Step into the enchanting gardens of Como House & Garden for a family-friendly storytelling adventure inspired by Audrey Skips, the new picture book from acclaimed Australian author Andrea Rowe and illustrator Lisa Coutts.
Perfect for children from toddlers to tweens, this interactive 90-minute outdoor storytelling walk invites families to follow Andrea, dressed as the beloved Melbourne icon Audrey, as she brings the story to life among the beautiful heritage gardens of Como. Along the way, children will discover key locations from the book, meet the charming Skipping Girl puppet, and become part of the story using hands-on props including toy trams, street lamps, newspapers, bakers’ buns and tradesmen’s tools.
After the walk, young participants can celebrate Audrey’s 90th birthday with a creative craft activity and enjoy plenty of skipping rope fun. Families will also have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Audrey Skips from the Como Shop and have it personally signed by Andrea Rowe and Lisa Coutts.
What to expect
Participants will follow the author on a walk through Como Gardens, stopping at key spots where author Andrea Rowe, dressed as Audrey, and illustrator Lisa Coutts, share pages from their new picture book ‘Audrey Skips’ accompanied by their Skipping Girl puppet.
Children are invited to join in using small props including toy street lamps, trams, bakers’ buns, newspapers, and tradesmen’s tools. The walk concludes with a craft activity celebrating Audrey’s 90th birthday, plus skipping rope fun!
Purchase a copy of Audrey Skips from the Como shop, Andrea and Lisa will sign it for you!
Andrea Rowe
Andrea Rowe is a multi-award winning, best-selling Australian children’s author who writes stories that children adore, and families and educators share to explore the world with curiosity and compassion. Her highly acclaimed picture books are published around the world. She loves writing stories that fill up our hearts and heads. Andrea’s debut, best-selling picture book, Jetty Jumping, won the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood and 2023 Australian Speech Pathology Book of the Year. It has become a much loved contemporary Australian classic. A passionate advocate for Australian children’s literature and connected communities, Andrea is the 2025 inaugural ambassador for Victoria’s Public Libraries, a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust fellow.
Lisa Coutts
Lisa Coutts is an illustrator based in Narrm, Melbourne. Lisa creates charming characters and placing them in quirky and whimsical worlds.
