Samantha Smith

Samantha Smith is a Naarm-based children's picture book author. She lives with her three junior co-authors (all expert Morgenmuffels!), an adopted cat, and 997 compost worms. Her debut, Harriet's Hungry Worms (EK Books, 2023), has received a number of international accolades, and she has two new picture books set for release by EK Books in 2027. Her Doctorate from Monash University in youth communication and behavioural science taught her that early childhood is a critical window for empathy development, when children are naturally curious about difference and open to understanding shared human experiences. Her How to Spot a Morgenmuffel series - shortlisted for the Queensland Writers Centre's 2025 Pitchable program - is inspired by the idea that in a world of borders, words are bridges.