Always Never Always

A poetic and quirky one-of-a kind classic-in-the-making, that encourages readers to explore their world, from two award winning creators.

Always follow secret tracks –
the paths that wind and wend through cracks.
Never worry where they go.
When you get there, then you’ll know.

Meg McKinlay is a multi-award-winning author renowned for her effortless entwining of poetry and imagination. This new title is a lyrical, whimsical handbook for anyone needing a little quirky guidance for going boldly out into the world. Brought to life by Leila Rudge’s endearing and adventurous illustrations, this book has charm, wit and wisdom and is a gift to treasure.

Full of wisdom, wonder and the joys of being young, Meg and Leila’s recipe for a rich and rewarding childhood is perfect for sharing together. Bursting with valuable life lessons and mantras that resonate, Always Never Always is a wonderful day spent with a girl and her toy duck as they adventure into and explore the world. Alternating always and never lyrical rhyming couplets accompanied by beautiful illustrations will inspire children to follow in these adventurous footsteps as they are encouraged and empowered to embrace childhood and make their own way in the world. Whimsical, charming and utterly delightful! A Word About Books
[A] delightfully playful picture book Magpies Magazine
Home grown advice on making your way in the world is given to readers in this funny, light hearted rhyming text by award winning Meg McKinlay, supported by glorious illustrations by Leila Rudge. ReadPlus
The illustrations are full of bright and gentle colours, and quirky little touches like the wind-up birds that turn up on every page. There is a softness to this book that should appeal to young readers from 4 to 6 looking for a bit of comfort and gentle encouragement going out into the world. Reading Time
While the words offer advice and guidance that encourage the young child to be open to exploring their world, using their imagination and seeing and appreciating its wonders, particularly those right in front of them, the pictures take a young girl on an adventure with her wind-up duck following what ever opens up before them. -- Sue Warren The Bottom Shelf

Meg McKinlay is the author of over twenty books ranging from picture books and young adult fiction through to poetry for adults. Raised in central Victoria, in a TV- and car-free household, Meg was a bookish kid, in love with words and excited by dictionaries. On the long and winding path to becoming a children’s writer, she has worked a variety of jobs including swim instructor, tour guide, translator and teacher. Meg is now a full-time writer and lives near the ocean in Fremantle, Western Australia, where she is always busy cooking up more books.

After completing an Illustration Degree at Bath Spa University in England, Leila Rudge hopped on a plane to Australia in search of the sunshine. In 2009, she illustrated her first children’s book Duck for a Day. Since then, she has written and illustrated over 15 books. Both Gary and Winston and the Indoor Cat have been shortlisted in the Early Childhood categories of the CBCA awards. Her work is a mixture of pencil – so many coloured pencils – and watercolour paint all hand rendered onto big sheets of watercolour paper. She has two tiny people who both love books almost as much as she does!

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