Canberra had a lot to do with the much-loved children's book, Where is the Green Sheep?
Judy Horacek drew the illustrations in her studio at the Gorman House Arts Centre in Braddon and the original drawings are now part of the collection of the National Library.
The book, written by Mem Fox, is a children's classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide, with its simple story and playful, life-filled illustrations.
"If people tell me they don't own a copy of the book, which is very rare, I tell them they better get one or the authorities will come around and take away their children," Horacek said, tongue-in-cheek.
Fourteen years after moving to Melbourne, Horacek returned to Canberra on Wednesday for a very special reason - the launch of a 20 cent coin honouring the 20th anniversary of the publication of Where is the Green Sheep?
The collectable coin goes on sale on Thursday.
Horacek said she and Fox were "totally thrilled" to have a coin with their book on it.
"The book becoming a coin - I did not know it was a dream of mine - but as soon as they said it's going to be a coin, I went, 'Oh my goodness!'," she said.
"That's a bit nerdy, isn't it? But I love it. That the book has been so successful that the Mint wanted to make it into a coin, is extraordinary."
Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon was resplendent in a green suit for the occasion.
The Mint's product developer Matthew Frawley said the release was the fourth in a series celebrating popular Australian children's books and the joys of reading.
The previous coin launches were Animalia in 2021, Diary of a Wombat in 2022 and Edward the Emu in 2023.
"Where is the Green Sheep? is one of those classic Aussie children's books that are always on high rotation for any parent and youngster," he said.
"Gorgeously teaching kids about opposites and even the concept of 'where', all wrapped up in Mem's addictive prose and Judy's riotous illustrations."
Where is the Green Sheep? author Mem Fox could not attend the launch, but was delighted by the coin.
"I'm very grateful to everyone involved in creating the original book and madly grateful to the Mint for honouring the book so beautifully in its 20th anniversary year. Like a coin, I'm spinning," Fox said.
Children's Book Council of Australia chair Jonathan Howard said the Mint was "fundamentally aligned with the CBCA ethos of fostering culture, stories, language and literacy".
"Significantly, this year's book choice was a winner in the 2005 CBCA Children's Book Awards in the Early Childhood category and since this recognition the story has continued to be a huge favourite for parents, grandparents, teacher librarians and community librarians to share and enjoy with children and deserves to be in every Australian home," he said.
The coin comes in a card, with a book or in a gold-plated version.
A ballot to purchase the Where Is the Green Sheep? coin is open until 8.30am on Thursday, August 15.
To be in the running, you need to register for the ballot before 8.30am on Thursday at ramint.gov.au
It will also be for sale through the Mint shop in Deakin, authorised distributors and the Mint Contact Centre on 1300 652 020 from 8.30am on Thursday.
