Your Kid's Next Read With Allison Tait and Megan Daley
Author Allison Tait and teacher-librarian-author Megan Daley, co-founders of the Your Kid’s Next Read community, talk books and reading for children of all ages. From board books and picture books, to junior fiction, middle-grade novels and YA blockbusters, they’ll help you find the perfect next book for the young readers in your life. Plus, practical tips on getting (and keeping) kids reading and writing, a whole lot of fun and … YKNR book question bingo.
Episodes
277 episodes
R. A. Spratt reads ‘Romeo V Juliet’
International bestselling author R. A. Spratt reads from ‘Romeo V Juliet’, taking readers 12+ on a time-travelling Shakespearean adventure.
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17:24
YKNR 233: Let’s talk about change
In the first episode back for 2026, Megan shares a big change in her life, kicking off a discussion about books about change – and managing library collections in the face of unsettling change.00:00 Welcome to episode 23508:25 Boo...
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39:24
Summer Series #9: Laura Stitzel
In the final episode of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Laura Stitzel about the importance of developing and maintaining your own illustration style, working across picture books and junior fictio...
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24:29
Summer Series #8: Peter Cheong
In episode 8 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, author and illustrator Peter Cheong shares the story of how he went from the Australian army to a career in children's books, moving into writing, and how he decides an idea is strong enou...
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20:50
Summer Series #7: Jess Racklyeft
In episode 7 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to popular author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft about how crying got her started, working with a 'fear factor' and building a career book by book.
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24:54
Summer Series #6: Kylie Howarth
In episode 6 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, author and illustrator Kylie Howarth shares the story of how her career started, working from a concept, writing graphic novels and why she's 'part fish'.
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16:59
Summer Series #5: Jasmin McGaughey
In episode 5 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author Jasmin McGaughey about switching between junior fiction and YA, writing 'real' characters, and balancing culture and magic.
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15:36
Summer Series #4: Cheryl Orsini
In episode 4 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to beloved illustrator Cheryl Orsini about coloured pencils, starting with the scenery, knowing when the work is complete, and being an accidental illustrator.
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19:12
Summer Series #3: Jade Goodwin
In episode 3 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to rising star Jade Goodwin about illustrating 23 books since 2022, authentic First Nations representation, smiley faces on still life paintings and crying over picture books...
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21:19
Summer Series #2: Gus Gordon
In episode 2 of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Gus Gordon about making beloved picture books, creating a story within a story, existential musings and graphic novels.
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23:48
Summer Series #1: Briony Stewart
In the first episode of our 'Meet The Creatives' Summer Series, Allison chats to author and illustrator Briony Stewart about how she got started making children's books, how she developed her own style and the biggest lessons she's learned alon...
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21:02
YKNR 232: YKNR Christmas Party
Yes, it’s that time of year when Allison Rushby joins Allison Tait and Megan Daley to celebrate the festive season in the best way we know how – by sharing our favourite childrens and YA reads of 2025. Do we know how to party or what?
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56:06
YKNR 231: 10 minutes with Peter Helliar
Allison chats to popular comedian and author Peter Helliar about his new junior fiction series ‘Detective Galileo’, playing with words and founding his own publishing company in primary school.
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41:06
YKNR 230: 10 minutes with Helen Dallimore
Allison chats to musical theatre superstar Helen Dallimore about her debut middle-grade novel ‘The Hits and Misses of Melody Moss’, her multi-faceted career as an actor, singer, director and writer, and drawing on memories to find her character...
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35:36
YKNR 229: 10 minutes with Stuart Wilson
Allison chats to bestselling author Stuart Wilson about ‘The Lost Book’, the second book in his 113th Assistant Librarian series, expanding a world, and encouraging kids to spend more time in the library.
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33:50
YKNR 228: 10 minutes with Katrina Nannestad
Allison chats to award-winning author Katrina Nannestad about her three new books, creativity and meeting new characters.
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43:15
YKNR 227: Books to gift to kids who ‘don’t read’
A book for every kid – that’s the YKNR aim this festive season. Megan and Allison make the case to gift books to every kid you know – particularly the ones who ‘don’t like reading’ – with advice for choosing the right book, ‘safe bet’ book reco...
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43:38
YKNR 226: A Bookmail Blizzard
With festive season preparations heating up, Allison and Megan are bringing you a storm of exciting bookmail titles to help you keep your gift-giving cool.
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43:58
YKNR 225: 10 minutes with Sarah Giddy.
Allison chats to Sarah Giddy about creating her debut illustrated middle-grade fantasy novel ‘Flight of the Drakkonbarq’, her path to publication and creating worlds in unexpected places.
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37:16
YKNR 224: Big Concepts In Kids' Books.
Books for children and young adults often tackle the big, complex ideas that make us who we are, and they do it in age-appropriate ways. But how? Megan and Allison explore the secrets children's authors use to balance accessibility with depth –...
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37:51
YKNR 223: 10 minutes with Tim Winton.
Allison chats to bestselling, award-winning author Tim Winton about ‘Ningaloo: Australia's Wild Wonder’, his first picture book in 20 years, illustrated by Cindy Lane – and his best tips for young writers.
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40:53
YKNR 222: Boys and Reading.
Megan and Allison are joined by parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson and author Matt Stanton for a discussion about boys and reading in the face of recent headlines about declining literacy levels and engagement in reading for pleasure.
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51:47
Kate & Jol Temple read ‘Mega Rich Guinea Pigs’
Kate & Jol Temple read from ‘Mega Rich Guinea Pigs’, book one in their hilarious new illustrated series.
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15:38
