Susea researching curious details, cooking something delicious, taking photographs, heading out for a walk, or happily returning to the page of her sailing blog, where it all began.
Susea Spray's books
Genres: Adventure, Children's fiction, Children's general
Formats: E-Book, Hardback
Age Groups: 0-3, 2-5, 5-8, 8-11
A girl. A cave. A mysterious tail. What will she find? When Captain slips away, adventure-bound, a fleeting glimpse of a mysterious tail leads her and Dad into a magical cave world filled with strange and wonderful creatures. As curiosity pulls them deeper inside, Captain can’t stop wondering, ‘What does that mysterious tail belong to?’ Will she and Dad discover its secret, or will the cave keep its magic hidden? This rhyming picture book is a prequel to the A Big Blue Boat stories and is written as a playful sing-along that encourages children to join in from the very first page. Perfect for fans of children’s adventure books, rhyming picture books, read-aloud stories, and imaginative exploration, this story celebrates curiosity, family, and the joy of discovery. Ideal for ages 3–7. Perfect for bedtime reading, classrooms, and story time sing-alongs.
Genres: Adventure, Children's fiction, Children's general
Formats: E-Book, Hardback
Age Groups: 0-3, 2-5, 5-8
With the wind in her hair and salt tickling her nose, the hungry Captain sets her line — only to discover the sea is full of surprises. From the orange-red blush of sunrise to burnished sunset, the sea begins to share its secrets. Albatross glide on wide, whispering wings, and whales roll and splash in the deep, dappled brine. All around her, the ocean hums: busy, breathing, alive. Out here, life moves like the tide - in and out, ebb and flow; a gentle reminder that everything has its rhythm. Brought to life by Emma Stuart’s stunning illustrations, this magical rhyming tale captures the wonder of a day on the water. Set along the wild west coast of Australia, this award-winning sequel to A Big Blue Boat is perfect for anyone who loves boats, sea creatures, and that delicious, salty stretch of endless blue.
Genres: Adventure, Children's fiction, Children's general
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Hardback
Age Groups: 0-3, 2-5, 5-8
When the sea is calm and the breeze just right, the Big Blue Boat and her captain set out for a perfect day of sailing. But as the wind begins to strengthen and the waves start to rollick and frolic, adventure rises on the horizon. Will the Big Blue Boat and her fearless captain make it safely back to shore? In the spirited tradition of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, A Big Blue Boat sweeps young readers into an ever-growing, rhythmic tale filled with rhyme, repetition, and delightful surprises. Perfect for preschoolers and early readers, this sing-song adventure builds anticipation with every turn of the page. Featuring a confident female captain at the helm, this charming picture book celebrates courage, curiosity, and a love of the sea. Beloved by educators and families alike, A Big Blue Boat supports...