Reading with a chance of tacos

Storm with Jane Bunn

Jane Bunn is a meteorologist and a weather presenter on Channel 7 Melbourne. As well as seeing her each night on the tely, today’s guest has popped in to tell us about an awesome picture book series all about the weather. The first book in the series is titled, Storm. It’s all about how storms form, and how to stay safe in a storm. To tell us all about it, as well as her inspiration and process, please welcome the wonderful, Jane Bunn. LIV AT THE NEWSDESK Liv and Ken chat about a bunch of new bo...

Hello Twigs with Andrew and Ben

Today’s guests are the co-creators, author and illustrator of the smash hit series that’s taken the world by storm, The Real Pigeons. And now, this dynamic duo are branching out with a whole new graphic novel series for early readers. Hello Twigs is a joyous graphic novel series for early readers. To tell us all about Red, Noodle, Stump, and Ziggy, everybody please welcome Ben Wood and Andrew McDonald! Plus, Liv and Ken discuss new books hot on bookstore shelves. Ruby and the Pen by David Lawren...

Time-travel with Nean McKenzie

Being Jimmy Baxter with Fiona Lloyd

Fiona Lloyd hails from Newcastle in the Northeast of England where, as a child, she dreamed of being an author in a country cottage like Enid Blyton or Beatrix Potter. Later in life, she moved to Australia and became a colourist on TV shows like Home and Away, where she put the sunshine into Alf Stewart. But the dream of being an author was still alive and well, and I’m happy to say, that she’s popped in today to talk about her journey with us, as well as her latest book – a gentle funny yet pow...

Monster Island with George Ivanoff

George Ivanoff has written over 100 books for kids and teens from non-fiction to fiction, including his latest Monster Island with Penguin books. Occasionally, George has been known to moonlight as an actor. As anyone who’s seen his amazing book promos will know. He’s been in numerous productions including Neighbours and films such as Frozen Butterflies. When he’s not eating too much chocolate, drinking too much coffee, and watching too much Doctor Who, he shares his life with his one wife, two ...

Andrew Daddo and Poo Face

Andrew Daddo is an actor, a TV presenter, and a wonderful author of fun books for kids. Books such as Atticus Fantasticus, Good Night Me, Monster, Just Breathe, and his latest book, Poo Face. And, he’s popped in today to share his latest book with us, and offers up a couple of fantastic writing tips for anyone looking to write for kids. Plus, Liv and Ken chat about a monsterous adventure book that's hitting our bookstores now.

Football Fever with Kristin Darell

The Women's Football World Cup is fast approaching and the ideal book series for kids is FOOTBALL FEVER by Kristin Darell. Kristin Darell has always loved words and stories and feels lucky to have been writing as a career for more than 25 years. As well as writing stories, she’s written for television and news networks, is the Program Manager for the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation, and is President of the CBCA NSW Branch Northern Sydney Sub-branch. She’s popped in today to chat about ...

Mr Impoppable with Trent and Brent

Warning: This book is impoppable to put down! Today’s guests are the impoppable dynamic duo responsible for one of the quirkiest books of the year. With retro illustrations and original text, Mr Impoppable is impoppable to put down! And, they’ve popped in today to share thier book with us, along with their creative processes. So, sharpen your swords and train your ninja kittens to poke and scratch, but you won’t pop them. Please welcome, the incredible Trent and Brent....

My Giant Sea Shell

Picture Book Author, Amanda Lieber pops in to chat about her new book, her author journey, the importance and fun of being in a writers group, and offers up tips for aspiring authors. Plus, Rory H Mather is back with a special What's the story, Rory? segment.

Wylah The Koorie Warrior with Jordan and Richard

Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making! Wylah is Co-Written by Jordan Gould a Proud Peek Whurrong Man and Richard Pritchard an Indigenous Samoan. Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture. We talk to Wylah's creators and share their journey from their Kickstarter program to being picked up by tradition...

A Little Sprinkle of Courage with Jackie Case

Jackie Case is an artist with world renowned Rebecca Hossack Gallery. She began her career displaying her art in coffee shops in Melbourne Australia, before a big break took her to art to shows in New York and London. But it was her dream to be a picture book creator, that saw her persist in writing and illustrating kids books. After a sting of rejections, she finally found the story that saw her break through. The book is titled, With A Little Sprinkle Of Courage. And, to tell us all about the ...

Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber with Amelia McInerney

Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber. There's nothing boring about Neil. In fact, he's so amazing, he's already been Number One picture book on Booktopia and he's all over social media. Amelia McInerney is the author of such amazing picture books as, The Book Chook, Bad Crab, Who Fed Zed, My Bird Bertie, Mary had a little lamb. What really happened!, and her latest book, Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber. She’s popped in today to tell us all about Neil, from how Neil was formed, how she wrote his story, wh...

A Friend for George with Gabriel Evans

Gabriel Evans' books have been published in 12 countries and translated into 10 languages. They’ve been read on ABC’s Playschool, reviewed in the New York Times, and ne of his books was presented to King Charles 111. He's popped in today to chat about his creative journey and his new book, A Friend for George. Plus, Liv reviews 3 brand new picture books and announces an awesome giveaway!!

Embracing Your Cultural Identity

Today’s guest believes exploring and owning your cultural identity cultivates happy wholistic people who are capable of mutual respect, empathy, and connectedness in this diverse world we live in. She also believes in visiting your local library at least once a week! She writes stories which are inspired by her childhood experiences traversing different cultures and steeped in themes of ‘embracing your cultural identity’. Plus, Hayley in the Library is back with what kids are reading and the Tac...

Neurodiversity in Kids Books

Recognising the skills and strengths of neurodiverse children Author and publisher Rochelle Stephens and illustrator Em Hammond from Neurowild have popped in to share their new book and discuss the very important topic of neurodiversity in kids books. Plus, the Real Pigeons creators pop in to announce their brand new Live Pigeon Shows!!

When I'm Big with Karen Blair

Award winning author and illustrator, Karen Blair pops in to share her new book, offer up some tips on the process of creating a picture book and her author journey. Plus, Liv reviews 2 amazing picture books: Neal the Amazing Sea Cucumber and The Sydney Harbour Fairy. And you could WIN a copy of both books.

Poppy, the Queen, the Seat and the Taco

Vikki Marmaras is a picture book author with a brand-new book out, and two more in contract coming soon. She’s a former news reader from Milton Keynes in the UK and she’s popped in today to share her book, Poppy, the Queen and The Seat, as well as to share her author journey, what she’s learned along the way, and to have a crunchy taco with us. Everyone please welcome, Vikki Marmaras. Subscribe to Reading with a chance of Tacos and recieve Bonus Episodes: https://apple.co/3ETviTu...

Huda was Here

Today’s guest enjoys exploring themes of being Australian, Muslim, and little bit mischievous. She grew up in Western Australia with six siblings, so there was always plenty of adventure and stories to draw on. She went on to be a journalist, a primary school teacher and later a mum, where more stories grew, until one day she thought maybe she could put these funny stories together. Today, she is the author of Huda and me and Huda was here. She’s popped in today to share her author journey, offe...

Build a career as an illustrator with Deb Hudson

Deb Hudson is an illustrator whose passion has always been to draw happy and colourful things that evoke emotion and thought in the viewer – the dreamy joy, and wonder-filled moments of the everyday. She’s popped in today to chat about all things illustration. From picture books to greeting cards, what’s out there for illustrators to build a career from their drawings. Plus, if you'd like to be illustrator or an author of kids books, subscribe to Taco Bonus Episodes here: https://apple.co/3ETviT...

Tips on writing a graphic novel

Tips on Writing a Graphic Novel Sean E Avery is the international best-selling author of Frank’s Red Hat. He’s popped in today to share his process of writing a graphic novel. He shares how he taps into what kids want, what kids find funny, and how to format a graphic novel. With strong characters and a willingness to write a page per day, Sean shows how a graphic novel comes together. And, we chat about his new graphic novel, Friendly Bee. https://apple.co/3ETviTu...

The Bendigo Writers Festival

Join some of Australia's best loved kids authors and illustrators as they gather together in celebration in country Victoria as part of the 2023 Bendigo Writers Festival. Authors and illustrators will be reading their books, creating activities based on thier books, and participating in interactive shows for kids of all ages. We chat with four of these amazing creators on today's show about why these festivals are so important to regional areas, authors, illustrators, kids, parents, and all who ...

3 authors who made it happen, and you can too!

Today’s guests are 3 aspiring authors who have just signed their very first book contracts. They tell us what it’s like working with a publishing team for the first time. They share what they’ve learned about the process, and what their expectations are when their books hit the world. Tracey Dembo, Jemima Shafei-ongu and Kiralee Strong chat openly about their experiences, from rejections to getting that first “Yes!” Don’t miss the three of them chatting together about their expectations, goals a...

Grace and Mr Milligan

Caz Goodwin is an award-winning author of picture books, short stories, poetry, and junior fiction for children. And has been published internationally. She heads the Society of Children’s book writers and illustrators (scbwi) in Victoria and is on the Young Australian Best Book Awards (yabba). She’s popped in today to chat about her new picture book, her author journey, and how she goes about penning a picture book. Plus, Rory H Mather drops in for the segment, What's the Story, Rory?...

Why we should write more diverse books

Today’s topic is creating space for diverse books in the market. And, we’re focussing on cultural diversity. We’re going to hear two sides of publishing spectrum. We’ll hear from the authors of two amazing books about to hit our shelves, and the publishing staff who have signed on to work with these books. Everybody please welcome, author Crystal Corocher, the publisher of Wombat Books Rochelle Stephens, Author Sandhya Parappukkaran, and editor from Hardie Grant Publishing Joanna Wong. If you'd ...

Lian Tanner and Spellhound

Lian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving, arrested while busking. Spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. She’s a real wild child. And a menace to society. But lucky for us, she is one of this country’s finest and best-selling authors of books for kids. We’ve dragged her away from her beautiful beach in southern Tasmania, to chat about her amazing new book Spellhound. Along with her writing process, and tips on ...

Author and Illustrator share their journey

Janeen Brian and Cherie Dignam are the author and illustrator of a new and wonderful book titled, The Fixit Princess. They’ve both popped in today to share their process for working on their new book, how it came to be, and even offer up a few tips. Plus, have you ever been rejected? Felt like giving up? That this writing thing is just not going to happen for you? Well, due to popular demand, we’re bring rejection back into favour. Don't miss our tips on rejection.

The Garden at the end of the world

Visit one of the world's most amazing real-life places in Cassy Polimeni's brand new picture book, The Garden at the end of the World. Cassy Polimeni is a freelance editor and children’s author who has always loved words and faraway places. In a past life, she’s been a travel writer, magazine editor and a TV book reviewer. She’s popped in today to talk all about her first picture book called The Garden at the end of the world, illustrated by the amazing Briony Stewart. So everybody, please give ...

How to be a children's author when things just aren't happening

Michelle Wilson was, until recently, a frustrated author, who’d achieved success early in her writing career with a terrific picture book, but then couldn’t get that next contract. Until she learned a few golden rules of being a children’s author. I thought this could help those aspiring authors that have been at it for a while and are not having any luck, or who might have one or two pieces published but having trouble getting something new out there. Being a children’s author is a journey. It ...

Jo Panckridge CBCA President

Jo Panckridge, Vic Branch CBCA President, shares a very exciting program that gives kids a real voice in Australia’s premier book of the year awards. The CBCA Book of the Year Awards connect young people to great literature. During CBCA Book Week, we celebrate reading for pleasure and applaud our awarded books. Plus, we announce the winner of our book pack giveaway, and announce a new book giveaway.

How to go from Self-published to Traditional

You Two, You Two was a self-published picture book, and has been picked up by Hachette and is now a traditionally published book. To tell us all about the book’s journey and how it’s transitioned, what the process was like, together with what she’s learned along the way, please welcome Brooke Hill Brooke Hill has worked for iconic Australian magazine titles Harpers Bazaar and The Australian Women's Weekly . She is currently the director of The Content(ed) Copywriter, where she heads up a team of...