Your Kid’s Next Read / Your Next Read

YOUR KID’S NEXT READ

& YOUR NEXT READ

YOUR KID’S NEXT READ (YKNR) ANNOUNCE NEW JUNIOR FICTION SERIES AIMED TO KEEP KIDS READING – AND LOVING IT – FOR LIFE!

“YKNR: a community, a podcast and a newsletter all aimed at growing readers and writers”

Interview with the YKNR team: Megan Daley (award-winning teacher-librarian and author) and children’s book authors Allison Tait and Allison Rushby with Joy Lawn (Joy in Books) at Paperbark Words blog

Thanks for speaking with Paperbark Words, Megan, Allison & Allison.

Where are you all based and how did you initially connect with each other?

(AT) Megan and Allison R are both based in Brisbane and I’m on the south coast of NSW. Allison R and I met each other about twenty years ago, in a coffee queue at a Romance Writers’ Australia conference, and became instant writing friends. Megan and I first connected online around 15 years ago, through blogging, and once again it was an immediate connection.

What is Your Kid’s Next Read’s aim or philosophy?

Our tagline is ‘it takes a village to raise a reader’, and we are all about growing readers and writers.

How long has YKNR been operating and how did it start? How has it changed?

(AR) The YKNR Facebook community was started in 2017 as the brainchild of Allison Tait and Megan Daley, who saw the need for a ‘go to’ space for anyone on the hunt for fantastic children’s book recommendations. I was brought on board soon after as the group’s membership quickly grew. With YKNR’s expansion, the group has changed dramatically – from a few hundred members to closing in on 40,000. And from one space to include many, adding on a podcast, newsletter, a paid newsletter, and social media.

What role does each of you play in the team?

(AR) The three of us all play quite different roles. Allison Tait and Megan Daley head up the podcast, while I manage the group giveaways and admission of members. Allison Tait is the organised type and sorts the newsletters, which we all write. We play to our strengths and, somehow, it all seems to come together.

How do you manage its exponential growth?

 (AT) One step and one member at a time. The community is an incredibly willing and giving place, with one goal – to keep kids reading. I am constantly in awe at the level of knowledge of children’s books and authors displayed every day and it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re looking for a book about bugs for a two year old or an epic fantasy adventure for a 15 year old, there’s always a member (or 20) to help.

“As far as the growth of what Team YKNR offers, everything that’s been added – the podcast, the newsletter, presentations, social media – has been in response to community need and what makes sense at the time. As Allison R said, it all seems to come together – but it’s because the three of us are always working towards that common goal.

“It doesn’t hurt that we each bring different skills and expertise to our team, either. I feel so lucky to be working with Allison R and Megan. Even when we’re under pressure, we’re still laughing. A LOT.”

Which children seem to be most loving reading and which are most at risk at dropping out of reading?

(MD) In my school library I’m loving seeing young kids confidently move between graphic novels and JF titles and this is something that just makes me so full of hope for the reading future of these kids – they are easily navigating between different forms of texts – audio, graphic, digital, print. 

The tween age is at risk with a decline in reading as this seems to be the time they get phones in their pockets and the call of social media is strong! We can’t avoid screens and social media but we do really need to balance the use of screens with reading time. 

(AT) I think recent media coverage has made it clear that the ‘high school drop off’ is worse than ever, and that boys are at particular risk of giving up on reading all together. Which makes it more important than ever that we don’t give up on them. We speak regularly on the YKNR podcast about the fact that is a fight worth having, even when adults feel as though we’re talking to ourselves, and offer tips and strategies to help.

What is some feedback from the public that shows you’re meeting a need – and that means a lot to you?

(AR) We’ve had members provide a lot of feedback via polls and surveys, but what means the most to us is how our members will tell strangers in bookshops and libraries about us, how wonderful the group is and that they should join too. Our members are constantly talking us up, which is so very gratifying. Running the group is a lot of work and it means the world to us to know that we’re making a difference when the statistics on child literacy can feel so disheartening. We’re also often told by members that YKNR is “the nicest group on Facebook” and that means a lot too – we really do try to keep things pleasant for everyone. Luckily that’s not too hard in a group full of book lovers.

YKNR was recently involved in Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF). What were you doing? What YKNY inimitable slant did you bring to the role?

(AT) “We were absolutely thrilled to have been invited to participate in the adult program at Sydney Writers’ Festival, as it’s rare to see children’s authors and books represented there. Our presentation focused on the 10 top questions we are asked, whether in our community, out in the real world, or via social media, and covered everything from how to reach reluctant readers to books for sensitive readers to romance novels for tweens.

“What we bring is not only our own expertise, knowledge and backgrounds, but the incredible amount of information that we glean from managing the YKNR community. We know exactly which questions about kids and reading are top of mind at any given moment because they are reflected in the requests and queries from our members. 

“We also brought a lot of fun – because talking about kidlit IS fun! – as well as some gold feather boas, which shed all over the floor and left a little bit of sparkle behind.”

The big news announced at SWF is that YKNR has an exciting, aligned venture, a new junior fiction series titled YOUR NEXT READ (published by Affirm Press). Congratulations. What is the aim and hope of the series? 

(AR) “Our main aim is to offer an entertaining, engaging series of books that will see children reaching for the next book and then the next book again in the series – we’re really focussing on quality storytelling from Australia’s most trusted authors and illustrators with a wide mix of genres, themes and perspectives in order to reach every small reader.”

(MD) “As a teacher librarian in an early childhood setting, I really hope that the Your Next Read series will grab the attention of educators, parents and caregivers and students alike and become a favourite, trusted, ‘go-to’ series for when we need a great recreational read that will hook a kid in. I’d also *love* to see the series used as mentor and focus texts in classrooms and I’m looking forward to overseeing the teachers’ notes!”

How will you decide on the type of books and creators, and work alongside publisher Tash Besliev and the team at Affirm?

(AR) “It’s certainly been a lengthy process as Australia simply has so much writing and illustrating talent on offer. Getting the right mix is a delicate balancing act and then, of course, those authors and illustrators must also have availability within their own schedules. We’ve been very lucky that almost everyone we’ve approached has wanted to squeeze Your Next Read in, even if they really shouldn’t. It’s been clear from the outset just how amazing the series is going to be and how overdue it is and we’ve been thrilled to see how excited all the talent is to be involved.”

(MD) “Team YKNR have been in this industry for a *long* time now and we know the kidlit landscape well and lots of the creators. We’ve created a longlist and a shortlist wish list of creators and types of books and are working with the wonderful Tash to get as many of these onto shelves as possible! So many exciting titles to come!”

What will set this venture apart from other series?

(MD) “There is so many great JF series on the market, but Your Next Read will take up shelf space in the library and be instantly visible and we hope that there will be enough titles to always have ‘your kids next read’ ready!”

(AT) “We are bringing the same ‘curated’ and ‘recommended’ approach to this series as we bring to everything YKNR. Our aim with everything we do is to make it easier for parents, carers, educators, booksellers, and other interested adults to find the perfect ‘next book’ for the young readers in their lives. This series brings together some of the best and brightest Australian creators in a curated, wide reading experience that will encourage that love of literature that’s so important to nurture as they’re building literacy.”

How does your professional relationship with Jennifer Kean and her trusted marketing and publicity company Kean & Creative work?

(AT) “We have been lucky to work with Kean & Creative to drill down and articulate the essence of what Your Kid’s Next Read is all about. As mentioned before, everything we’ve done has evolved over time to meet community needs, and we’ve rarely stopped to consider just what we’ve achieved and how much we knowledge and expertise we’ve acquired in this space. We’ve been advocates in this space for a very long time now, but we’re also three very busy women with busy lives and individual careers. Jen encouraged us to stop for a minute, work through what we are all about, and move forward with confidence.

“As an aside, she also made us establish Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook and Instagram pages – something we were absolutely certain that we had no time for, but, as it turns out, we do. Follow us at @yourkidsnextread in either place to prove Jen right…”

I know it’s an impossible task to narrow it down – but never miss the opportunity to recommend books – could each of you tell us one or two sure-fire top reads for kids?

(AR) “I’ve just really enjoyed both Garth Nix’s ‘We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord’ and also Sophie’s Beer’s ‘Thunderhead’.”

(MD) “Oh my gosh tough! I’m going to list some of my favourite books from the year to date and narrow myself to picture books to make it easier on myself!

‘Fly, Mama, Fly!’ by Anna McGregor, which I talked about in episode 193 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.

‘The Colt from Old Regret’ Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Erica Wagner, which I talked about in episode 200 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.

‘One Day’ by Shirley Marr. Illustrated by Michael Speechley, which I talked about in episode 209 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.

‘Baabinje’s Backyard’ by Ella Noah Bancroft and Bronwyn Bancroft, which I talked about in episode 212 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.

‘My Name is Jemima’ by Olivia Muscat and Allison Colpoys, which I talked about in episode 203 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.

(AT) “I agree with Megan – this is super tough, particularly when you consider just how many books we receive and discuss on the podcast. Hmmm, sure-fire top reads for kids… ‘Inked’ by Karen Wasson and Jake A Minton, which is a middle-grade graphic novel (and graphic novels are insanely popular right now) and ‘The Surface Trials’ by H. M. Waugh, also middle-grade, but science fiction with all the pace of The Hunger Games and none of the ‘killing each other to survive’.

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Media Release: YOUR NEXT READ

“Positive reading and book behaviours can be bedded down by teen years, if nurtured from a young age with the help of a village”, says the Your Kid’s Next Read team.

Their freshly announced new junior fiction series YOUR NEXT READ will be published in March 2026 by Affirm Press and will encourage the joy of reading, provide support, and spark engagement with young readers, all crucial ingredients for doing the most to prevent a future generation of teens from becoming ambivalent readers.

It is worth noting that the February 2025 research report entitled Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading by Australia Reads and Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia (based on a survey of Australian’s aged 16 years and over) identified 5 key barriers currently faced by Ambivalent Readers – finding books, choosing books, getting books, starting to read, and continuing to read.

With a variety of genres, themes and perspectives, Your Next Read offers every child the chance to find something they love – and then reach for the next book, and the next, and the next.

By combining quality storytelling, entertaining content and engaging illustrations, Your Next Read builds the bridge between learning to read and choosing to read.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Affirm Press and the creators of Your Kid’s Next Read (YKNR) have partnered to launch a new junior fiction series which aims to encourage the joy of reading. The announcement was made at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival as part of the Your Kid’s Next Read session.

The new junior fiction series, Your Next Read, is the result of a collaboration between junior fiction series publishing veteran Tash Besliev (of Affirm Press) and the creative minds behind YKNR – award-winning teacher librarian Megan Daley, and accomplished children’s authors Allison Tait and Allison Rushby.

Founded in 2017 as a Facebook community, YKNR has become Australia’s most trusted resource for children’s reading and literacy. With over 38,000 members and a successful podcast, YKNR focuses on helping young readers find the perfect next book, promoting Australian creators, supporting parents and caregivers in fostering literacy and advocating for educators and children’s literature.

Alongside a phonics-based approach to learning the skills of reading comes the most critical part of a child’s reading journey: the desire to keep reading. That’s where Your Next Read comes in – a bold new series designed to ensure every child learns to love reading.

The importance of this approach is illustrated by the alarming 2024 Grattan Report, which revealed that one in three Australian children struggle with reading proficiency, alongside recent National NAPLAN scores results showing a decline in literacy rates. Though the growing disengagement from reading among early readers is not a challenge unique to Australia as similar declines in reading abilities are occurring across the UK and the US.

To help children continue their reading journey, Your Next Read is specifically designed to fill the need for chapter books that strike a balance between child satisfaction and parental approval to supplement the science-based approach to reading education.

Your Next Read is built around one core belief: keeping children reading is just as important as teaching them how. With engaging, inclusive, and entertaining stories, the series supports both newly independent readers and those who may be struggling – ensuring no child is left behind on the path to lifelong reading.

Launching with 10 titles across two series (Silver for ages 5-8 and Gold for ages 7-9) in 2026 and expanding by a further 24 titles by 2027, Your Next Read features the work of some of Australia’s most respected children’s authors and illustrators. These include Peter Cheong, Jane Godwin, Jade Goodwin, Anita Heiss, Kylie Howarth, Tom Jellett, Maddy Mara, Jasmin McGaughey, Katrina Nannestad, Cheryl Orsini, A. L. Tait, Kate & Jol Temple and more.

With a variety of genres, themes and perspectives, Your Next Read offers every child the chance to find something they love – and then reach for the next book, and the next, and the next.

By combining quality storytelling, entertaining content and engaging illustrations, Your Next Read builds the bridge between learning to read and choosing to read.

The YKNR team said ‘We are thrilled to be part of the development of this incredible series, which offers a wide reading experience for young readers from creators whose work we love and admire. Your Next Read will provide adults with a one-stop shop for quality books for junior readers, while offering young readers books that are fun, exciting, and aimed at building a love of literature.’

Simon & Schuster Australia and Affirm Press children’s publishing director, Tash Besliev said: ‘It is an honour to be working alongside the YKNR team – trusted experts who have dedicated so much of their time to nurturing young readers and supporting the grown-ups who guide them. Along with the extraordinary creators, we’re taking the belief that every child deserves the chance to fall in love with reading and turning it into action – meeting children wherever they are on their reading journey, and doubling down on stories that spark joy and build confidence to keep them coming back for their next read again and again.’

The first set of books in the Your Next Read Silver Series will be published by Affirm Press in March and July 2026. The first set of books in the Your Next Read Gold Series will be published in October 2026. Additional books for both series will be released throughout 2027.