On today’s show, we chat about turning a brilliant idea for a story into one of this year’s must-read picture books. We chat to the inspiration behind the story. A joyful, honest chat about storytelling, identity, and making your way in the kid lit community.

Today’s special guest is an Australian children’s author and passionate advocate for representation and accessibility in storytelling. Her debut picture book My Name is Jemima is a heartwarming and empowering story that gently explores vision impairment through the eyes of a confident young girl and her guide dog, Jemima.

Olivia joins us today to chat about her journey into writing, how her lived experiences shape her stories, and the special bond she shares with her guide dog. It’s an inspiring and insightful conversation full of warmth, honesty, and heart.

Everybody please welcome the amazing and talented, Olivia Muscat

Michael Gerard Bauer

On today’s show, we chat about how one of Australia’s favourite picture book authors gets his stories, how they often develop from something small – a thought in his head, or a picture that sparked an idea or a thought, followed by a series of questions to determine what sort of story it would become.

Plus, Liv drops in to review a fun and chaotic picture book by one of this country’s fav picture book authors.

Today’s special guest is an award-winning Australian author best known for his hilarious and heartfelt books for children and young adults. Originally a high school English teacher, he burst onto the scene with his debut novel The Running Man, which won the CBCA Book of the Year. Since then, he’s made readers laugh out loud with picture books like Rodney Loses It! (which nabbed the CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year) and warmed hearts with stories like Eric the Viking. With a knack for blending humour and emotion, he continues to delight readers of all ages. Everybody please welcome the ever-talented Michael Gerard Bauer.

Poppy’s Monster

On today’s show, we chat about monsters. Those monsters our kids grapple with in their daily lives and their storybooks. Plus, we have an honest chat with our special guest about the real stuff that aspiring authors go through when they start out on their writing journeys. And, Liv is back to review two picture books about a yogo posing wombat and working guide dog named Jemima.

Today’s special guest first entered storytelling by telling fibs as a child. It’s not clear whether her parents believed these, but they were unsurprised by the career choices that followed: actor, theatre director, playwright, dramaturg. She has since entertained audiences as a giant frog, wrestled words of acclaimed playwrights, led theatre shows across Australia, and won numerous awards for photography. She lives in Canberra, Australia with her 4 kids, husband and a menagerie of pets. She has just completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychology and hopes to combine her understanding of people with the power of imagination. Everybody please welcome, the wonderful and very busy, Shelly Higgs.