The Big Backyard Plan - Upcoming Titles

I am so excited to see my next picture book, The Big Backyard Plan - illustrated by Laura Stitzel and published by Affirm Press make the ArtsHub Upcoming Books to Look Out For list - Yay!

I can't wait to share it with you - the official cover reveal is coming soon!

Read the full list here

Pre-order The Big Backyard Plan here

Like a Gannet - Storytime

Such fun doing a storytime at @wherethewildthingsare_bookshop yesterday

Thanks for having me @gen_kenobi and Jess and for making it such an easy and enjoyable experience.

Thanks to all the kids who came along and were so interested in Francie’s first time off the diving board and in gannets.

Thanks to the parents and grandparents who brought them along and to all parents and grandparents everywhere who take kids to bookshop and library storytimes - you are helping instill a love of literature, reading and books in your little people that will last a lifetime.

Check out my upcoming events here

Get in touch with me to book a storytime or school visit here

Like a Gannet - Gift Guide

Happy end of year festivities to all my friends on socials!

Thanks for all your support this year and extra thanks for the end of year love for Like a Gannet - especially @collins_booksellers @kinokuniya_sydney and @farrells_bookshop @farrells_bookshop_kids for featuring it as a Christmas pick 💛

Hopefully it helps it get into more little hands 🤗

🐦 Anyone still looking for a last minute gift it’s a perfect book for 3-7 year olds who:⁠
• love swimming and summer days at the pool
• want to do what the big kids are doing
• may lack confidence to try something new or like to face challenges in their own way
• are starting school next year - it explores all the feels of a new experience

Three Books About Levelling Up In The Water

Camping at Yamba last weekend I went to see Moana 2. It was fun but two things I especially loved.

1. Maui’s song - Can I Get A Chee Hoo? Such a great motivational concept of levelling up. Reminded me of a video game, was super catchy and fun and I think kids will really get it.

It got me thinking about how when you are a kid you are levelling up all the time. Aussie kids especially need to keep levelling up around water. It’s a big part of our way of life so being confident around water is super important for safety. And it can also be heaps of fun. But for some kids pushing out of their comfort zone is scary. I was one of those kids.

So, with the first warm weather of summer leading up to the holidays I wanted to share three picture books that show the joy, courage and satisfaction that comes with doing something hard or scary in the water for the first time. Any one of them would make a wonderful gift.

🌊 Over or Under by @piphaz and @hilaryjeantapper (Lothian Children’s, 2024)

Over and Under is a new picture book that looks at learning to swim in the waves. In big surf every wave has you asking yourself – over or under? - and Maisy is learning this for the very first time.

☀️ Jetty Jumping by @andrearowe_coastwriter and @hannahmsommerville (Little hare, 2021)

Award winning Jetty Jumping looks at summer fun down at the jetty. Milla watches her friends jump off the jetty into the cool refreshing water but it’s a long way down and she is scared to try.

💦 Like a Gannet by @kirstenealand and @debi_hudson (Windy Hollow, 2024)

Like A Gannet is mine so I won’t go on about it. But it explores going off the diving board at the local pool for the first time and all the emotions little Francie goes through.

All three books have a retro feel that reminds me of long-ago summer days in the water with friends, carefree and full of freedom taking small safe risks by trying new things, but with parents or older kids nearby if you needed them.

Which reminds me of the second thing I especially loved...

2. The Yamba Cinema – all the retro 80’s childhood beach feels right there – no mall in sight with kids lined all the way up the street.

Happy reading! Happy swimming! Happy days!

Like a Gannet - Boardwalk Books Storytime and Craft

A fun morning doing storytime and craft at my awesome local indie @boardwalkbooks 💛📚

Yay, some kids came 😅🤗

I learnt something about gannets from one of the mums who was a keen scuba diver:
Every winter off the east coast of South Africa, divers flock to the Sardine Run, where thousands of migrating sardines attract large numbers of apex predators like sharks, dolphins and whales. Large numbers of cape gannets also follow the run. The mum told me that each year, more divers are hurt by diving gannets than sharks or any other predators. Apparently, these large sea birds hurtling straight down at speeds of up to 100km/h can pierce scuba tanks with their beaks. If like me you’d never heard of the Sardine Run you should check it out - some spectacular photos online
🐟🐠🐬🦈🐋

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Check out my other upcoming storytimes here.

Get in touch if you want to book me for a storytime or school visit here.

Interview with the Australian Writers' Centre

Thank you, @writerscentreau, for your support and for helping foster such a strong writing community in Australia. Check out my recent interview with them, talking about the journey to my debut picture book, Like a Gannet.

Kirsten's debut picture book, Like a Gannet, illustrated by Deb Hudson, is a fresh take on a first experience story. “It's about feeling the fear, then doing it your own way,” Kirsten explains. 

Her second book, The Big Backyard Plan, illustrated by Laura Stitzl, is about friendship and community. “Fun is multiplied by four, when all your best friends live next door!” Kirsten says. “Being best friends as well as neighbours is fun – but imagine if instead of sharing backyard fences, they could share one BIG backyard!”

***

Kirsten now works part-time at her regional public library, which complements her writing career perfectly. “I work two/three days a week and enjoy running story times and baby bounce sessions and getting kids excited about books and reading. It really is the perfect complement to my writing. I get to chat to kids about their favourite books and recommend new ones, I see all the latest titles, and I get free reserves and free tickets to my local Byron Writers Festival!”

The excitement of being a debut author has been a thrilling experience for Kirsten. “I never thought in my 50s I'd have a year of so many firsts! Fittingly my first picture book is a first experience story, because one of the unexpected delights of this debut year has been the joy of so many firsts.”

Read the full interview here