Communities who make books together: The power of kids’ publishing
Celebrating 20 years of creativity and community, Kids’ Own Publishing continues to prove that every child’s story deserves to be told and shared.
About a year ago, a small group of 15 Ukrainian children, most of whom came to Australia as refugees after being displaced by war, gathered in Melbourne’s south-east to set their imaginations free.
One night a week for six weeks, they came together to work on a Kids’ Own Publishing project. With bright collage materials and paintbrushes in-hand, and the support of artists, they co-created an imaginary bridge from Earth to Mars: a path that billions of children could travel along to find a peaceful place to live.
Soon, their idea was turned into a book, titled The Big Space Adventure. Published with their words and pictures, the book became a source of pride and tangible healing space for all of those involved. “The book project provided a therapeutic outlet for children who were displaced by the ongoing war,” says Anna Dollard, Creative Director of Kids’ Own Publishing. “They came together to connect with others who had shared experiences and create something that grounds them here.”
That book now sits in the local library. It’s one of 250-plus titles created through Kids’ Own Publishing –a not-for-profit arts organisation that has spent over 20 years co-creating books with children, families and communities. Founded in 2004, the organisation delivers artist-led publishing projects that bring together children (mostly under 12), their families and community members to write and illustrate stories that celebrate identity, creativity and belonging.
A bridge to empowerment
Kids' Own delivers projects to children in schools, kindergartens, playgroups and metropolitan and regional community settings such as libraries. Around 65 per cent of the charity’s work has been with migrant and refugee children families.
“The stories and pictures in the books are important, but so is the process of co-creating them. It’s about making art together, exploring ideas, building confidence, and learning new ways of thinking from professional artists."
Anna says the model works because it honours every child’s voice and imagination. “When children see their ideas made into a book – printed, shared and read by others – it tells them that their words matter. It shows them that they are contributors to culture.”
Over two decades, Kids’ Own Publishing has changed the way Victoria sees children’s creative contributions. From The Book of Sudanese Cows (2011), made with South Sudanese preschoolers in Fitzroy, to A Quack in Time (2025), a time-travelling adventure by students in Frankston North, the organisation has built cultural bridges, celebrated language diversity and reshaped how children’s art and expression is valued. “In 20 years, we’ve shown that children’s creative voices deserve to be heard.”
Another 20 years on the horizon
Anna explains that philanthropy has been central to the charity’s success. Support from the Felton Bequest, managed by Equity Trustees, has helped fund Kids’ Own Publishing’s community projects and sustain this deeply collaborative model. “Philanthropy allows us to bring young arts workers into the organisation, strengthen our base and ensure the future of children’s arts.”
Looking ahead, Kids’ Own Publishing plans to launch Future Press: a nationwide touring residency spotlighting bookmaking by children in every major capital city. It also plans to expand professional development opportunities for educators and community arts workers and conduct research into collaborative multilingual children’s book creation.
“We want to transform the unique knowledge we have gathered over 20 years into an even greater community-wide impact.”
Anna says future philanthropic funding will be essential to the charity’s next chapter. “As we celebrate 20 years of children’s publishing, we’re looking to the future, to build on that legacy with new partners, new ideas and new generations of young creators.
“Philanthropy will be the key to keeping this legacy alive so the next generation of children, families and artists can keep creating books that build bridges across communities.”
“When children see their ideas made into a book, it tells them that their words matter.”