Kellie's Children's Books

All available for direct purchase from the author and signed, too - please head to the Contact page to get in touch and request books this way.

CLOUD CONDUCTOR

Kellie's first picture book was published by Wombat Books on 1st May 2018. It is beautifully illustrated by Ann-Marie Finn.

The story examines the importance and fun of the imagination, and how creativity can be used to help us deal with difficult times. It is perfect for prompting discussions about topics like creativity, illness, the seasons, weather, clouds, music and more. 

The book can be ordered from Wombat Books (link below - international orders are catered to here, too) or from Booktopia. 

Gift cards based on the book are also now available - check out the Wombat link below for further information.

To download a high-res version of the cover image, click here: Cloud Conductor large jpg

To download the Media Kit for the book, click here: Cloud Conductor Media Kit

To download the Teacher's Notes, click here: Cloud Conductor Teacher's Notes

CLOUD CONDUCTOR review samples:

“This picture book celebrates the wonder of creating stories and the joy of sharing them.” - Sunday Telegraph ‘Funday’ Review

"Shivers. Goosebumps. Tingles. Fuzzies. All the terms that come to mind to describe the sensations felt during the reading of Cloud Conductor. Kellie Byrnes has effectively orchestrated an emotionally evocative symphony of words that project straight into your heart. Her whimsical phrasing casts the reader’s mind to a place of imagination and a world of peace, where escapism is met with a welcoming ray of sunshine, particularly for the little girl in the story... A gentle and touching story portrayed in a sensitive light, Cloud Conductor is reassuring, engaging and enlightening. Early years children will be drawn to its imaginative and dreamy qualities that will encourage sky-gazers all over the galaxy." - Just Write for Kids Australia

"Inspiring and full of positive messages, this exquisite book carries themes of strength, courage, patience, hope and the healing power of the imagination... This emotive story is sad yet filled with joy and hope. It demonstrates how children are able to find ways to embrace life even during the most painful and challenging times." - Kids' Book Review

"This book should be a part of every children's hospital library. A perfect present for children with long term illnesses. An inspirational story to lift spirits and resilience" - Rhyllis Bignell, Teacher-Librarian

"Debut children’s author, Kellie Byrnes and accomplished illustrator,  Ann-Marie Finn, have created a sensual feast that not only celebrates the art of imagination but also encourages it for emotional well-being....Touching and affirmative, this picture book explores a delicate situation with care and consideration and great glorious cloud-clumps of imagination, all beautifully reinforced by Finn's beguiling illustrations. Perfect for daydreaming 4 – 8 year-olds." - Boomerang Books

"What’s not to like in a book that encourages us to have our heads in the clouds? Cloud Conductor teaches kids to spark up that imagination, which can be shared again and again. Cloud conductors unite! Not to mention, we can take our kids to the zoo, to the beach, to the rainforest, without even leaving our backyard." - Brisbane Kids

"This picture book by debut author Kellie Byrnes uses poetic language, and soft, collaged illustrations to sing the joys of daydreaming. Cloud Conductor reminds us that imagination can take us anywhere, especially if our bodies need to rest. This sensitive story will inspire young imaginations, and could be a useful tool for teaching children the beauty of being in the moment, and taking time to observe nature." - Buzz Words

"Cloud Conductor is a beautifully expressive story, filled with messages of hope, courage in adversity and the power of the imagination to bring happiness... Cloud Conductor is full of courage, an inspiring story that stirs up a child's imagination. Frankie's resilience and her ability to rise above her illness is an important message. Students and families will enjoy becoming cloud conductors, using their imagination to create their own stories and to find hope even in difficult times." - Read Plus

"Cloud Conductor not only allows readers to see what life can be like for children who are in hospital for long lengths of time but also the importance of imagination and how imagination can brighten the darkest of dark days. Positive thinking and hope shine through in this story and the important gifts we can give to others when they are feeling down – hope, joyful thoughts and imagination.You will love reading this story to all young children and it might inspire some time to lie out in the sun and stare up at those clouds!"  - Educate. Empower

Facebook post from The BookShop at Caloundra:

EVIE IS ALL EARS

Kellie’s second picture book, Evie is All Ears, was published by Little Pink Dog Books in October 2020.

Evie is all Ears introduces the story of Evie, the Bilby. Evie is deaf, but one day a way comes along for her to be “all ears” – will she be able to accept help to hear again? Following the story of a Bilby is a gentle, sensitive way to explain deafness, and its isolating effects, to young children. Explore this topic in comfort with this beautifully illustrated book set in the Australian landscape.

This picture book about a hard-of-hearing bilby (an endangered Australian animal) is brought to life by brilliant illustrator Lesley McGee.

Click this link to order the book for delivery in Australia or internationally. Or, you can order the book from your local independent bookstore and online retailers including Booktopia, Bookdepository, and Amazon.

EVIE IS ALL EARS review samples:

“Evie is a bilby and she loves school, but she can’t hear the teacher. A gentle way of highlighting hearing difficulties, with lovely illustrations.” - Child Magazine

“Evie is All Ears falls into a collection of picture books that serve to illuminate and bolster inclusiveness… Kellie Byrnes’ narrative both informs and endears. References to bilby behaviour and habitat nestle snuggly alongside Evie’s distress, embarrassment and reluctance to admit and deal with her problem, emotions many youngsters can relate to in some way. The outcome is a big warm hug of kindness and acceptance. This book has irresistible visual appeal, too… With this much on offer, Evie is All Ears is hard to pass up as a book that reinforces the best virtues of Easter. Share it soon.” - Kids Book Review editor Dimity Powell. Check out the entire review here.

ONE REMARKABLE REEF

The Great Barrier Reef is a special place, teeming with life. It provides animals with food and shelter. Count from one to ten in this gentle, rhyming bedtime book, while learning about some of the Reef’s most threatened creatures.

The State Library of Queensland published One Remarkable Reef in November 2020 as part of the library’s “Stories for Little Queenslanders” pilot publishing project for its First Five Forever literacy program.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Rachel Tribout. You can purchase the book at the State Library’s bookshop or find it in your local Queensland library.

One Remarkable Reef was shortlisted for the 2021 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards and has been converted to braille and multiple-language digital editions. A board book version of the story was also created and will be given to every new child born in Queensland, Australia, during a set period, as part of the First Five Forever literacy program.

In addition, One Remarkable Reef has been chosen by four Queensland libraries to date to be used for a “Story Walk” in their locations. The book has been converted to large-scale, single-spread laminated pages that get placed along a picturesque walk to encourage children and their families to build an interest in reading while being active in the great outdoors.

ONE REMARKABLE REEF review samples:

“Set in rhyme, the book explores ten reef inhabitants from clams to coral to sea cows and one squawking seagull above it all. The tone is uplifting and rhythmic, celebrating the vibrancy and variety of the reef. The illustrations are beautifully bright and detailed…” - Pam Ueckerman, Reading Time review. Read the complete review here.

YES! NO. 

Yes! Cheeky raccoon smells delicious pie. No! The pie is out of reach . . . Follow the amusing adventures of an enterprising raccoon as he engages in a rollercoaster struggle against some ridiculous odds. Does he win the pie?

This interactive and multi-layered tale will have you guessing, giggling and ultimately clamouring for re-reads. An entertaining introduction to concepts such as manners, persistence, inventiveness and friendship. And kids are sure to have fun joining in with every ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ throughout!

Kellie's fourth picture book, Yes! No. was published by Little Pink Dog Books in May 2021. The fun, text-light story is brought to life by illustrator Gabriella Petruso.

You can order the book from Little Pink Dog Books or from your local independent bookshop or an online retailer.

THIS IS NOT A BOOK!

In this fun-filled, action-packed picture book, our main character is quite convinced they’re not in a book. After all, if this was a book, there’d be pages to turn … Oops! We’ve just turned the page. But that’s not conclusive proof this is a book. If it was a book, there’d be interesting settings and problems to solve. Hold on! Why is our lead character being chased by a lion? Why are pirates stealing treasure? And are those mermaids playing in a rock band?

This is NOT a Book! is the perfect introduction for kids to how a book is structured and how to tell a good story. It’s metafiction made fun!

This is NOT a Book! was published by EK Books (Exisle Publishing) in June 2021. It’s bright, captivating, humorous illustrations are created by Aśka.

You can order the book via these online links or contact your local independent bookshop to place an order.

To download the Teacher's Notes, click here: This is NOT a Book! teacher guide/extra resources

THIS IS NOT A BOOK! review samples:

“A very clever way to introduce young readers to all the different elements of a story.” KidsBooksNZ

“This clever meta fictive text is lots of fun for readers. The likeable protagonist speaks directly to them, demanding a response. Children will love that the power is theirs.” Reading Time

“Told by the main character (who is deliberately not identified by gender) in a monologue, the text in this story says one thing whilst in the illustrations the opposite is happening, showing that all the elements the character says should be in a book - main and subsidiary characters, settings, plots, problems, resolutions and so forth - are actually there. This is a novel way to help children turn their ideas into written stories to share with others.” ReadPlus

“A cleverly crafted piece of metafiction.” Kids On The Coast magazine

“Teachers will love this book – it is a great way to break down how to write a narrative and the reasons we have different parts to a story.” Educate. Empower

“The perfect way to spark your child’s imagination and teach them the fundamentals of storytelling.” The Carousel

“I think my tagline for this would be ‘my first metafiction’- a book dedicated to picking apart what a book actually is, piece by piece, for children to understand. Aśka’s illustrations are charming as usual, following our purple-haired protagonist across each page to discover the next plot point, setting, or conflict until we - unfortunately - reach The End.” The Space magazine (ECC)

“This is NOT a Book! is a fabulous, fun example of metafiction, it takes us into the story to discover what elements make up a really good and compelling story.” Story Snug

“This book explores the features of narrative in such a fun and clever way. It is sweet perfection for the #EarlyYears set who are learning to become critical consumers of stories. I adore this book.” Oh Creative Day

“📚This book is filled with metalanguage or the building blocks of what makes a story. It would make such a brilliant start to a narrative writing lesson..”  Love four Learning

“A novel way to help children turn their ideas into written stories.” The Bottom Shelf educator blog

“Marvellously entertaining This is NOT a Book! from Kellie Byrnes … teaches about book construction while telling a totally hilarious tale of denial filled with fun.”  Blue Wolf Reviews

“This is metafiction at its best. It takes a reader inside the book to discover how a good story is told.” Buzz Words industry newsletter

“A page-turner, even if the lead character tries to deny the very existence of its pages.” Eastern Reporter newspaper

“This is a brilliant look at what makes a story and would be a great book for classrooms to read.”  Kids Book Review

“A fun and clever way to show the building blocks of a story. This is a book that denies it’s a book, which is actually a book that tells you how to write a book! Loved it!” What Book Next?

Watch the trailer:

HOW DO YOU LOVE?: The Five Ways We Show We Care

Love is shown in many ways. When we look closely, we see it every day!

Love is a constant in all of our lives, but how we express that love differs from person to person! This warm picture book shows children and adults expressing love in many different ways through respectful touch, nice gestures, thoughtful gifts, kind words, and special times together.

Reading together at bedtime? That's special time together.
Giving a friend your cape to wear? That's a thoughtful gift.
Saving your friend a seat on the bus? That's a nice gesture.
A great big bear hug? That's respectful touch.
Telling someone, "You've really improved!" Those are kind words

With friendly, inclusive art, How Do You Love? will warm hearts and open up minds. Young readers will begin to recognize how we each express our love differently―and that’s okay!

How Do You Love?: The Five Ways We Show We Care was published by Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan US, in January 2022. The sweet illustrations were created by Melina Ontiveros, and the book has been a popular Valentine’s Day title and conversation-starter in families and at schools about the ways we can give and receive love.

You can buy the book online via the publisher’s website or elsewhere, or order through your local independent bookstore.

HOW DO YOU LOVE? review samples:

“Paired with Ontiveros’s realistic cartoon scenes, which emphasize cultural inclusivity, Byrnes cheerfully offers examples of the myriad ways care and kindness can be communicated, seemingly based on the Five Love Languages. …Pedagogical back matter prompts readers to reflect upon how they themselves express affection, stressing that there’s no one right way to convey it and suggesting possible options for those seeking inspiration…” Publishers Weekly

“Taking the popular theory behind “the five love languages” – words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch – Byrnes takes a familiar adult concept and breaks it down into child-friendly language, in a way that encourages young readers to think about how they and the people around them might show love. Byrnes comes up with some great examples of each “language,” then uses an afterward to further explore these concepts in more detail (such as pointing out that physical touch should always be consensual, or quality time allows us to connect emotionally by giving undivided attention).

Ontiveros’s cartoon illustrations are bright, colorful, and fit the theme perfectly, but what truly stands out is the diversity of her characters: a myriad of skintones, body types, hair textures, religions, abilities, LGBTQ+ identities, and more are given representation, and never in a way that feels exploitative. The length is perfect for storytime, and JJ and I truly enjoyed this one from start to finish. This a fantastic way to talk to kids about love and how we can express it, and we highly recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!” The Baby Bookworm

“People can show love in different ways, explains this book, offering one example on each page… Notably, we see children of both same and different genders being loving to each other. The families depicted are of various racial and ethnic identities, and one family includes two dads.” Mombian.com, in a 2023 post: 40+ LGBTQ Kids’ Books About Love for Valentine’s Day

COMING SOON: SOMETHING SPECIAL

Something Special is a picture book written by Kellie Byrnes and illustrated by Lisa Week.
The book will be published in fall 2023 in the USA by JAX Kids Book Club, an initiative of the Jacksonville Public Library system. More news to come soon!

COMING SOON

Kellie has also written 20 levelled readers for an educational publisher in China, all of which will be released around late-2023.
In addition, Kellie is editing and proofreading an entire 52-book series for the same Chinese publisher. The series is due out in 2024-25.

Plus, her first chapter book is contracted as part of a new Australian Girl series, to be published by Wombat Books in 2023/2024.