A Kids' Year Series in Simplified Chinese

The A Kids’ Year series has been translated into Simplified Chinese and I’m over the moon.   

Starting with An Aussie Year in 2013 (EK Books), the series is still going strong. Knowing Chinese children can now explore these countries through the eyes of children their age, is a joy for me. We spent four years in Beijing when our kids were young, and I developed a real connection to Chinese children during our time there.  

The books come in a paperback set with a collective sleeve. It also includes a concertina scrapbook for kids to draw and write stories in – perhaps of their own traditions and customs – and a booklet featuring some of the facts from the series, including our own ANZAC Day.  

The production values are beautiful and I’m so grateful to Anouska Jones and EK Books and their rights team for securing this publication. And of course, the books were a team effort, with amazing illustrations by Tina Snerling (Lukas).

Click here to see a video of the books.

An Aussie Year / A Kiwi Year in paperback

After a fabulous 6 years in print, the bestselling An Aussie Year is now out in a luscious paperback version... with an updated cover in a divine Outback Orange! It will be so lovely to see the book in the hands of new generation of little ones now aged 6 (and up).

A Kiwi Year is also now in paperback with a delectable kiwifruit green cover. Both updates made by my gorgeous friend and A Kids' Year series illustrator, Tina Lukas (once Snerling).

I still have such a fondness for this series (there's also Canada, England, Scotland, Texas and New York), and have ever been inspired with the way children react to the kids featured in each book, and their localised year, from events and festivals to traditions, food, games, toys and everyday life in the place they call home.

Look out for the books in a shop near you, or online, or ... win a copy! I have to sets of these books to give away. Just head to my Instagram account to enter! Hurry, ends Sunday 3 November 2019.

a kids' year series - An Aussie Year and A Kiwi Year in paperback

Just look at these stunning new covers for An Aussie Year and A Kiwi Year, designed by the amazing Tina Snerling - for the paperback versions of each book. Love!

Both books will be released 21 October, in Australia and New Zealand, with EK Books. If you'd like to pre-order, just click An Aussie Year or A Kiwi Year and you'll be taken directly to each one.

Click the covers above for more on each book, and below is a peek at all nine books in one spot! Click on the GIF to buy/pre-order.

Goodbye, summer--hello deadlines

Well, hello, creative people. It's been a wee while since I last wrote. Have been under a bit of a mountain and that will continue for some time, but it's all good! From under the mountain, lots of lovely things have been going on, including the onset of Autumn. Sigh. So happy.

This morning I burrowed into the oversized basket in our spare room, perennially crammed with knits--scarves, beanies, gloves. And I wore a beanie for the first time this year, on our walk around the lake (and no, I'm not being a sook, it was 4 degrees in Canberra this morning!). I sure was cold but this walk warms my heart. I love it so. Every Sunday we do it, my hubster and me. Well, he runs.

So, I'm aware it's not spring, but above you will see a forest of daisies--aren't they superb? They're hiding a little darling who is taking up a lot of my time--Evie. She is a daisy-loving girl and I'm in love with her. I was talking to Cate Whittle recently, for The Happy Book podcast, and she was saying that if you want to write a junior fiction series, you need to fall in love with your characters, and that's just what I've done. I can't wait for you to meet Evie. The books will be out next year.

A Kiwi Year/A Canadian Year gadding about the globe

in Little Angel magazine

It's so lovely to see A Kiwi Year and A Canadian Year gadding about the interweb, scaling snow-covered mountains and hopping trout-laden streams. Seems kids everywhere are as enamoured as Tina Snerling and I when it comes to travel, exploring new places, and the joys and mind-expansion of multiculturalism.

Here are some of the jaunts the books have taken. Thank you to everyone for these lovely reviews! I hope your kids enjoy this romp around two of the most incredible countries on earth.

in New Idea magazine

A Canadian Year/A Kiwi Year on Literacy, Families and Learning

A Canadian Year/A Kiwi Year on Kids' Book Review 

A Kiwi Year on The Children's Bookshop, NZ

A Kiwi Year on The Bottom Shelf

Review A Canadian Year/A Kiwi Year on Just So Stories

Review of A Canadian Year on Hip Little One

Review of A Canadian Year/A Kiwi Year on Reading Time

Review of A Canadian Year/A Kiwi Year on In the Good Books