You, Me, Community | Tony Flowers in Conversation

You, Me, Community is a heartfelt and hopeful new picture book that reminds readers, young and old, that none of us are ever truly alone. Whether we’re part of a family, a classroom, a neighbourhood, a team, or even the wider world of nature, we all belong to many communities at once.

Inspired by the simple but powerful idea that connection is everywhere, the book opens with a gentle invitation:

Do you ever feel alone? Stranded like a washed up stone? Look around and soon you’ll see you’re part of a community.

Across lyrical text and richly detailed illustrations, children explore the many shapes a community can take, from school groups and soccer teams to bustling towns and the interconnected world of trees. The book celebrates difference, kindness, shared experiences, and the people who support us, including the reader themselves.

Tony Flowers is a Hobart based, international award winning illustrator and proud “scribble o holic” who’s energetic, detail rich artwork has appeared in more than 50 books. His illustrations are filled with humour, hidden surprises, and personal touches, often including his motorcycles, cars, cats, and dogs tucked playfully into the background. Tony’s work spans early readers, picture books, and graphic novel storytelling, with titles published around the world.

Tony will be in conversation with Mark Macleod. mark is a poet and editor, a writer for children, and lives in Tasmania, where he is Quaker Advisor at the Friends' School. He has taught Children’s Literature, Australian Literature and Creative Writing at universities in Australia and around the world, most recently in Mumbai and Gangtok. In 2024, he was invited to conduct workshops on writing for peace in Uzbekistan and India, and in 2025 he was a guest at the Minangkabau Literacy Festival in Indonesia, and at the Writers' Meet for Peace in Kolkata and Guwahati, India, where he was presented with the Kathak Literary Award by the High Commissioner for Bangladesh, and the Radio Mirchi Award for literary excellence. He will be a guest speaker at the International Poetry Festival in Mexico this November.

You, Me, Community is a joyful reminder that communities come in all shapes and sizes, and that every child has a place within them. With its gentle message and visually rich world, the book is ideal for classrooms, libraries, and families looking to spark conversations about belonging, empathy, and the connections that hold us together.

Join Tony and Mark at the Afterword Cafe.