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.
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.
About us:
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.
Contact details:
To arrange an interview, feature, or to secure a review copy of a March 2026 Your Next Read title, please contact:
Jennifer Kean
M: 0413 711 389
