With the summer holidays here in Australia fast approaching, we’re going to need some fun boredom busters for the kids, whilst also reiterating the importance of learning through play, and the importance of siblings who get along! It’s a great time to draw on the antics of Jordan and Toby from Two Can Be Trouble […] The post Learning to Play with Two Can Be Trouble appeared first on ..read more

For the second year at Just Write For Kids Australia, we offered an opportunity for author-illustrators of children’s books to submit a piece to our Picture It! Anthology Call-Out. The theme for this year was ‘LOST’, where artists were to interpret the metaphor in their own imagining, and incorporate our two new loveable characters, Walter […] The post 2024 Picture It! Anthology Contributors Announcement appeared first on ..read more

Just Write For Kids Australia’s annual Pitch It! Competition for Australian writers of picture books, junior fiction and middle grade was held in September, and WOW, what a cracker of a result this year! Every entry deserves to be a winner! The aim was to craft a manuscript pitch, worthy of a publisher’s attention, that […] The post Pitch It! Competition 2024 WINNERS and RUNNERS UP! appeared first on ..read more

With her fourth picture book, Two Can Be Trouble (illus. Paul Nash), just released, we’re privileged to hear from author, Penny Macoun, who delves into her journey with self-publishing and all its glory, trials and tribulations. This route may not be simple, but it certainly has its rewards. Thanks so much for sharing, Penny! ? […] The post Why I Self-Publish by Penny Macoun appeared first on ..read more

What a thrill and what a great response from our community as we celebrated the excitement of the 2024 Pitch It! Competition LONGLISTS last week! Again, congratulations to all! Today, we are revealing our fabulous SHORTLISTS for our Picture Book, Non-Fiction Picture Book, Junior Fiction and Middle Grade winners! These talented writers will be awarded […] The post Pitch It! Competition 2024 SHORTLISTS appeared first on ..read more

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Verity Croker! We’re delighted to have children’s and YA author, Verity Croker, on the blog, to share her newest, gripping novel for young adult readers, ALBA – Hidden Secrets. After successful writing competition results (Pitch It! 2021) and an ASA mentorship, this is a well-deserved and anticipated publication that will surely […] The post The Quick Six Interview with Verity Croker on ALBA – Hidden Secrets appeared first on ..read more

#BookReview: Two Can Be Trouble, Penny Macoun (author), Paul Nash (illus.), Macoun Publications, August 2024. Blurb: Brothers can have lots of fun together, but sometimes they can disagree. See what happens when an innocent afternoon of fun turns into complete chaos for two brothers, Toby and Jordan. Review: Who else can relate? Two kids getting […] The post #BookReview: Two Can Be Trouble by Penny Macoun and Paul Nash appeared first on ..read more

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Adrian Rose! It’s such a pleasure to welcome author, Adrian K. Rose to the blog to share the story behind her new vibrant picture book, The Summertime Elf; An Australian Christmas Story. This gorgeous Christmas tale with a twist takes the joy of all the favourite festive delights and mixes them […] The post The Quick Six Interview with Adrian Rose on The Summertime Elf appeared first on ..read more

I’m saying it again this year – WOW! The quality of pitches continues to improve each year, not only being well-crafted and professionally written, but also hitting the brief perfectly in engagement, tone and originality. The range of topics, themes and concepts were so varied and interesting, and suitably geared towards their given target market. […] The post Pitch It! Competition 2024 LONGLISTS appeared first on ..read more

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Amy Freund! We’re delighted to welcome debut picture book author, Amy Freund, to the blog, to share her gorgeous, exuberant and exotic new title, Amigo the Capybara! Move over sloths, capybaras are the latest and hippest mammals around, and here is Amigo, the friendliest and most energetic rodent you could ever […] The post The Quick Six Interview with Amy Freund on Amigo the Capybara appeared first on ..read more