Posts by Megan Daley
Books by First Nations Authors and Illustrators for Children to Teens
We are a nation with a long history of storytelling and we are incredibly fortunate to have so many talented First Nations Peoples writing and illustrating books for our young people. Books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples allow us all the opportunity to walk alongside a character as they tell their story from…
Read MoreNature Themed Kids Books
As an early childhood educator with a deep love for the natural world, I have always found joy in exploring the wonders of nature with young children and encouraging an interest in sustainability. From gardening with my parents and nature crafts with my kindy mates, to immersing myself in the beauty of the bush with…
Read MoreIMAGINING THE FUTURE
Late last year, I was contacted by Dan who is a Producer of a fascinating initiative of the Federal Government called Future You. I am a staunch advocate of any program that promotes diversity and sustainability and also gets our kids thinking about the future and their ability to have a positive impact. Future You aims…
Read MoreBooks for the Dark Times
I recently presented a keynote speech for the Australian Publishing Association. Authors, booksellers and publishers, all in the same room. It was a really special event. I spoke about two VERY diverse subjects – Books In Crisis and Reading for Joy. This blog is a focus on the former – of which we’re all very…
Read MoreThe Non-Fiction Books featured on Your Kids’s Next Read Podcast in 2022
Over the year that was 2022, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So the obvious end of year activity was getting the Teen-Elf (aka Pudstar) to collate all those books, via age groups, so you have THE best shopping lists to purchase all the books for Christmas and…
Read MoreThe Young Adult books featured on Your Kids Next Read in 2022
Over the year that was 2022, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So the obvious end of year activity was getting the Teen-Elf (aka Pudstar) to collate all those books, via age groups, so you have THE best shopping lists to purchase all the books for Christmas and…
Read MoreThe Middle Grade books featured on Your Kid’s Next Read in 2022
Over the year that was 2022, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So the obvious end of year activity was getting the Teen-Elf (aka Pudstar) to collate all those books, via age groups, so you have THE best shopping lists to purchase all the books for Christmas and…
Read MoreThe Middle to Upper Primary Books Featured on Your Kids Next Read
Since the very start, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So I have collated some of the favourites, in age groups, because who doesn’t love a list? Click on the link or image and head to Booktopia to read more or purchase. A note on the purchase links…
Read MoreEarly Childhood Books featured on Your Kid’s Next Read
Since the very start, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So I have collated some of the favourites, in age groups, because who doesn’t love a list? Click on the link or image and head to Booktopia to read more or purchase. A note on the purchase links…
Read MoreThe Lower Primary Books featured on Your Kids Next Read Podcast
Since the very start, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So I have collated some of the favourites, in age groups, because who doesn’t love a list? Click on the link or image and head to Booktopia to read more or purchase. A note on the purchase links…
Read MoreCall for Submissions
Call for Submissions In 2023, Affirm Press will publish an anthology about teachers and their capacity to shape the lives of those they educate. The power of an exceptional teacher cannot be underestimated. Sometimes it is not about what they taught you, but how they made you feel as a person. This will be an…
Read MoreGifts Which are Literary & Lovely 2022
The lovely bits and pieces in this post are gift ideas for colleagues, friends, family and teachers – a bit of a mash up of all the things I love, and I think you will also love. They are not sponsored ideas, though some links are affiliate links (which cost the buyer nothing) and which support…
Read MoreMEET AURA PARKER – AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR
Aura Parker’s illustrations and writing always bring joy and I have so enjoyed following her journey in the kidlit space since ‘Twig’ – full review here. There’s a gentle, playful and lovely flow to all her illustrations and the detail is just fascinating! Aura’s work inspires curiosity in nature and a connection to the world…
Read MoreMEET DR GREG DICKSON
Talking to interesting people, about reading and literacy is something I could do ALL day and I had the privilege to speak with Dr Greg Dickson, who lives an incredibly interesting life in the NT advocating for and promoting indigenous literacy and indigenous language books. He’s also a tennis tragic, doctor of linguistics and now…
Read MoreBook Week Costumes for Adults
If you’re reading this then you have clearly already thought about dressing up for Book Week and are on the look out for some manageable Book Week costume ideas. I talk ad nauseam about educators and library staff being reading role models, and Book Week is one of those times in the school year where…
Read MoreKids Costumes for Book Week
If you are reading this then you probably fall within one of two camps – loving prepping your kids Book Week costumes or utterly dreading/loathing/resenting prepping Book Week costumes! I am the former. I have vivid childhood memories of planning Book Week costumes from Snugglepot to Mog. Our four kids choose their own Book Week…
Read MoreBook People: Tony Flowers on ‘Advance Australia Fair’
Tony Flowers is one of my favourite illustrators in the Australian children’s book industry and I eargerly anticipate each new project with his name on in it. His latest work is ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and I was so intrigued about the story behind this book that I asked him a few questions. As a national…
Read MoreGifts Which are Literary & Lovely
The lovely bits and pieces in this post are gift ideas for colleagues, friends, family and teachers – a bit of a mash up of all the things I love, and I think you will also love. They are not sponsored ideas, though some links are affiliate links (which cost the buyer nothing) and which…
Read More‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at QPAC
I laughed, teared up (several times) and applauded enthusiastically from the first note to the final bow of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) last night. We could all do with being transported to a better place right now and the fantastical world of Wonka is absolutely the place to…
Read MoreBooks for Tweens and Teens
I’ve been collecting books for tweens and teens on *all of the things* for many years now – for the various schools I have worked at and for my own children. I am not a doctor, psychologist or high school teacher (definitely no expert) but between a shelf full of books with *all of the…
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