Woody Point local Karen Christie has helped people plan holidays for over three decades, from honeymoons to family getaways. Now she’s taking that love of travel into a new space, with a children’s book series shaped by the places she’s been.
Karen is the creator of Jessica’s Global Adventures, written to bring back the thrill of discovery and to counter the way screens can colour what kids expect to feel when they arrive somewhere real.
“When I travelled, there were no mobile phones,” Karen said. “No internet. My mum didn’t know where I was. You had to be resilient. You had to work things out.”
That mindset became the heartbeat of the series after a family trip overseas. Standing at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Karen’s daughter said she felt underwhelmed.
“Her expectations had been shaped by screens,” Karen said. “I wanted to create stories based on real experiences and real emotions – not something photoshopped.”
Teaching Bravery and Connection: Jessica’s Journey
In the books, Jessica (named for Karen’s daughter) explores places like the Amazon and the Galápagos. Along the way, she encounters wildlife, learns about different ways of living and steps into culture with curiosity and respect.
“It teaches bravery and stepping out of comfort zones,” Karen said. “It teaches empathy, respect for nature, and respect for people and their different ways of living.”
The stories are already prompting conversations at home. One grandmother, reading the Amazon book to her grandson, revealed she’d travelled there decades earlier. Out came the photo albums, and through conversation, a new connection formed in the lounge room.
“That connection, and the stories it brought back, might never have happened without the book,” Karen said.
With the first two titles now out, Karen hopes the series encourages kids to look up from the screen and imagine their own version of adventure.
“Don’t be afraid to create your own adventure,” she said.
Find resources for parents and teachers, and kid-friendly activities, here.
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