Larrikin House has been publishing books that kids love since 2019. We have an unwavering commitment to creating quirky, edgy, original, funny kid-focused books that push boundaries. We believe in the importance of engaging readers at an early age, and we believe in fun!

Publisher James Layton is one of the largest children’s booksellers to the education market and has been buying and selling children’s books for more than 30 years! Although, he’ll tell you he doesn’t look that old… 

If you’ve done business with JL Library Supplies, Oz Education, Oz Ed Book Club & Fairs, Teacher Resources Australia or Learning Discovery anytime since 1992, then you’ve done business with James. 

James has taken everything he has learnt working with educators, books worms and reluctant readers to create the off-beat publishing imprint Larrikin House. 

With more than 55 wacky Larrikin House titles, that includes picture books, junior and middle grade fiction and graphic novels, this little house is making its mark!

It’s a great time to be a larrikin!

At the beginning of 2021, our new publishing arm Larrikin House merged with our schools business Learning Discovery. Our website is a hybrid of our own published titles, and the large, curated range of books that we source from the world’s best children’s publishers. 

In 2021 we launched Larrikin Book Fairs, sending thousands of books to schools all around the country! Larrikin House also sends out around 5000 Variety Book Packs to schools every year! In 2022 we launched our School of Larrikins, in our quest for more laugh-out-loud manuscripts and have created a brilliant community of writers. This little house is run on pure adrenaline and an energy that comes from loving what we do every single day! Regular afternoon naps also help…Watch this space for more larrikin fun and madcap ideas! 

Cheers, James Layton, Owner / Publisher