In episode 267 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast:
First Steps Into Independent Reading
How do you create an independent reader? Allison and Megan are joined by special guests Anita Heiss and Jane Godwin to celebrate the launch of the Your Next Read Gold series and to share tips and advice to turn kids aged 7-9 into lifelong readers
Books we mention
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The Your Next Read Gold series
‘Harry’s Secret’ by Anita Heiss and Jade Goodwin
Do you like ART, FRIENDS and HEARTWARMING STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Harry has a secret: he loves to draw. Problem is, he’s pretty sure everyone thinks art is Not Cool. So when Harry enters a local portrait competition, he must choose between staying hidden or being brave.
‘Gabi Makes Room’ by Jane Godwin and Sara Acton
Do you like FAMILY, ART and HEARTWARMING STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Gabi has to give up her room when Mum’s friend Sylvia comes to stay. Sylvia is loud, bossy and nothing like Mum. Gabi doesn’t like her at all. But could they have more in common than Gabi thinks?
‘The Guinea Fowl Mystery’ by Amelia Mellor and Jess Racklyeft
Do you like MYSTERY, FAMILY and ANIMALS?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Hazel and Ava love all the animals on their family’s farm … until the guinea fowl arrive. They’re noisy, messy and always causing trouble. Then one day, they disappear! Can Hazel and Ava solve the guinea fowl mystery?
‘Escape From Planet Milkshake’ by Kate and Jol Temple and Briony Stewart
Do you like SCIENCE FICTION, ACTION and FUNNY STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Freddy is having a normal day until a spaceship crashes in his backyard. Now he is dealing with a cranky robot, an unexpected trip to space and evil slime wizards! And that’s all before he even arrives at Planet Milkshake …
DISCOVER ALL OF THE BOOKS IN THE YOUR NEXT READ SERIES HERE
Steps Into Independent Reading
Photograph © Jesse Dittmar
Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of over 20 books; non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and children’s novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation. Anita is also the Publisher at Large of Bundyi, an imprint of Simon & Schuster cultivating First Nations talent.
As an artist in residence at La Boite Theatre, she adapted her novel Tiddas for the stage. It premiered at the 2022 Brisbane Festival and was produced by Belvoir St for the Sydney Festival in 2024.
Her novel, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, about the Great Flood of Gundagai, won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Indigenous Writers’ Prize and was shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize and the 2022 ABIA Awards.
Anita’s first children’s picture book is Bidhi Galing (Big Rain), also about the Great Flood of Gundagai. Anita released Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) in about the frontier war in Bathurst in 2024. Her most recent novel is The Paradise Pact.
‘Harry’s Secret’ is illustrated by Jade Goodwin. Find out more about Jade and her Your Next Read Silver book ‘The Case Of The Missing Pencil Case’ here.
Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed, award-winning Australian author of more than thirty books for young people, and her work is published all over the world.
Jane loves creating picture books and sees their possibilities as endless. She often works in Australian schools and the community, running various literature and writing programs, making books, and encouraging students in their own creative ventures.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Most of her waking hours are dedicated to pursuing quality and enriching reading and writing experiences for young people, whether it’s as a writer, a publisher or a speaker/facilitator in schools.
‘Gabi Makes Room’ is illustrated by Sara Acton. Find out more about Sara here.
Other episodes you might like
Episode 258: 10 minutes with Maxine Beneba Clarke
Episode 17: What’s the story with school readers?
Episode 14: Extending Advanced Readers 7+
Episode 2: Books For Seven Year Olds
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
Connect with your show hosts
Website | Allison Tait | Megan Daley
Facebook | Allison Tait | Megan Daley
Instagram at Allison Tait | Megan Daley
The YKNR community on Facebook here.
Meet Allison Rushby, the third member of #teamyknr. Find out about Allison and her books here.
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