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Kyla May Children’s Book Creator and Illustrator, Melbourne (2025)

30/04/2025

Today is the very exciting day Jet Set Pets is launched!! I’m so proud of this book. The Maddy Mara girls are the most brilliant writers I got to work with on this series. I have loved so much illustrating their wonderful story. Or I should say stories, since it’s actually 3 stories in 1 book. Endless magnificent reading for the reader. You MUST CHECK THIS BOOK OUT!! YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED. It’s such a good read. So creative.

Now that this book is finally published, I can post some illustrations from the book! Stay tuned!!!

Time to celebrate. 🙌🏼 🎉🎊

Thank you and for this exceptional opportunity. I loved being apart of this series. I’m currently illustrating Book #2 and loving every second. The series is just getting better and better. 🤩

07/04/2025

I love how Rebecca Johnson has “Juliet, Nearly a Vet” conventions for all the fans of the book series, illustrated by Kyla May. So adorable 🥰😍

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02/04/2025

Introducing “The Cat Life” by Me! Published by Scholastic US, my wonderful publishers in New York who always believe in me.

This was such a fun project to create. A 96 page book on CATS!!! 🐈‍⬛🐱🐈🐈‍⬛😹😻🙀😿😽😸😺😾😼SO MANY CATS! I was eating, sleeping, dreaming of cats when I was illustrating this book.

It is 96 pages of all kinds of cat memes, cat jokes, cat humour, cat capers, cute cats, quirky cats, cool cats, curious cats, cat quizzes, cats, cats, cats. Hours of entertainment. When you finish the book, you can start again because the this book is timeless. The perfect gift for the cat lover.

Here is the official description:
Do you think cats are paw-some? Feline like a good cat joke? (Just kitten!) Is catnapping your favorite activity? Then you’re ready to celebrate the Cat Life! This is a lockbox with a 96-page full-color book, plush sleep mask, cat-paw pen, and locket.

https://clubs.scholastic.com/the-cat-life-lockbox/9781546116073-rco-us.html

01/04/2025

A very happy Diary of a Pug fan. Thank you for sending me your photo. I love receiving photos of my readers with their books. It gives me such joy to see my books in the hands of the kids I am creating my stories for.

Currently I am having so much fun illustrating book number 14. I think it will be a fan favourite. Lots of magic. ✨

Please send me more photos pretty please!! 🙏🏼😘

28/03/2025

Here are some illustrations from “Get Well, Pug”. Book number 12 in the Diary of a Pug series.

I loved illustrating this book.

Currently I’m illustrating book number 14 and it’s going to be quite magical!!! Can you guess what it is about?

Illustrating is my favourite part of creating a book. I love illustrating as part of my job so much.

I also love receiving photos of my readers with their books, so please send me your photos. Don’t worry, I never mention your name of where you are from.

And thank you recently to all the kids that have sent me letters. I apologise that I haven’t replied yet. I’m so under the pump at the moment with deadlines. There’s not enough hours in the day!!! I will get back to you. I love so much receiving your letters 💌🥰🙏🏼

15/03/2025

Oh My Goodness Me!!!! I have been holding on to this secret for soooooooooo long now! Finally I can spill the beans!!!

COVER REVEAL! And the big SECRET REVEALED!!!

Introducing 🥁🥁🥁 THE JET SET PETS!
By Maddy Mara & Kyla May.
🛩️🌎🐩🐱🦜👧

Three stories in one book! A brand-new illustrated fiction series from the author of bestselling series Dragon Girls and illustrator of Diary of a Pug!
Violet Voom has three pets, one jet and an itch to travel.
Wherever Violet goes in her fabulous purple jet, her fabulous (but not purple) pets go too. The pets – a sleek cat, a goofy poodle and a parrot with a terrible case of beak leak – are called the Jet Set Pets. And the jet? It’s called the Pet Jet. Of course.
From Hawaii to the Swiss Alps – via a movie set – Violet and the Jet Set Pets jet all around the world. The Jet Set Pets are good at many things, but the thing they are best at is FINDING stuff.
Strap in for this ridiculously fun new series by bestselling author Maddy Mara and beloved illustrator Kyla May.
Three stories in one book!

About the Authors:
Maddy Mara is the pen name of Australian creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary and Meredith have been collaborating on books for children for nearly two decades.
Hilary is an author and former publishing director, who has created several series that have sold into the millions.
Meredith is the author of countless books for kids and young adults, and also teaches English as a foreign language to children.
The Dragon Girls is their first time co-writing under the name Maddy Mara, the melding of their respective daughters’ names.

🛩️🛩️🛩️
I have loved illustrating this book so much, and creating this series for Harper Collins and bringing to life the brilliant words of the oh so talented duo of Maddy Mara. They are so talented. Just wait for Book #2! It is sooooo incredible. I predict this series will be much loved. I’m so proud to be a part of JET SET PETS.

07/03/2025

I do get a feeling of happiness when I look at Amazon US and Amazon Canada the last few weeks. Not much has changed for Diary of a Pug books. They rank pretty high in the Hot New Releases tally. Almost always being No.1 in the Dog Books category. And very high in the Animal Books tally as well. I love that kids have such a love for Diary of a Pug. The little Pug that could. 🥰🐾

06/03/2025

Happy Book Birthday to Diary of a Pug’s Book #12, Get Well, Pug!!!

Bub is so excited to perform in Bella’s pet choir with Duchess and Luna. But then Bub hurts his leg and he has to wear a BIG BAD CONE! He’s crushed that the cone doesn’t match his costume. Can Bub’s friends convince him that the show must go on?

I must admit, this is my favourite cover out of all Diary of a Pug covers. It makes me laugh! LOL. Poor Bub.

I’ve always been a comedy creator. In all the genres I have been a creative…from advertising where I began, then to greeting cards, then children books, then children’s animation and now back to children’s books, I have always loved comedy in these genres. And when I have won awards in my career, it has always been for my funniest work. So I loved creating this cover artwork!

I hope lots of kids see this cover in book shops or online and feel they just have to choose it because it is so compelling. They want to know what has happened to poor Bub the Pug.

Please send me photos of you or your reader with their Get Well, Pug books. I’d love to see my book in the hands on my readers. It gives me so much joy! 🥰

29/12/2024

My girls Christmas present to me was taking me to the NGV to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibition. Wow, it was incredible. Mind blowing.

When I designed the last animation I worked on, Kuu Kuu Harajuku, Yayoi Kusama inspired lots of the design. I have appreciated her vision for many years, but to actually experience her infinity installations was amazing. She is a genius. And at 95 years of age, still creating. The inspiration of Louis Vuitton currently.

All Victorian’s, go see this exhibition!

Thank you Kiara, Jaida and Mikka 💗💗💗

29/12/2024

Just too cute!! ⚽️🥅💛💚🇦🇺🦘🐨

My “I Can Be A Matilda” board book I illustrated for the World Cup. I believe when the Matilda’s played on Australian TV, it was the most watched TV programme in history. I know I was on the edge of my seat.

I loved illustrating this book. I also illustrated “I Can Be A Socceroo”.

Definitely buy a copy for your young ones if they like kicking a ball around. Those Matilda players are world famous now, playing in all the international Leagues. I’m a very proud Australian when I think about our “Matilda’s”, our female Soccer/Football team. They are pure legends. 👑🙌🏼👏🏻💪

These books I illustrated tell little ones that they could be an Australian Soccer Champion too if they want to. Every child should have big dreams.

I also promote that ethos. Dreams are what drive us. And they need to start when we are young. I’m a strong believer in aspiration. And mentors. I am where I am today because of the mentors the universe has put in front of me, to which I’m so grateful. And the aspirations I have so strongly within me to make me work crazy hours always to be the best version of me in my career. Create my best work so I can keep my dream job.

I love thinking of new book concepts, and then signing more book contracts, to create more stories. There’s not enough hours in the day for all the stories I have in my imagination. I just love telling and illustrating stories to children. And if I can inspire them to “Be A Matilda”, or just use their imagination, my job is done! Children need to read. Don’t let life get too busy and stop reading with kids.

23/12/2024

I thought I’d share this story with you.

Sadly my inspiration Bear, the Pug was run over by a car in my driveway 5 years ago tragically. The car didn’t see him. But through a “Diary of a Pug”, Bear lives on.

It was so hard to think of getting another dog after Bear. I had had Jack Russell’s previously and Beagles.

Where I live in Victoria, Australia, we had the harshest Lockdowns in the world during COVID. We could only walk with one other person 5 kilometres wearing a mask from your house. Otherwise the police could fine you. And you could only leave your house for 2 hours per day.

During the first lockdown, I walked each day with my best friend Andy, my saviour. She used to have a Golden Retriever. She wanted to get another one. She told me how wonderful they were as a breed. I was convinced. I wanted one too. We wanted one each, to grow up together. But once we started looking for puppies we realised everyone in the pandemic wanted puppies also. It was impossible. But one breeder called Andy back. Two people had cancelled their puppies and she loved the idea of her puppies growing up together despite her waiting list of other people. She let us have her puppies! So we got Harlow and Honey in 2020!!

Then Andy, who had bred puppies years earlier, decided to breed with Honey when she was old enough. Honey was the best mum. Andy and I both kept a puppy. Frankie and Roxy.

Now we have two generations of Golden Retrievers. We call them the “Sister Dogs”. They are inseparable. They love each other so much. As soon as we say “sisters”, they get so excited. They know they are going to see each other.

Andy taught them all to swim together. They have the most incredible bond.

They aren’t as cute to draw as a pug. And they aren’t as comical as my Bear was, who inspired “Diary of a Pug”. But my Golden Retrievers are so loving, and intuitive, and they never leave your side.

Thank you Andy for changing my life and introducing me to the world of Golden Retrievers. We have shared so many days and nights of love and laughter with our sister dogs. I can’t imagine my life without Harlow and Frankie now. They were just meant to be because of you Bestie. 🩷🦮🦮🦮🦮

29/10/2024

How brilliant !!! You have created amazing Diary of a Pug pumpkins for Halloween of Bub and Bella. You are very talented! Congratulations. 🎃👻

I hope you get lots of candy!!! 🍭🍫🍬

Happy Halloween everyone!

Kyla May Children’s Book Creator and Illustrator

30/04/2025

07/04/2025

02/04/2025

01/04/2025

28/03/2025

15/03/2025

07/03/2025

06/03/2025

29/12/2024

29/12/2024

23/12/2024

29/10/2024

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