Meet the Creators Behind Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller!

What happens when two dads can't find the football stories they want to read to their kids? They write one themselves and somehow end up at the heart of one of Australia's most celebrated literacy events!

Adrian Lloyd, Adam Jackson, and illustrator Jake A. Minton are the team behind Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller, a joyful, animal-packed football adventure that began as a passion project and grew into something far bigger than any of them imagined.

In this short film, the creators share the story behind the book, from the kitchen-table idea to its selection as ALIA's 2026 National Simultaneous Storytime book. For a debut title, it's a remarkable achievement, and one that Adrian describes simply as "a very humbling experience."

The series, now on its third instalment, draws its characters from the authors' own families. Luna is Adam's niece, and pairing her name with a kangaroo, set against the backdrop of Australian football and the beloved Matildas, gave the story an irresistible identity from the very start.

And if that wasn't enough, StoryBox Hub secured Matildas legend Elise Kellond-Knight (over 100 caps for Australia) to read the book to children across the country. As Adam puts it: "It doesn't get any better than that."

Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller is published through Little Book Press, the publishing arm of Raising Literacy Australia, making it a story that champions both the joy of football and the power of reading.

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