We love a new book baby at Your Kid’s Next Read, and Megan Daley’s debut picture book is just a few weeks away!
Isn’t it gorgeous!
The book is publishing on 30 January, 2024. Here’s the blurb:
Prepare to embark on a unique journey into the world of native stingless bees, the unsung heroes of pollination, in the company of award-winning teacher librarian and author Megan Daley and Max Hamilton, a CBCA Awards shortlisted illustrator.
Hive day is finally here! Willow’s been counting down the days until groundskeeper Tom divides the school’s native stingless beehive into two, allowing her to take home her very own hive. Every detail must be perfect to ensure the bees flourish in their new home. The story unfolds beautifully alongside a treasure trove of captivating facts about Australia’s native bees, making ‘The Beehive’ a delightful and informative read.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY WRITING AND ILLUSTRATOR WORKSHOPS
If you’re looking for a great school holiday activity for those long January days, Australia’s authors and illustrators have you covered. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer – check with your local libraries and bookshops to see what’s available in your area.
NSW
How To Become An Author (Heidi Walkinshaw)
10 January, Stanton Library, North Sydney
Free. Ages 5-12.
Details and bookings. More about Heidi Walkinshaw.
Primary Writers Creative Writing Holiday Intensive with Tim Harris
15-19 January, Lindfield, NSW
From $525. Separate classes available for years 1-6
Details and bookings here. More about Tim Harris
Cartoon Illustration Workshop with author and illustrator Mick Elliott.
23 January, Rockdale City Library
Free. Ages 8-12.
Details and bookings here. More about Mick Elliott.
Write With Jacqueline Harvey
23, 24 and 25 January, Eduvision, Epping NSW
$360, includes one two-hour lesson each consecutive day. Classes for years 3/4, and 5/6.
Details and bookings for years 3-4. Details and bookings for years 5-6.
Story Explorer: Outdoor Writing Experiences with Zanni Louise
On demand through January, Lennox Head, NSW
$150 single child, $210 for two, $400 for four. Two hour outdoor session.
Details and bookings. More about Zanni Louise.
Victoria
Young Writers Workshops with Melissa Gijsbers
11 January, Phillip Island Library, Cowes
Free. Two workshops: ages 8-12 at 2pm, 11-18 at 4pm.
Details and bookings. More about Melissa Gijsbers.
NB: Also at Mt Waverley Library on 18 January (details).
Teen Zine Workshops with Andrea Rowe
10, 12, 17 January, Mansfield Youth Centre, Mansfield
Free. Three workshops, attend one or all three.
Details and bookings. More about Andrea Rowe.
Jump Jump! and Go For It!: Storytime with Andrea Rowe
18 January, Ian Potter Queen’s Hall, State Library
Free, part of the Kids Takeover event (10am-3pm). Bookings required.
Futuristic Fun Writing Workshop with Lucinda Gifford
19 January, Footscray Library
Free. Ages 5-12.
Details and bookings. More about Lucinda Gifford.
Queensland
Writing Magical Characters with Sarah Armstrong
16 January, Where The Wild Things Are Bookshop, West End, Brisbane
Part of the Reading & Writing Day Camp (Snr). $20 family ticket for this session (includes a copy of Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong). Or buy a single day pass for $95, including this workshop, a workshop with author Victoria Carless, two books and ‘bookish gifts’ (9am-4pm).
Details and bookings. More about Sarah Armstrong.
Storytime and Craft Workshop with Dannika Patterson
16 January, 2-3pm, Mt Gravatt Library
17 January, 11-11.45am, Mitchelton Library
17 January, 3-3.45pm, Fairfield Library
Free. Ages 4-9. Bookings can be made by phoning the library of your choice.
Library details. More about Dannika Patterson.
SA
Create and Make: Creative Writing workshop with Charlie Archbold
12 January, Unley Town Hall
$5. Ages 8-12.
Details and bookings. More about Charlie Archbold.
WA
Making a Mystery Creative Writing Workshop with Ash Harrier
16 January, The RISE, Maylands
Ages 7-12. On sale 9 January.
Details and bookings. More about Ash Harrier.
ONLINE
Creative Writing Quest for Kids with Allison Tait
Anytime, on demand, Australian Writers’ Centre self-paced course
12 modules, with video feedback from Allison on your completed story at the end.
$245. Ages 9-14. Creative Kids vouchers can be used towards course fees. Kids have up to one year to complete the course, or can do it over the holidays.
Details and bookings. More about Allison Tait
UPDATES FROM TEAM YKNR
We’re on hiatus now, recharging our batteries, and prepping for a big year ahead.
HELLO FROM MEGAN DALEY
Megan is an award-winning teacher-librarian working in Brisbane, the author of Raising Readers: How to nurture a child’s love of books, and co-host of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast. She is also a sought-after public speaker, literary judge, and editor of the anthology ‘Teacher, Teacher’. More about Megan here.
If you want me, I’m here.
HELLO FROM ALLISON RUSHBY
The award-winning, bestselling author of many, many books for children and adults, Allison Rushby’s novels are firm favourites in the Your Kid’s Next Read community. Her latest illustrated junior fiction series, The Wish Sisters, is fast gaining fans. More about Allison R here.
Yippee! It’s holiday reading time! And I am most definitely looking forward to dipping into that bedside reading pile. I honestly thought I might conquer its teetering heights this holiday season. Alas, as per usual, multiple factors are about to derail this plan. These factors include:
1. the books I received for Christmas which have not yet found their way to my bedside table;
2. the books I’ve recently ‘accidentally’ downloaded onto my Kindle because they just looked so good;
3. the recent installation of the Libby app on my phone which I have found ridiculously easy to use;
4. the massive number of holds that have found their way to my local library at the same time; and
5. the lovely bookshop which is very close to the beach house I’ll be staying in for a week where I’ll be sure to load up with – you guessed it – more books.
Ah, well. We all know we’ll never really get to the bottom of the pile...
HELLO FROM ALLISON TAIT
Writing as A. L. Tait, Allison is the internationally published, bestselling author of three middle-grade series: The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. She is an in-demand speaker, a writing teacher for kids and adults, and co-host of the YKNR podcast. Her new novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is out now. More about Allison here.
I’m already back at my desk. It’s true.
The holidays are (weirdly) some of my most productive writing times of the year, so I’m full steam ahead working on new projects. (If you’re a writer, I’m running a Creative Writing Challenge over January – details here.)
I’m also reading a lot. Because I’m writing middle-grade novels, I’m steering clear of those and diving into my very neglected pile of books for ‘grown ups’. It takes a minute or two to switch gears, but oh my, I’m embracing the freedom of the podcast hiatus to refill the creative well in a different way.
So far, I’ve enjoyed two music memoir/bios: The Storyteller by Dave Grohl and Boy On Fire (The Young Nick Cave) by Mark Mordue, plus Homecoming by Kate Morton, The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip William, and a huge pile of crime fiction devoured via Kindle.
I’d love to know what you’re reading – hit the comment button to let me know!
HOLIDAY READS FOR YOUR KID
Speaking of holiday reading, now’s a great time to encourage kids to spend time with a book. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are a few lists to get you started.
15 Amazing Australian Novels for Readers 10+ (on their way to YA)
60 more tried-and-tested books for 13/14 year old boys
Escape Reads for Tweens and Teens
The Ultimate YKNR Best Books of 2021 Holiday Reading List
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Junior Fiction (6-9)
YOUR KID’S NEXT READ PODCAST
We might be on holidays, but the podcast rolls on with our summer mini-series, Behind The Books.
These bite-sized episodes take you behind the scenes of the Australian children’s publishing industry. Hit the red button to find them (or where you get your pods)!
JANUARY BOOKMAIL WINNER
Each month, we’re giving away a prize pack consisting of some of the brilliant bookmail sent to us for the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast. One winner* is chosen from our full subscriber list by random draw and announced here!
There are SIX books in the JANUARY prize pack.
The JANUARY bookmail giveaway winner is … Maree Briggs
Congrats! We’ll be in touch by email.
Want a chance to win next month? All you have to do is subscribe.
Here’s to 2024!
We’ll see you in February with more bookish goodness and, of course, to celebrate the publication of Megan’s picture book THE BEEHIVE.
Allison T, Allison R and Megan
*Australian mailing addresses only. Prize consists of one copy of each book pictured, sent as a pack to the winner by Australia Post. Winner will be contacted by email and prize must be claimed within 14 days or a redraw will take place. You must be subscribed to the YKNR newsletter by midnight (AEDST) the night before publication each month to be eligible to win. No correspondence will be entered into.