The Flying Orchestra — Clare McFadden

See the original paintings in State Library of Queensland's permanent collection

See the The Flying Orchestra paintings in real life!

“A meditation in love and life on many levels”

Brook Tayla, Buzzwords Magazine

"This beautiful picture book is full of mystery and magic"

Good Reading

"Beautiful, moving and joyous"

ABC – Canberra: Children’s Books with Deb Abela

Find accompanying teachers’ notes from UQP here
The Flying Orchestra original paintings and papers now have a permanent home at State Library of Queensland, Australia. Call the Library to arrange a visit and see the paintings from the book in real life!
The stage show is now available to watch free on Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Digital Stage!

The paperback edition includes a list of music to accompany each page, also available on Spotify.

‘Babies Proms’ performance, Sydney Opera House, arranged and conducted by George Ellis
Adapted for stage as the headlining performance at the ‘Out of the Box Festival of Early Childhood’, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Directed by Peter Wilson. (Now available to watch on QPAC’s digital stage).
The Flying Orchestra, performed by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Crichton Award for children’s book illustration, The Children’s Book Council of Australia
Selected as a winner in the National Year of Reading’s ‘Book that Best Defines Queensland’ (picture book category)
Selected as one of the fifty books for the Australian Federal Government’s ‘Get Reading’ Campaign
Australian Booksellers’ Association list of 50 Favourite Kids’ Books