Harries: The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach
A behind the scenes look!
Hey there,
I’m so excited to finally share a little behind-the-scenes look at a book that means so much to me – Harries: The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach.
It’s an inspiring true story that shows kids it’s okay to be different — with themes of bullying, resilience and dyslexia, it helps kids find their special gift and reminds them that every child has something valuable to offer.
It’s off to the printers and will be on shelves in October in the USA, UK, Australia and NZ!
How it came to be
This book came to life a little differently than usual. Normally, publishers like to receive a manuscript first and then pair it with an illustrator. But in our case, things happened the other way around. Emily and Harries had a dream to write a children’s book, and since our boys went to school together, we already had a connection. They asked if I’d like to illustrate it and, of course, I said yes!
We pitched the story as a team – text and sample illustrations – and it worked! EK Books were already familiar with my work and loved the idea. It’s such a great reminder that sometimes it’s okay to break the rules a little. If you’re an illustrator or author thinking about teaming up with someone to submit a joint project – do it. You never know where it might lead.
Designing Harries - the character
One of the first things I worked on was designing the character of Harries, both as a grown-up and as a school kid. I created a character sheet imagining all the things young Harries might get up to. The first portrait that I drew of Harries is what you see on the book cover! I redrew the background to make sure the iconic Bondi Beach Pavilion was instantly recognisable and Mark Thacker beautifully designed it and added the text.
There was also a big action scene I drew with Harries paddling out to rescue some kids, but it didn’t make the final cut once the text and pagination were finalised. But I did recycle parts of that image into other pages, so it still lives on in a new way.
Very Important Research (Cough)
Now, the research for this book was… hard. Really hard! I had to watch hours of Bondi Rescue and look at lifeguards with their shirts off (for accuracy, of course). I also had to visit Bondi Beach regularly, sit at local cafes like Glory Days, drink coffee, sketch, soak in the vibe – all essential illustrator duties, obviously.😉
One of the most special parts was sneaking in a Bondi legend – Eugene Tan from Aquabumps – who’s been documenting the beach for over 20 years. I’ve loved his daily emails and Instagram posts for ages, so including him felt like a little personal Easter egg. You can just see him in the background behind the ice cream truck below. I also learned that he and Harries grew up around Bondi and knew each other as kids.
Most challenging spread
One of the most challenging spreads to illustrate was the spread where Harries, as a kid, feels overwhelmed when he can’t read the menu to order food, and he is being bullied. It was difficult because I wasn’t drawing an action in the text, but rather illustrating a concept and a feeling.
Favourite Spread
In contrast, one of my favourite spreads to draw was a dramatic rescue scene. I got to fully immerse myself in the water — all those turquoise tones, whitewash, and movement. It was such a joy to illustrate a moment filled with action and energy, telling a story across the page through a sequence of visual beats. Drawing water is one of my favourite things, so that spread really felt like play.
Beneath the Waves
This book isn’t just about surf and sunscreen. It tells the story of Harries’ personal journey growing up with dyslexia. He was bullied and underestimated – but he discovered that what made him different actually made him brilliant. His unique ability to read the ocean and respond instinctively has helped him save over 6,000 lives over his 30-year career as a lifeguard. That’s just incredible!!! I’m happy I could be part of bringing this story to life and help kids feel seen and empowered.
And a huge thank you!
This whole project has been such a joy – not just because of the story itself, but because of the people behind it. Working with Emily and Harries and creating something meaningful together has been an experience I’ll always treasure.
And a huge thank you to Anouska Jones and the team at EK Books, who wholeheartedly embraced the project from the outset. Harries: The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach aligned beautifully with EK Books’ mission to create picture books that foster understanding, compassion, and resilience, making it a natural fit for their list.
I’ll share more behind the scenes instagram and will also keep you updated on the launch and where to buy the book around the world. If you want more details you can see the book on the EK website and also follow Harries and Emily Carroll.
Until next time,
Carla
You can see more of my work on my website and stay connected on Instagram.
Bondi Rescue lifeguard Harries wasn’t always confident. Bullied as a child for dyslexia, he quickly became sad. But his life changed once he discovered he could see and hear things others might not. With this heightened alertness, Harries can anticipate when someone might be in danger, which led him to carve out a successful 30-year career as a lifeguard, rescuing thousands of people. Harries is a hopeful story about how, sometimes, we need to dig a little deeper to find our special gifts.
SPECIFICATIONS: 9781923011205 | Hardback | 32 Pages | 245mm x 255mm
Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll is one of the most recognizable lifeguards on TV’s Bondi Rescue, which has aired in countries around the world. He has spent almost thirty years protecting the local beachgoing community, rescuing almost 6000 people, and is one of the longest serving active patrolling lifeguards in Bondi’s history. Harries has won six Australian Open Longboard Titles, and in 2017 won the Molokai2Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (40–49 years). He is also a Pilates instructor, and passionate mental health advocate and speaker.
Emily Carroll is Pilates instructor and certified ice bath coach. She is a devoted mother to two energetic boys, a nature lover, and an avid beachgoer.
Carla Hoffenberg is a published children’s book illustrator who lives in Sydney. She grew up in Johannesburg and lived in NYC. She is passionate about bringing joy to the world through optimistic and imaginative illustrations. Carla has three children and loves seeing their individuality and self-confidence flourish. She is either at the beach or working on her next children’s book project.
My Books
I AM ME (Written by Mitch Tambo; Allen & Unwin; September 2025),
Harries - The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach (Written by Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll and Emily Carroll; EK Books; October 2025)
Boldilocks (Written by Deborah Frenkel; EK Books; September 2025).
Somewhere Lost (Anthology, Daisy Lane Publishing; May 2025)
Our Australian Heart (Anthology, Daisy Lane Publishing; 2024)
Mia’s Glamma (Written by Josie Montano; IP Kids (Interactive Publications); 2023)
Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping (Written by Josie Montano and Charlotte Birkmanis; IP Kids (Interactive Publications); 2022)
Congratulations Carla! I love the way you rendered the sea.