About Leatherwood Books

Our logo features the flowers of Eucryphia lucida, the magnificent Leatherwood Tree, endemic to Tasmania as Leatherwood Books was started by Jo Heath in Launceston, Tasmania in 2003. The business was transferred to Jo’s sister-in-law, Aly Roberts in 2008, and relocated to Littlehampton in the Adelaide Hills. In March 2009 Leatherwood Books moved once again, this time to Perth, Western Australia, where it has been settling in comfortably. We run Leatherwood Books in the same way that Jo and Aly did as we share their views on good books and the importance of reading to children.

We run Leatherwood Books as a family business. Elsa deals with the customers, while Peter deals with distributors and does the bookkeeping. Sometimes our jobs overlap and Lila also helps out at times. Seb has been very busy with his studies and owe us some hours!

Elsa taught English at a secondary school and saw what a difference reading (especially early reading experiences) can make to literacy skills in later life. In between Leatherwood Books orders and reviews, she now works as a freelance book editor while homeschooling two teenagers with the help of her partner, Peter Lilienfeld.

In his day job, Peter works a few months a year as a consultant in parliamentary procedure in developing countries. Dealing with children’s books is quite a departure!

With four bookworms in the family, there is no shortage of reviewers. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for books to add to our catalogue. Our contact details are on the Contact page.

We donate part of our profits to www.msf.org.au (Médecins Sans Frontières) and other suitable charities.

Thank you for your continued support.

Elsa, Peter, Seb & Lila

Feedback from our customers

Here are snippets from some emails we received since March 2009:

I just wanted to commend you and your organisation on such fantastic customer service, and prompt delivery.  It is a rarity these days to find such good service so you can imagine my delight at already receiving my order.  You were also able to get some books for me that the big companies were unable to, so I truly am very impressed.  (Monique, WA)

Thank you for keeping me up to date on the status of my order. Your customer service is exemplary. (Janine, QLD)

Thanks for the lovely, personal reply...so refreshing! Please put me on the list for the newsletter. (Madeline, TAS)

Our books arrived this morning - great excitement in the house. Thank you so much for your very efficient and friendly service. Will contact you again shortly for our next lot. (Julie, WA)

Thanks again for sending such lovely books that are in perfect condition. (Hayley, WA)

Thank you so much for that, Elsa.  Much appreciated :-) There's a lot to be said for such personal customer service these days! I'll be recommending Leatherwood Books!  (Gretel, VIC)