Reading with a chance of tacos

Today's guest has been designing award winning animated short films, commercials, music videos, TV shows and video games, with a short film nominated for an Oscar. He's popped in for a taco, and to tell us about his very first full graphic novel, Treasure in the Lake. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the amazingly talented, super-skilled illustrator and creator, Jason Pamment. Woo-hooo!

Today's guest is the author of the middle grade novels  Ember and the Ice Dragons  and  The Language of Ghosts . And, she's popped in today to discuss her latest book,  The School Between Winter and Fairyland , to which all I can say is Wow, what a read! We'll also discuss her writing process, stop for a taco and share a writing tip or two. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big cheer for Heather...

Today's guest is an internationally published children's author, teacher and presenter at the Australian Writers Centre, where she teaches adults to write kids chapter books. She's popped in today for a taco and to tell us all about her awesome new picture book, Dinosaur Dads, to share her author journey and offer up some amazing writing gems. Ladies and gentlemen give it up for the dynamic, energ...

Today's guest writes books that inspire children with stories of hope, courage and full of heart. Many of his picture books have been shortlisted, won awards and have been translated into other languages. And he's popped in today for a taco, to tell us about his latest book Seal Child, and talk about the art of writing from the heart. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the awesome, heart warming...

Today's guest is the critically acclaimed author of such YA novels as  My Life as a Hashtag, Beatle Meets Destiny and The Reluctant Hallelujah . And, she's popped in today for a taco and to discuss her latest book,  It's Not You, It's Me . It's an absolute beauty and I can't wait to talk about it. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the beautiful and amazingly talented, Gabrielle Williams.  

It's Book Week here in Australia and today's guest has just been awarded a 2021 CBCA Honours for her picture book, Anemone is not the Enemy . She's joined us today fresh from the Awards to discuss her achievement and what it means, as well as share her thoughts about Books in Lockdown. Please welcome, a great friend of the podcast, the amazing, the wonderful, Anna McGregor ladies and gentlemen.

Today's guest is a pioneer of children's illustration and literature in Australia. With over 70 books, a plethora of awards and over 40 years of working with the Australian book community, she is a mentor and inspiration to some of our greatest writers and illustrators. She's popped in today to discuss the importance of 'process' rather than success. This is a hugely important topic. And really, w...

Today's guest is an author that has burst on to the scene. With four books out currently and more under contract for next year, he has used social media, trial and error, and a get up and go attitude to awesome effect. He's dropped in today for a taco, share his latest book and some of what he's learned with us, please make him welcome. The super talented, totally awesome storyteller, Rory H Mathe...

Today's guest is Australia's highest-selling female author, with over fifty books for kids and young adults. Her popular Billy B Brown books are loved all over the world. But, of course, it wasn't always this way. Even the big names have to start somewhere. Today, ladies and gentlemen, our special guest has dropped by for a taco, to tell us about her journey, and offer up a few tips along the way....

Today's guest is an absolute legend in the world of children's books. She has written hundreds of books for kids over an astonishing career. Together with illustrator, Tony Ross, she's delighted kids all over the world with her amazing humour and crazy stories.  Her book, Tadpole's Promise was a Silver Smarties Prize Winner. She penned the accompanying novel to the Paddington Bear movie and was a...

Today's guest is an amazing inspiration. Born in Iran, she came to Australia at the age of nine. Here, she not only learned the English language, but went on to write for television and stage. In 2011 was selected by Sesame Workshop as the writer for Elmo's Tour of Australia. She has written and developed stage shows for David Walliams, Leigh Hobbs, Oliver Jeffers and more. And, she's popped in to...

Today's guest is a picture book author with an amazing story. And, amazing passion for her craft. Her book Ribbit Rabbit Robot is up for two major awards and her latest book, The Lion Who Came to Stay , has a backstory that you're not going to believe. She's popped in today for a taco, share a few writing tips, and tell us all about her amazing work, Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together f...

Today's guest is a copywriter who's passionate about getting kids excited about literature and her first picture book is such a lovely foray into the genre. She's popped in today for a taco and to share her journey to publication, her inspiration and how she went about writing the amazing picture book Daisy and Bear and the very ordinary day. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome, Haylee Hackenberg

Today's guest is a burst of energy and an absolute legend in the audio book world. He's the voice of everybody from the Bugalugs Bum Thief to the Boy who Swallows the Universe to Paul Jennings, Andy, Terry and the entire Treehouse series. He's an actor. An author. A narrator. And he's flying the flag for kids authors and kid literature for everybody. Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for the totall...

In today's podcast, we talk to the author of Who Fed Zed – a wonderful example of a fun and entertaining picture book that contains a very important message. We talk about how to put a message in your book. And, following up on our Kidlit Q and A episode we have some more questions for publisher, Sandra van Doorn of Red Paper Kite Publishing.  

Today's guest began her career in kids books as an illustrator, but it's her passion for writing, and the love of her best friends, that has inspired her latest book that she both writes and illustrates with Allen and Unwin Publishing. It's titled Mertails, and to tell us all about it, and share her journey with us, it's the wonderful Rebecca Timmis. Woo-hooo!

Aspiring authors, illustrators and anyone who creates books for kids were invited to send in their burning questions. We received a variety of questions such as: How many drafts does it take to write a picture book? How do I submit my story? How do Public Lending Rights and Educational Lending Rights work? What does an Acquisitions meeting look like? How many books get printed on the first run? Ho...

Today's guest is the author of two critically acclaimed books, Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall, and she's popped in today to talk about her latest book, a fun and full graphic novel titled: Pawcasso. She's also here to tell us about her amazing rise to publication. It's been an incredible journey and well worth a listen. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big cheer, for the awesomely talented,...

In today's episode we have an awesome variety of authors looking at ways of networking in your community, some wonderful illustrators share their techniques and tips on illustrating, and we discuss what authors must consider when writing books with illustrations.

The most useful writing advice you should know and use is a 3-part podcast series from prominent publishers, editors, authors and illustrators of children's literature. The Reading with a Chance of Taco's Podcast has always been about assisting aspiring authors, illustrators and creators of kids books through honest advice from leading experts. In this series, we've picked out the best of the best...

Today's guest started out writing greeting cards and went on to illustrate and design characters for both TV and kids books with classics such as Star Wars, The Day My Butt Went Psycho and more recently, the Nerd Herd and School of Monsters series of books. He's dropped by today for a taco, to tell us all about his incredible journey, and share some tips and ideas on creating books for kids. Ladie...

Today's guest is an author for kids and adults, and the co-ordinator of one of the biggest growing conferences on writing in the world. She's dropped by today for not one taco, but two, and to tell us about her writing journey and how the CYA Conference came about – from its humble beginnings to what it's fast becoming today. She shares with us how aspiring authors can get the most from the confer...

Andy has dropped by today to share his inspirational journey. He talks about his first books and school visits, making friends with his audience, testing out material for upcoming books, and on to his partnership with Terry Denton that has shaken the publishing world, and provided kids today with books they enjoy reading and that they want to read. This is an episode not to be missed.

Today's guest is a stand-up comedian, a stand-up guy and a very successful writer of books for kids. With his fun-loving sense of humour, his book, Thai-riffic made a real impact on the literary scene.  He's popped in today to talk about writing humour in kids books – what works, what doesn't, where the comedy comes from and how to engage the audience for the humour to be effective. 

Being an author is something many aspire to become, but along the way, many authors, both aspiring and established, often wonder if they really have what it takes. Author, Dhana Fox, didn't come from a traditional writing background, as she puts it, and didn't have any qualifications to suggest she has what it takes to be a published writer. That said, Dhana is an author of three picture books cur...