Meet the Creators

  • Emily Serow is a vibrant and energetic primary school teacher from Brisbane, known for her big smile, boundless enthusiasm, and ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. An extrovert through and through, Emily has been teaching since 2014 and has a natural passion for storytelling and inspiring young minds.

    Kirra and Coco is her debut picture book, inspired by the imaginative stories her mum used to write for her and her brother when they were growing up. Now a proud mum to two beautiful (and delightfully cheeky) girls, Emily was inspired to create a story about courage, sisterhood, and adventure—where young readers can join in and take on playful challenges along the way

  • Esther Cheok is a Melbourne-based graphic designer who grew up in Malaysia, where her love for picture books and storytelling first began. As a child, she was captivated by beautifully illustrated books and dreamed of creating one herself one day. That dream took shape when she worked with a children’s publishing house in Australia—a milestone she calls her dream job. Now, Esther is thrilled to illustrate her very own book. She thrives in creative spaces and, when not drawing, enjoys a game of badminton and planning her next trip.

Meet the Characters

  • Kirra

    Kirra the koala is curious and bright. She enjoys exploring new things but sometimes her vivid imagination gets the better of her. She is observant, and picks up on small details. Kirra looks up to her big sister, Coco, and loves adventuring with her.

  • Coco

    Coco the koala is lively and wild. She is Kirra’s cheeky big sister who tumbles through life at full-speed! She is spontaneous, always acting in the moment… sometimes unpredictably. Coco is always in a good mood, and spreads joy to everyone around her.

  • Mum

    Kirra and Coco’s mum is kind and attentive. She knows that Coco is a bundle of energy, and recognises when Kirra is feeling a bit down. She loves watching her two girls go on adventures together.

The journey to publishing ‘Kirra and Coco’

The idea for ‘Kirra and Coco’ started a full decade before it was first published. Emily started with a few simple ideas that changed and grew over time. She wanted the book to be engaging and enjoyable for children and adults alike. It’s a rhyming story about two koalas, and is set in the Australian bush.

The obstacles in the story are things that kids can interact with while reading! * Can you make a silly face? * * Can you balance on one leg? *

A fun fact: The original characters were a brother and sister duo! After Emily had two daughters, she changed them to be a pair of sisters instead.

Contact us

Interested in booking Emily in for an author visit? Fill out the form and we’ll get back to you shortly.