Rick's Blog

#bunyipsbooksbeyond

Use the menu below to explore "All Posts," or delve into selected topics like "Children's Picture Books", and more.

Go Where You’re Scared: Permission to be new again (#399)

When painter Alex Katz was asked, late in a career most artists would envy, if he still worries about new work failing, he laughed and...

Rick LeCouteur

Aug 313 min read

Vanishing Acts: The black hole of children’s picture books (#350)

Every year, roughly 4 million new books are published globally. That staggering number represents the hopes and dreams of millions of...

Rick LeCouteur

Jun 123 min read

Animals in Childhood Development: What animals teach children (#346)

In the modern Western world, animals play a central role in childhood. From the moment a baby is born, animals surround them in...

Rick LeCouteur

Jun 84 min read

Mutualism: Children’s picture books inspire cooperation (#325)

A mutualistic relationship is when two organisms of different species work together, each benefiting from the relationship. Organisms...

Rick LeCouteur

May 233 min read

The Unseen Teacher: The Animal as the Fourth Educator (#322)

Over the past decade, a quiet revolution has taken root in early childhood education: animals are increasingly being recognized not just...

Rick LeCouteur

May 93 min read

Who Are Indie Authors? Part 2: Indie Bookstore Day 2025 (#311)

Saturday April 26th 2025 is Indie Bookstore Day! It’s a nationwide celebration of everything we love about independent bookstores. Their...

Rick LeCouteur

Apr 252 min read

Who Are Indie Authors? Part 1: Why do writers choose this path? (#309)

Over the last two decades, the publishing landscape has undergone a quiet revolution. No longer solely the domain of large publishing...

Rick LeCouteur

Apr 244 min read

(Un)Real Animals: Anthropomorphism and the science of early learning (#288)

We’ve all seen it: a storybook lion wearing spectacles and sipping tea, or a talking squirrel with a backpack heading to school. These...

Rick LeCouteur

Mar 284 min read

More Than a Story: Branding in children's picture books (#276)

Admiral William H. McRaven, renowned for his distinguished 37-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL and leadership roles, including overseeing...

Rick LeCouteur

Mar 163 min read

Failing Forward: A lesson, not a verdict (#263)

Failure is a universal experience, yet it remains one of the most feared aspects of life. We are conditioned to avoid it, to view it as...

Rick LeCouteur

Mar 43 min read

The Flightless Cormorant: A symbol of resilience in peril (#241)

Will your grandchildren be able to see a flightless cormorant in the wild? The Galápagos Islands are a place of wonder, a natural...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 273 min read

Changing the Narrative: Animals as more than metaphors in picture books (#236)

Children’s picture books have always been a gateway to exploring the natural world. Animals, as beloved characters, help children connect...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 193 min read

Bonza Biodiversity Bonanza: Australia’s expanding protected areas (#218)

As the world grappled with its share of challenges in 2024, Australia quietly achieved some remarkable milestones in conservation. ...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 42 min read

A Lion's Silence: Forms of language and forms of life (#216)

The following famous assertion by Ludwig Wittgenstein encapsulates a profound philosophical conundrum about language, meaning, and the...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 44 min read

Who Owns a View? Tree vandalism in Sydney (#215)

Tree vandalism is an issue that has quietly plagued Sydney for years, often unnoticed or ignored by the wider public. It’s a crime...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 35 min read

Blurring Species Lines: Connecting children to nature through picture books (#213)

The interconnectedness of all life forms has long been celebrated by Indigenous cultures worldwide, whose traditions honor the kinship...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 23 min read

Never Say Never, Always Avoid Always: Mantra for a children's picture book author (#212)

As an aspiring children’s book author and illustrator striving to make my mark, I often think about the words we choose and the stories...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 13 min read

Blue Ocean Opportunities: Exploring authenticity in children's picture books (#211)

A red-billed oxpecker and an African buffalo in a biodiverse savannah setting. In the ever-evolving landscape of business, innovation,...

Rick LeCouteur

Jan 13 min read

From Veterinary Clinics to Storybooks: The power of anticonventional thinking (#198)

In a world that often emphasizes conformity and efficiency, creativity can sometimes feel stifled. Jeffrey Baumgartner’s book on...

Rick LeCouteur

Dec 18, 20245 min read

Pet Food & Children's Picture Books: It's all about the brand (#191)

At first glance, pet food companies and children's picture book author/illustrators might seem worlds apart. One deals in kibble and...

Rick LeCouteur

Dec 15, 20243 min read

Rick's Blog #bunyipsbooksbeyond Use the menu below to explore "All Posts," or delve into selected topics like "Children's Picture Books", and more.

Go Where You’re Scared: Permission to be new again (#399)

Vanishing Acts: The black hole of children’s picture books (#350)

Animals in Childhood Development: What animals teach children (#346)

Mutualism: Children’s picture books inspire cooperation (#325)

The Unseen Teacher: The Animal as the Fourth Educator (#322)

Who Are Indie Authors? Part 2: Indie Bookstore Day 2025 (#311)

Who Are Indie Authors? Part 1: Why do writers choose this path? (#309)

(Un)Real Animals: Anthropomorphism and the science of early learning (#288)

More Than a Story: Branding in children's picture books (#276)

Failing Forward: A lesson, not a verdict (#263)

The Flightless Cormorant: A symbol of resilience in peril (#241)

Changing the Narrative: Animals as more than metaphors in picture books (#236)

Bonza Biodiversity Bonanza: Australia’s expanding protected areas (#218)

A Lion's Silence: Forms of language and forms of life (#216)

Who Owns a View? Tree vandalism in Sydney (#215)

Blurring Species Lines: Connecting children to nature through picture books (#213)

Never Say Never, Always Avoid Always: Mantra for a children's picture book author (#212)

Blue Ocean Opportunities: Exploring authenticity in children's picture books (#211)

From Veterinary Clinics to Storybooks: The power of anticonventional thinking (#198)

Pet Food & Children's Picture Books: It's all about the brand (#191)

Rick's Blog

#bunyipsbooksbeyond

Use the menu below to explore "All Posts," or delve into selected topics like "Children's Picture Books", and more.