Leigh Hobbs works across a wide range of artistic mediums, but is best known for his children's books featuring Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Fiona the Pig, the Freaks of 4F, Mr Badger and Mr Chicken. Old Tom is also a popular TV series, and Leigh has won every major Australian children's choice award. Mr Chicken Goes to Paris was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, is a bestseller at Paris's Louvre Bookshop, was adapted for the stage by the National Institute for Dramatic Arts, and was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards - as were Horrible Harriet and Old Tom's Holiday. Leigh admits there's something of himself in each of his characters, and Old Tom is no exception.
Leigh is Australia's Children's Laureate for 2016 and 2017.