In episode 256 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast:
10 minutes with Bethany Loveridge
Allison chats to rising author Bethany Loveridge about her new junior fiction novel ‘Josie Mack and the Mega Division’, and encouraging creativity in kids. Plus Megan shares some Book Week tips.
Books we mention
Click on the titles to find out more or buy. See contact page for affiliate disclosure.
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‘Story Rug’ by Sophie Blackall
‘One Word’ by Melissa-Jane Fogarty
‘Last Bat of the Night’ by David Gullan, illustrated by Samantha Metcalfe
‘Emerald Academy: School of Oz’ by Laura Sieveking
Other
Book Week Resources Round-Up by Madison’s Library
Episode 246: Books About Music
10 minutes with Bethany Loveridge
About Bethany Loveridge
Bethany Loveridge is a passionate arts educator and children’s author-illustrator who has always loved storytelling and the natural world. Her past jobs include youth worker, film and television teacher, curriculum specialist and museum nerd (not the official title). She currently works writing learning resources for folks like World Science Festival and Brisbane City Council.
Bethany has won a suite of awards since she first started writing fiction ‘seriously’. In 2022 she was awarded an Australian Society of Authors/Copyright Agency Mentorship to develop a middle-grade manuscript. This story became Bethany’s debut novel, ‘Harper Wells Renegade Timeline Officer’ the first in a trilogy published by Wombat Books.
‘Josie Mack and the Mega Division‘, illustrated by Jade Goodwin, is out now. ‘The Picture-Perfect Present‘, illustrated by Amie Sabadin, will be published in August 2026.
About ‘Josie Mack and the Mega Division’
One night, a wombat knocks at Josie’s window. She thinks her lifelong wish for a pet has come true!
But Ursula the wombat is on an important mission for the Fellowship of Underground Nocturnals (the FUN). The FUN need human help to solve their wildlife woes. They want Josie and Ursula to join the FUN’s mysterious MEGA Division, which means they’ll receive a mega-helpful power.
Can Josie and Ursula prove they’re the team the FUN is looking for? Or will joining the MEGA Division be a mega mistake?
Bethany’s book recommendations
‘Seasons Of Clementine’ by Jess Galotola, illustrated by Jasmine Berry
‘Protector of Beyond’ by Shara Curlett
Listen to Bethany read the first chapter of ‘Harper Wells Renegade Timeline Officer’
Other episodes you might like
Episode 254: 10 minutes with Sally Rippin
Episode 237: 10 minutes with Maddy Mara
Episode 196: Building a Home Library 101
Episode 184: Kids and Creativity
Our books
The Last Word by A. L. Tait
Danger Road by A. L. Tait
Willow Bright’s Secret Plot by A. L. Tait
The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait
The Maven & Reeve Mysteries by A. L. Tait
The Ateban Cipher (duology) by A. L. Tait
The Mapmaker Chronicles series by A. L. Tait
The Beehive by Megan Daley
Teacher, Teacher (anthology), edited by Megan Daley
Raising Readers by Megan Daley
DISCOVER THE YOUR NEXT READ JUNIOR FICTION SERIES HERE
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Meet Allison Rushby, the third member of #teamyknr. Find out about Allison and her books here.
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