Your Kid's Next Read With Allison Tait and Megan Daley

YKNR 114: 10 minutes with Chemutai Glasheen

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with Chemutai Glasheen, discussing her debut short story collection ‘I Am The Mau and other stories’, human rights and e...

YKNR 113: All about teachers

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With Megan’s new anthology ‘Teacher, Teacher’ on the shelves, Allison puts  her in the hot seat to answer questions about how the book came tog...

YKNR 112: 10 minutes with Sarah Armstrong

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with Sarah Armstrong, chatting about moving from adult novels to children’s fantasy, creating magic, and her new novel MAG...

YKNR 111: Books about siblings

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison look at books that feature the sibling relationship, for all ages and stages. Plus, a tip for writers (young and young at heart), an...

YKNR 110: 10 minutes with Chenée Marrapodi

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with Chenée Marrapodi, chatting about her debut novel, dancing and pig’s feet. Megan has tips for connecting kids to natu...

YKNR 109: 10 minutes with R. A. Spratt

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with bestselling author R. A. Spratt, chatting about her new novel ‘Hamlet is Not OK’, messing about with Shakespeare an...

YKNR 108: Books about gardens

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How has it taken this long? Megan and Allison dive into an epic list of books about gardens, one of their favourite subjects. Plus, Allison has an eas...

YKNR 107: Books that spark design thinking

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While we tend to associate the idea of ‘design’ with hands-on projects, books can play a big role in encouraging creativity, problem-solving, maki...

YKNR 106: 10 mins with George Ivanoff

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with George Ivanoff, chatting about his latest novel ‘Monster Island’ and how to develop a kid’s creativity. Megan and...

YKNR 105: 10 Minutes with AF Steadman

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with A. F. Steadman, internationally bestselling author of the Skandar series, talking about Skandar and the Phantom Rider (...

YKNR 104: A Chat About Chapter Books

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison discuss the ins and outs of chapter books, from the first step beyond school readers to independent reads for 6-8 year olds. Plus, A...

YKNR: 10 minutes with Rebecca Lim

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with award-winning author Rebecca Lim chatting about her role in the Imagining The Future project plus her brand-new novel, ...

YKNR 102: Books for Baby Showers

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you buy books for the first 12 months or books for a lifetime? Megan and Allison dive into books for baby showers. Plus, Allison is online for Bris...

YKNR 101: 10 minutes with Samera Kamaleddine

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We spend 10 minutes with prize-winning author Samera Kamaleddine, chatting about moving to middle grade, feeling small in the world, and becoming a li...

YKNR 100: Ask Us Anything

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate our 100-episode milestone, Megan and Allison invited the community to ‘Ask Us Anything’ – listen to find out what they wanted to kn...

YKNR 099: 10 minutes with Melissa Keil

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with children’s and YA author Melissa Keil, chatting about new editions, writing junior fiction for the first time, and he...

YKNR 098: Books about friendship

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison take a deep dive into books that show young readers about friendship – and the books that become our lifelong friends. Plus, Allis...

YKNR 097: 10 minutes with Matt Stanton

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with Matt Stanton, discussing his latest middle-grade novel ‘Evie Dreams Big’ (Bored #3), creating in family life, and b...

YKNR 096: Classroom read-aloud novels

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison look at choosing the perfect read-aloud novel for your classroom - with help from award-winning author Sue Whiting. Plus, Allison ha...

YKNR 095: Books About Maths

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Once more stepping boldly where writers fear to tread, Megan and Allison are exploring books about maths – with the help of the YKNR community. Plus...

YKNR 094: 10 minutes with Lili Wilkinson

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with author Lili Wilkinson, chatting about her role as lead writer on the Imagining The Future project, her new book and mak...

YKNR 093: Books About Dragons

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dragons are having a moment (again) in children’s literature and Megan and Allison are sharing some favourite fire-breathing reads for kids of all a...

YKNR 092: 10 minutes with Jane Godwin

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with YKNR favourite author Jane Godwin, talking about her new junior fiction series The Isabelle Stories, and writing across...

YKNR 091: YKNR Highlights Reel

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison and Megan share a selection of highlights from recent discussions in the Your Kid’s Next Read – and add their two cents worth (of course)....

YKNR 090: Books about feelings

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Small people have big feelings and this week Megan and Allison share a selection of non-fiction and fiction books to help them navigate moods and emot...

YKNR 089: STEM books for all ages

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by the Imagining The Future initiative, Megan and Allison look at books that combine STEM themes with great stories, as well as tips for inco...

YKNR 088: Kickstart your library year

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan shares her tips for getting your school library off to a great start in 2023, while Allison has tips for authors looking to do more speaking thi...

YKNR 087: Back to School (Again)

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the first full episode for 2023, Megan and Allison look at the Groundhog Day of Back To School time, with some tips and books to make it easier. Pl...

YKNR 086: Summer Snack with Jess Walton

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our final Summer Snack episode, Allison chats to author Jess Walton about creating graphic novels, going international and working to your strength...

YKNR 085: Summer Snack with Renee Treml

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and illustrator Renee Treml is a big favourite in the Your Kid’s Next Read community, and this Summer Snack episode shows why. Allison chats ...

YKNR 084: Summer Snack with Inda Ahmad Zahri

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Allison chats to picture book author and illustrator Inda Ahmad Zahri for the fourth in our Summer Snack series – bite-sized interviews for your sum...

YKNR 082: Summer Snack with Sue Whiting

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our second Summer Snack features award-winning author Sue Whiting, who shares her best tips for getting kids writing this summer, as well as a sneak p...

YKNR 081: Summer Snack with Zanni Louise

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of our special Summer Snack series, Allison chats to Zanni Louise about her latest picture book, writing her debut middle-grade novel and...

YKNR 080: Encouraging holiday reading

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan has tips and tricks for encouraging holiday reading and, wait for it, a list of ALL our 2022 bookmail divided into reading ages, while Allison h...

YKNR 079: 10 minutes with Adrian Beck

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with author and illustrator Adrian Beck chatting about his latest junior fiction novel ‘Furball: Spy Cat’, while Megan i...

YKNR 078: It’s Christmas all over again

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s that time of year and Megan is rounding up her picks from this year’s crop of Christmas books, as well as sharing some old favourites. Plus, ...

YKNR 077: 10 Minutes with Emily Gale

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with Australian author Emily Gale talking about the pandemic in literature, ghosts in the library and her latest novel The L...

YKNR 076: Magazines for Kids

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Information, inspiration and entertainment - magazines for kids have it all and a subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. Megan and Allison sha...

YKNR 075: 10 minutes with Alison Lester

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the secret of writing ‘read it again’ picture books? Allison spends 10 minutes with beloved Australian author Alison Lester to find out. ...

YKNR 074: Spooky Books for Kids

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s that time of year, when spooky books for kids are flying off the shelves. Megan and Allison look at why kids love stories with a bit of scare a...

YKNR 073: 10 minutes with Morris Gleitzman

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes (actually, much longer) with award-winning, bestselling author Morris Gleitzman, talking about ‘Digging Up Dad’, his lat...

YKNR 072: Collection Development for Libraries

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how school library collections are put together? Megan delves into the science of curating a collection for a school community. Plus, Al...

YKNR 071: 10 minutes with Nova Weetman

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with award-winning author Nova Weetman, while Megan has some tips for helping young readers take action when they find a boo...

YKNR 070: Dinosaur books

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison tackle one of the biggest (get it) Bingo questions of all, with an enormous (stop us) list of book recommendations for dinosaur love...

YKNR 069: 10 minutes with Kristin Darell

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with debut author Kristin Darell, learning all about her new fiction series Football Fever – and her actual Stephen Bradbu...

YKNR 068: Biographies for kids

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Biographies and autobiographies can be a great way to move non-fiction lovers into narratives and to extend interest-based readers into the story behi...

YKNR 067: 10 minutes with Melanie La'Brooy

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with author Melanie La’Brooy, discussing her first novel for children, The Wintrish Girl. Plus, Allison has tips for autho...

YKNR 066: Secrets of a school librarian

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Weirdest thing you’ve ever found used as a bookmark? Most popular book in the library? Megan is in the hot seat this week, answering these questions...

YKNR 065: 10 minutes with Dani Vee

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We spend 10 minutes with debut author (and veteran podcaster) Dani Vee, discussing her extraordinary new picture book. Plus, Allison has Book Week tip...

YKNR 064: Let’s talk about ‘takeaway’ fiction.

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan responds to several queries about how to move kids away from series that parents feel are ‘lightweight’ or ‘fluff’, and Allison has tips...

YKNR 063: Why should I read?

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you answer when a young person asks why they should read? Megan and Allison have some ideas. Plus, Allison has a hack for parents of older kids...

YKNR 062: 10 minutes with Belinda Murrell

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison spend 10 minutes with award-winning author Belinda Murrell, chatting about her new book ‘The Silver Sea’, how to create immersiv...

YKNR 061: Books about sport

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison take a deep dive into books for kids who love sport. From AFL to gymnastics, tennis to soccer, boxing to cricket, there’s somethin...

YKNR 060: Fairytales for all ages

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fairytales, whether classic, fractured or long lost, are the cornerstone of storytelling, and Megan and Allison have suggestions for young readers of ...

YKNR 059: Helping kids understand ageing

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not always easy for kids to understand the signs of ageing in beloved grandparents and elderly friends, but Megan and Allison have a list of bo...

YKNR 058: 10 minutes with Shirley Marr

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allison spends 10 minutes with author Shirley Marr, discussing her new novel All Four Quarters of The Moon, what it feels like to be on the 2022 CBCA ...

YKNR 057: Making Reading Fun

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With all the talk about the importance of reading, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s supposed to be fun! Megan and Allison have some tips fo...

YKNR 056: Holiday Reading

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With school holidays upon us again, Megan and Allison look at why it’s important to keep kids reading and how to make it a pleasure. Plus, Megan has...

YKNR 055: Fantasy Novels for Tweens

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kids love fantasy series for all sorts of reasons, but escaping into big worlds is a driving factor. Megan and Allison recommend a wide variety of fan...

YKNR 054: 10 minutes with Nat Amoore

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We spend 10 minutes with bestselling author Nat Amoore, discovering the inspiration for her funny, high-energy middle-grade novels, why she's add...

YKNR 053: Books About Dogs

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't love books featuring dogs? This week, Megan and Allison share their favourite books about dogs, from picture books to books for teens...

YKNR 052: Creating a Home Library

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you need hundreds of books to create a home library? Megan and Allison discuss a strategic approach to encouraging wide reading at home. Plus, Alli...

YKNR 051: Poetry books for kids

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Poetry is often put in the too-hard basket by kids and adults alike, but it's an essential tool for our understanding of language. Megan and Alli...

YKNR 050: Best books for a first birthday gift

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Which books make the best first birthday gifts? Megan and Allison sort through the bookshelves to make it easy for you! Plus, Allison has a tip from a...

YKNR 049: Books about grief and loss

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's not easy talking about grief and loss with children. Megan shares her favourite and most useful books or helping support children of all age...

YKNR 048: 10 minutes with Felice Arena

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Felice Arena and hear about his latest book 'The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan'. Plus, Allison has some insights for encouraging teens to...

YKNR 047: Mystery Books for Tweens

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Readers who love mystery stories are voracious, no matter what their age. This week, Megan and Allison investigate mystery novels and thrillers for tw...

YKNR 046: Using Books to Mark Occasions

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With Easter, ANZAC Day, Mother's Day, and other significant occasions coming up, Megan and Allison look at how to choose, and use, books to mark ...

YKNR 045: 10 minutes with Allison Rushby

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megan and Allison introduce a new segment, interviewing award-winning author Allison Rushby. Plus, Allison has a list of spooky and scary books for ki...

YKNR 044: Literary awards season

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year, when there seems to be a new literary longlist or shortlist every week. But how are literary awards judged and what do th...

YKNR 043: Book reviewers to bookmark

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a great book review? Where can you find useful children's literature reviews? This week, Megan and Allison share some of their favouri...

YKNR 042: All about teachers' notes

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers' notes are a wonderful resource for educators of all types. This week, Megan and Allison look at how (and why) they're written, how...

YKNR 041: Reading historical fiction

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why should kids read books set in different time periods? How can we get them to engage with historical fiction? This week, Megan and Allison take a d...

YKNR 040: Making space for reading

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When schedules get busy, reading can go by the wayside: Allison and Megan look at ways to make space in your kid's schedule for reading - and cre...

YKNR 039: Books about families

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Megan and Allison are looking at books that show families in all of their diverse and interesting forms - plus why family tends to move int...

YKNR 038: All about reading logs

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is your child being asked to keep a reading log? What should it look like? Megan and Allison unpack the reading log - including whether or not they&ap...

YKNR 037: Books about consent

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Talking to kids about consent is essential - but when do you have the chat? In this episode, Megan and Allison look at books about consent for kids of...

YKNR 036: Should I teach my kid to read - and how?

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the start of the school year, Megan and Allison look at one of the biggest bingo questions of all - should I teach my kid to read before they sta...

YKNR 035: Audio books for kids

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are audio books 'real' books? Megan and Allison discuss the benefits of listening to stories, plus how to find great audio books for your ki...

YKNR 034: Starting high school

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Transitioning to high school brings with it a bunch of challenges, not least of which the 'step up' in reading expectations. Megan and Allis...

YKNR 033: Getting ready for school

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We know what you're thinking! Really? Yes, really. In their last episode of 2021, Megan and Allison are looking forward with the first in a serie...

YKNR 032: Screen-free summer

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the long, lazy days of summer looming, the last thing we want is for our kids to spend them face-first in a screen. Megan and Allison have some g...

YKNR 031: Beach reads for kids

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Megan Daley and Allison Tait are all about encouraging reading over the summer with a great selection of beach reads for kids of all ages. ...

YKNR 030: Books for teen boys

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you keep teen boys reading? Why do they stop and what will make them start again? Allison and Megan discuss the age-old question of books for b...

YKNR 029: Outdoor adventuring

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode is all about the Great Outdoors. Megan and Allison discuss books that support outdoor activities, as well as book that encour...

YKNR 028: Bedtime reading for older kids

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At what age do you stop reading aloud to kids? And what do you read to older kids if bedtime reading is still a thing? Allison and Megan explore reada...

YKNR 027: Teacher Gifts

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the last of our end-of-year gift-giving episodes, Megan and Allison are talking about teacher gifts. Plus, Allison has tips for helping kids deal w...

YKNR 026: Festive Season Gift Giving

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's end of term celebrations or other festive occasions, the season of gift giving is upon us - and books are the perfect gift! Megan an...

YKNR 025: Christmas Special

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With supply and postal distribution chains disrupted, Megan and Allison are planning ahead for the festive season with a list of books about Christmas...

YKNR 024: YA for tweens

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While there is an entire 'middle-grade' (8-12) section of the bookshelf available, many younger readers (tweens), particularly advanced read...

YKNR 023: Should I discourage 'easy' reading?

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What should you do when young readers insist on reading books you think are too 'easy' for them? Megan and Allison look at whether to discou...

YKNR 022: School holiday reads

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping kids reading in the holidays requires a bit of planning. Megan and Allison share tips for choosing books for school holidays, Plus YKNR has ne...

YKNR 021: Books about books

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Books about books, books inside books... this week, Allison Tait and Megan Daley are celebrating children's literature featuring books - from pic...

YKNR 020: Classics for kids

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Getting kids started on 'the classics' can be great for their vocabulary and knowledge of context, history and the building blocks of a lite...

YKNR 019: Puberty books for tweens

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From birds and bees to changing bodies, Allison Tait and Megan Daley recommend puberty books for tweens - and the adults in their lives. Plus, Megan l...

YKNR 018: Cookbooks for Kids

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Allison Tait and Megan Daley look at why cookbooks are great for kids (beyond the delicious creations) and have recommendations for everyone from tots...

YKNR 017: What's the story with school readers?

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Love them or hate them (and so many parents seem to fall in the latter camp), school readers are an essential part of your child's reading journe...

YKNR 016: Which e-reader should I buy my kid?

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

E-readers are great for accessibility and convenience, but which one is best for kids? Megan has tips for how to buy an e-reader that will integrate w...

YKNR 015: All about book launches

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly goes on at a book launch and why would you take your kids to one? Megan and Allison take you inside the secrets of book launches and look...

YKNR 014: Extending advanced readers 7+

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Allison and Megan are tackling one of the most popular Bingo questions ever - choosing books for advanced readers aged 7+. Allison raves abo...