WELCOME

My name is Chris, I am an Children’s Author and illustrator based in Bendigo, Australia. I've worked on many cool projects over the years, some of which you'll see right here. I have released several books with Scholastic Australia (2 of which I have authored) and recently worked as Design Supervisor and Character Designer on the TV adaptation of "The Day My Butt Went Psycho" by Andy Griffiths.

In 2015 I was approached by Random House NY to contribute to a set of Little Golden Books based on the Star Wars franchise. My 5th Golden Book with them "STAR WARS: THE BIG GOLDEN BOOK OF ALIENS, CREATURES AND BEASTS" is OUT NOW!

I’ve also just completed the Pixel Raiders series written by TV personalities and gaming fanatics Steven “BAJO” O’Donnell and Stephanie “HEX” Bendixson. The fifth and Final book Lava Island is out now.

Currently I am illustrating a brand new series entitled NOAH and BLUE’S ZOONIVERSE. Written by Nova Weetman and published through Hardie Grant Egmont. Books 1 & 2 “The Speedy Spidersaurus” and “The Outstanding Octokey” are out now! Books 3 and 4 will be out later in the year.

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check out some quick links below

FOLIO

If you want to check out things I've done just click here, or follow the links at the top of the page

latest news

Featured
ZOONIVERSE! New series March 2019

TALKS & VISITS

If you want to have me at your School, Library or Event. You can learn more here.

find me on instagram and twitter @crikeyboy

1000 doors exhibit. Creepy and disorientating. Much better at night too. #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism @1000doors
1000 doors exhibit. Creepy and disorientating. Much better at night too. #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism @1000doors
Bendigo’s brand new dragon Dai Gum Loong was introduced to the city today. As we also said farewell to Sun Loong as he goes into retirement. Easter is always a treat here. #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism
Bendigo’s brand new dragon Dai Gum Loong was introduced to the city today. As we also said farewell to Sun Loong as he goes into retirement. Easter is always a treat here. #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism
Bendigo torch light parade 🔥 #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism
Bendigo torch light parade 🔥 #bendigoeasterfestival #bendigoeasterparade #bendigotourism
It’s school holiday time and if you’re looking for something to keep your young ones entertained, you can now download a free Zooniverse activity pack! ✏️ There are colouring pages, puzzles, games and even a few writing activities to help keep them entertained. ✏️ You can find a downloadable PDF at the following link www.chriskennett.com/zooniverse (link also in bio) Just scroll down until you find this image. ✏️ Please feel free to share this around with your school or local library. Or if you’re a teacher please feel free to print out for your class. ✏️ #bookstagram #instabook #NovaWeetman #ChrisKennett #NoahandBluesZooniverse #TheOutstandingOctokey #TheSpeedySpidersaurus #HardieGrant #HardieGrantEgmont #book #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitillustration
It’s school holiday time and if you’re looking for something to keep your young ones entertained, you can now download a free Zooniverse activity pack! ✏️ There are colouring pages, puzzles, games and even a few writing activities to help keep them entertained. ✏️ You can find a downloadable PDF at the following link www.chriskennett.com/zooniverse (link also in bio) Just scroll down until you find this image. ✏️ Please feel free to share this around with your school or local library. Or if you’re a teacher please feel free to print out for your class. ✏️ #bookstagram #instabook #NovaWeetman #ChrisKennett #NoahandBluesZooniverse #TheOutstandingOctokey #TheSpeedySpidersaurus #HardieGrant #HardieGrantEgmont #book #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitillustration
Unlimited POWAHHH!! Episode IX teaser gave me tingles. How about you? #starwars #starwarsepisode9 #starwarsepisodeix #starwarsriseofskywalker #starwarscelebration #starwarslittlegoldenbooks #iamasith #littlegoldenbooks
Unlimited POWAHHH!! Episode IX teaser gave me tingles. How about you? #starwars #starwarsepisode9 #starwarsepisodeix #starwarsriseofskywalker #starwarscelebration #starwarslittlegoldenbooks #iamasith #littlegoldenbooks
Great to hear that @raspratt will be joining us here in Bendigo for @textmarksthespot which is part of our very own @bgowritersfest. . Give them a follow for more announcements. ・・・ Our first author reveal! R.A Spratt will join us in Bendigo on August 9 at schools day. We’re so excited to welcome this wonderful writer and all her great characters! #tmts #bendigowritersfestival #bendigo #latrobeuni #latrobebendigo #cbca #alea #raspratt #fridaybarnesgirldetective #peskikids
Great to hear that @raspratt will be joining us here in Bendigo for @textmarksthespot which is part of our very own @bgowritersfest. . Give them a follow for more announcements. ・・・ Our first author reveal! R.A Spratt will join us in Bendigo on August 9 at schools day. We’re so excited to welcome this wonderful writer and all her great characters! #tmts #bendigowritersfestival #bendigo #latrobeuni #latrobebendigo #cbca #alea #raspratt #fridaybarnesgirldetective #peskikids
Decided to give my website a fresh lick of paint today. Nothing too fancy, just simplified some things and added some nicer fonts. Still a WIP but it’s a start. 🤓 You can find it at chriskennett.com • Easy Peasy!
Decided to give my website a fresh lick of paint today. Nothing too fancy, just simplified some things and added some nicer fonts. Still a WIP but it’s a start. 🤓 You can find it at chriskennett.com • Easy Peasy!
Thanks to @theyoungersun for making “The Outstanding Octokey” their chapter book of the month for April 😃 ・・・ Harriet loved NOAH AND BLUE'S ZOONIVERSE: THE OUTSTANDING OCTOKEY by @novaweetman with illustrations by @crikeyboy! It’s our Chapter Book of the month for April! 🐙 “... a delightful caper for early readers; it’s a hilarious, wacky, magical adventure that’s still very much grounded in reality” 🐒 Read the rest of Harriet’s review on our blog (link in bio) or here: http://sunbookshop.com/the-younger-sun-reviews-the-outstanding-octokey/ ✏️ #theyoungersun #sunbookshop #theyougersunreviewers #bookstagram #instabook #yarraville #innerwestmelbourne #NovaWeetman #ChrisKennett #NoahandBluesZooniverse #TheOutstandingOctokey #HardieGrant #HardieGrantEgmont #book
Thanks to @theyoungersun for making “The Outstanding Octokey” their chapter book of the month for April 😃 ・・・ Harriet loved NOAH AND BLUE'S ZOONIVERSE: THE OUTSTANDING OCTOKEY by @novaweetman with illustrations by @crikeyboy! It’s our Chapter Book of the month for April! 🐙 “... a delightful caper for early readers; it’s a hilarious, wacky, magical adventure that’s still very much grounded in reality” 🐒 Read the rest of Harriet’s review on our blog (link in bio) or here: http://sunbookshop.com/the-younger-sun-reviews-the-outstanding-octokey/ ✏️ #theyoungersun #sunbookshop #theyougersunreviewers #bookstagram #instabook #yarraville #innerwestmelbourne #NovaWeetman #ChrisKennett #NoahandBluesZooniverse #TheOutstandingOctokey #HardieGrant #HardieGrantEgmont #book
I found this #gpk fan piece digging around in my hard drive today. Occasionally I do little “Wish Projects” like these, where I imagine working on my dream projects. • If you’re not familiar with Garbage Pail Kids they are a series of gross out collectable cards that have been going since the mid 80s. • They were known as The Garbage Gang in Australia and later also in the UK, which is where I first started collecting them. . . . . #topps #garbagepailkids #thegarbagepailkids #30yearsofgarbage #gpk #garbagegang #thegarbagegang #fanart #yoda #starwars
I found this #gpk fan piece digging around in my hard drive today. Occasionally I do little “Wish Projects” like these, where I imagine working on my dream projects. • If you’re not familiar with Garbage Pail Kids they are a series of gross out collectable cards that have been going since the mid 80s. • They were known as The Garbage Gang in Australia and later also in the UK, which is where I first started collecting them. . . . . #topps #garbagepailkids #thegarbagepailkids #30yearsofgarbage #gpk #garbagegang #thegarbagegang #fanart #yoda #starwars
Ooh lookie! It’s the #pixelraiders page from the most recent @scholastic_au catalogue! This 5 part series about two gamers trapped in virtual reality was an absolute blast to illustrate. It contains some of my most favourite illustrations too! Available where books are sold 🤓 . . . . #kidlitart #kidlit #scholastic #scholasticaustralia #scholasticbookfair #scholasticbooks #illustration #virtualreality #bookstagram #books #bookseries #childrensbookseries #illustration #illustrationartists #illustratorsoninstagram
Ooh lookie! It’s the #pixelraiders page from the most recent @scholastic_au catalogue! This 5 part series about two gamers trapped in virtual reality was an absolute blast to illustrate. It contains some of my most favourite illustrations too! Available where books are sold 🤓 . . . . #kidlitart #kidlit #scholastic #scholasticaustralia #scholasticbookfair #scholasticbooks #illustration #virtualreality #bookstagram #books #bookseries #childrensbookseries #illustration #illustrationartists #illustratorsoninstagram
I found one more! I’m pretty sure this is the last one I did during that time. • I must have been feeling pretty brave that day, because this is a Metro train and the chances of being caught, especially by people behind you are very high indeed! Guerrilla head snapping! • #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
I found one more! I’m pretty sure this is the last one I did during that time. • I must have been feeling pretty brave that day, because this is a Metro train and the chances of being caught, especially by people behind you are very high indeed! Guerrilla head snapping! • #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
I love following Kids Write Jokes over on Twitter because they break all the rules of joke telling. The often surreal, anti humour really tickles my funny bone for some reason. . So I thought I’d do a quick comic strip for today’s “joke” 😐 #kidswritejokes
I love following Kids Write Jokes over on Twitter because they break all the rules of joke telling. The often surreal, anti humour really tickles my funny bone for some reason. . So I thought I’d do a quick comic strip for today’s “joke” 😐 #kidswritejokes
OK last one! • Shortly after snapping this, I was caught taking photos by the conductor. While he didn’t order me to stop, he did look at me in that “I’ve got my eye on you” sort of way, which made me feel sufficiently creepy. So I stopped. • I don’t train travel so much these days, but you never know when inspiration might strike again. • Thanks for all the likes and comments. Head games are now over 🤓 • #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
OK last one! • Shortly after snapping this, I was caught taking photos by the conductor. While he didn’t order me to stop, he did look at me in that “I’ve got my eye on you” sort of way, which made me feel sufficiently creepy. So I stopped. • I don’t train travel so much these days, but you never know when inspiration might strike again. • Thanks for all the likes and comments. Head games are now over 🤓 • #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Too loud? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Too loud? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Hangry? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Hangry? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Stop the train. Right meow! #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Stop the train. Right meow! #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
YARRGH! What Ye be starin’ at? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
YARRGH! What Ye be starin’ at? #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
This fiendish beastie was inspired by one of the most brilliant squarest heads I’ve ever seen. ... #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
This fiendish beastie was inspired by one of the most brilliant squarest heads I’ve ever seen. ... #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Hey there little fella! Here’s another friend I made on the train back in my commuting days. . #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
Hey there little fella! Here’s another friend I made on the train back in my commuting days. . #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
5 years ago I was travelling regularly to Melbourne to work of the animated show “The Day My Butt Went Psycho”. This was how I entertained myself on those long journeys! . I just want to say thanks to all those anonymous commuters who had no idea they were providing so much inspiration. #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome
5 years ago I was travelling regularly to Melbourne to work of the animated show “The Day My Butt Went Psycho”. This was how I entertained myself on those long journeys! . I just want to say thanks to all those anonymous commuters who had no idea they were providing so much inspiration. #headfriends_ck #boredonthetrainhome