If your school is celebrating a big milestone soon, you may be considering creating a commemorative coffee table book. It’s a wonderful way to mark the occasion. However, why not also consider accompanying it with a children’s book?

A children’s book offers a creative and unique way to mark your celebration. By making a book that appeals to current students, a special link is formed between the past – the school’s history – and the present – the school’s continuing legacy.

With a children’s book, there is also the option to feature student work, making the story-telling process a true community effort. There are many benefits to involving students in this way. It opens conversations about the school’s history and ensures the celebration means more to the students, since they are actively involved. And of course, having the opportunity to see their own work get published is something they are sure to be very proud of.

Wheelbarrow’s Birthday

In 2024, Gippsland Grammar School celebrated their centenary. We produced two books for them, a coffee table book entitled Memories, and a companion picture book called Wheelbarrow’s Birthday. Both of these titles captured the school’s spirit and formed an important part of their celebrations.

What is particularly special about Wheelbarrow’s Birthday is that it makes the school’s story accessible to all ages. Memories compiles 100 stories from past and present students. In Wheelbarrow’s Birthday, twelve of these stories are reimagined, with students from prep to year 12 having contributed accompanying illustrations. The result is a vibrant book that becomes a special part of the Gippsland Grammar legacy.

The Flying Parson

In 2025, we worked on a multifaceted project for St Andrew’s School where we put together a coffee-table book, an installation and a children’s story book to celebrate their 175th anniversary.

The coffee table book contains a detailed collection of stories, anecdotes, quotes and images highlighting the significant moments and people behind the school’s many successes. Several of these key people also featured in the accompanying timeline installation which served as a visual representation of the school’s history.

With so much content already collected and written about these people, it made sense to adapt their stories into a children’s book, The Flying Parson, which celebrates each significant figure with a short story and a student illustration.

Excuse Me, Can I Tell You Something?

Excuse Me, Can I Tell You Something? is an example of a different kind of children’s book that we can produce. Rather than being associated with a school, this is an independent book, and a more traditional short story, written by Scout Sylva-Richardson about her brother Jay and his day-to-day life with autism. It was illustrated by Therasa Herraman and Jay himself, with Hyphen stepping in to help edit, design and print the book.

At Hyphen, we are an experienced team who can support your creative project in many ways. Whether you are looking to build a story from scratch or transform a manuscript into something that’s print ready, we can help. No matter the occasion, the style of book, or the age of the audience!