Kiri Lightfoot lives in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and is the author of picture books and novels for middle grade and young adults.

 

Her love of storytelling deepened while working with Massive Theatre Company, where actors often developed performances based on their own stories. Her first picture book, Every Second Friday (Hodder 2007,) tells the story of two children navigating life with separated parents and two homes—a story inspired by her family. This book was a finalist in the Children's Book Awards 2008. Her second book, Ming's Iceberg, was published in 2021 with Scholastic NZ. Kiri loves use this book to talk about Antarctica and the importance of this special place, crucial in discussions around climate change.

Her debut YA novel, Bear, explores the challenges of single-parent and blended families, as well as struggles with mental health and anxiety. Kiri was inspired to write this story after years of volunteering as a Youthline counsellor in her early twenties. Bear, published by Allen and Unwin NZ, won the Storylines New Zealand Tessa Duder YA Award for 2024 and was a finalist in the NZ Children's Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Her new picture book Te Ngahere i te Pō, The Forest at Night, is due to be released with Allen and Unwin NZ in July 2025. This is a beautiful book exploring the nocturnal creatures of Aotearoa New Zealand's forests.

 

Website: kirilightfoot.com