Children's author Oliver Phommavanh who gave talks to groups of children at Narromine and Dubbo libraries last year has been charged with child sex offences.

Mr Phommavanh, 41, has been charged for allegedly grooming a minor online. It is alleged the man sent inappropriate photos and videos to someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Specialist child exploitation detectives received an interstate report of Mr Phommavanh's alleged behaviour earlier this month.

The Thai-Australian was arrested on Friday morning at his home in Sydney's west, with police seizing several electronic devices.

On his website Mr Phommavanh from Sydney calls himself "a kids author, teacher and stand-up comedian" and said "I’ll be in Dubbo on 20th April 2023 to do some school holidays workshops in Dubbo Library and Narromine Library. It will be a fun hour of brainstorming and writing fun."

Image: Supplied.

Detectives allege that the former primary school teacher "used his position as a children's author to engage inappropriately with children online," according to a statement from NSW Police.

Mr Phommavanh was granted bail on Friday on several conditions including a $5,000 security, not using or possessing any internet capable device and not entering or loitering around places of education or entertainment accessed by people under 18.

He must also report daily to police and must not consume both alcohol and drugs.

Mr Phommavanh's book Thai-Riffic! was shortlisted for the Young Australia Best Book Awards and Kids Own Australia's Literature Awards several years in a row.

He has also been an ambassador for the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge as well as an advocate forilliteracy and inequality with organisation Room to Read.