'Consent' is a word we've heard a lot about over the past few years and it's a word that parents know they need to discuss with their kids from an early age. But how? In her brand-new picture book, From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes, Australian author Charlotte...
The one thing I wish I’d known when I started: 16 children’s and YA authors reveal all
"What's the one thing you wish you'd known when you started out as an author?" It's a big question, and one I've been toying with over the past week. The problem is, there are just SO many things I wish I'd known. Narrowing it down to one seems impossible. So I...
The Ultimate Your Kid’s Next Read Best Books of 2021 Holiday Reading List
As all the 'best books of 2021' lists begin to storm the internet and various other media channels, I decided that it was time the Your Kid's Next Read community got in on the action. So I challenged our members to help me create The Ultimate Your Kid's Next Read Best...
“Don’t kill the dog” plus 13 other useful writing tips
Useful writing tips are not that easy to come by. There's a lot of 'read widely' and 'write lots' in the writing advice given out – and for good reason. Those two tips are the cornerstone of any writer's career. But when it comes to the nitty gritty, the really useful...
5 picture books that explore cultural diversity with grandparents
When it comes to picture books, Australia's multicultural nature hasn't always been easy to find. Fortunately, things are changing, with more culturally diverse picture books being published. One author who is part of that welcome renaissance is Inda Ahmad Zahri, with...
12 books with insight into autism and neurodiversity, from picture books to YA
"I’m wondering if there are any books aimed at an 8 year old (autistic child) with preferably with main character that is autistic?" "I have recently started working with children and teens who have been diagnosed with ASD / ADHD / OCD / ODD / Intellectual...
Nine authors offering signed books for Christmas
Looking for an extra-special Christmas gift for a young reader? A personally signed novel could be just the thing! In case you missed it, I'm offering signed copies of all A. L. Tait novels – The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher and the Maven & Reeve...
15 amazing Australian novels for readers 10+ (on their way to YA)
One of the most popular requests in the Your Kid's Next Read community is for YA novels suitable for tweens. Or books for 10-year-olds who want to 'read up'. So much so that Megan Daley and I have already devoted an episode of the Your Kid's Next Read podcast to the...
21 books for kids who like science (and for kids who don’t like science YET)
Having decided it was that time of year – that is, book list time of year – I put my mind to thinking about the Your Kid's Next Read community and the books they were requesting for their kids. Science books, I decided. STEM books for kids of all ages. And then,...