Kiralee Strong is a passionate writer with a goal to bring joy and inspire imagination in children and adults. She is excited by the challenge of bringing more of her stories to life and loves to write heartfelt books that encourage conversations.
Hugs Still Feel the Same is Kiralee’s first picture book. She wrote it as an emotional response to the stories and trauma she witnessed as a volunteer during the recovery efforts for the floods in the Northern Rivers of NSW in 2022.
Kiralee lives in Evans Head, NSW, Australia with her husband and four children.
Jenni Barrand is a children’s art teacher with a passion for helping kids learn all the amazing different ways of creating art. She loves walking and exploring in nature whilst listening to her favourite music.
Hugs Still Feel the Same is Jenni’s second picture book. Her first is Some Families Change, written by Jess Galatola (EK Books, 2024).
Jenni grew up in South East London and now lives on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with a husband, two kids, one cat and three guinea pigs.
A beautifully illustrated, reassuring story about finding comfort in the familiar when life turns upside down. Perfect for children experiencing big changes, from moving house to the trauma of a natural disaster.
In Hugs Still Feel the Same, life is thrown into turmoil for a little girl and her family when their home is flooded. The water builds and builds until the whole town must be evacuated in the night. In the darkness, with only torches to light the way and their home left behind, it feels like all they have left is each other. But maybe that’s the most important thing.
This gentle and empowering story was inspired by the author’s real-life experience of the severe flooding that engulfed the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia in 2022. During 6 months as a volunteer for the flood recovery efforts, she witnessed the distress and trauma caused to many families who lost their homes. Finding the beautiful amongst the chaos was incredibly important, and there was little more comforting than a hug from a loved one.
Hugs Still Feel the Same is a story of resilience and hope in the face of life’s difficulties. It explores the impact of big changes and trauma, providing a tool for parents and carers to help children through distressing times. It is a big-hearted reminder that even when life feels scary and unknown, it’s possible to find comfort if we know where to look.
