The Hills Kids Book Title

for children aged 8 to 12
A hilarious adventure novel that inspires connection to nature

get the book
Girl reading The Hills Kids
Characters from The Hills Kids Book Series

Read with your kids for an uplifting and giggly bonding experience they'll cherish for life!

Written and illustrated by British Academy Award-winning sound designer, dad and health educator Gareth Vanderhope. The book explores his childhood experiences in the wilds of Australia and how the environment and community shape children’s behaviour and wellbeing.

Gareth Vanderhope reading The Hills Kids in Sherbrooke Forest

The Hills Kids is a hilarious novel filled with mystery, kooky characters, and nature’s wonderments. Set in the Australian wilderness and inspired by actual events, three kids and a dog explore their foresty neighbourhood to solve a diabolical problem. The story spans four seasons, where the rhythms and personalities of nature intersect with the children’s lives and escapades. 

a sensory story that stimulates kids’ creative imagination 

Fostering connection with nature

friendship

and a love of reading

Colourful middle-grade fiction cover with a girl hanging from tree, a boy in a pond and another on a flying fox - from The Hills Kids Book Series

available as a 260-page paperback or hardback sent to your door

“The Hills Kids is such a hilarious and exciting extravaganza. I couldn’t take my eyes off it until the very last page! It's on my favourites list.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Leia, 11Favourite books: Harry Potter, Nevermoor, Ruby Redfort, The Hills Kids.
“We loved reading The Hills Kids as a family and looked forward to reading it each night. We fell in love with the characters and their adventures.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Elie, MumLover of family time, the beach and music
“The Hills Kids in three words: funny, funny and hilarious. I really loved this book because of the great characters and because it’s set before most technology was developed and is very different to my every day life.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Mila, 10 (read with Mum)Lover of books and comedy
"Finn, who is 9, says 'it's probably one of the best books I've ever read'. You put all the right ingredients in there; bikes, climbing, adventures, fishing, independence, good friendships, awesome morals and a fabulous setting."
Drawing of Planet Earth
Michelle, Mum (read together)
“It was the most amazing book I’ve ever read. I loved how funny Ollie was and I loved Broos’s accent. When is the next book coming out?”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Levi, 8 (read with family)Lover of soccer and his cat, Arnold
“The book inspires me to go on adventures and it turns on the creative part of my brain. I also find that I love drawing the things that happen.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Mia, 11Lover of dance and jumping into the river with friends
“The Hills Kids was a really funny story with great illustrations. When I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Django, 12Lover of camping, circus tricks and footy
“The Hills Kids is a joyful, uplifting, evocative book . . . It’s a pleasure to read to my 10 year old daughter every night as we giggle at the group’s antics.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Amanda, Mum & bookstagrammer @littlebigstoryreviewLover of books and laughing with her kids
"Every kid wants to go on adventures like in The Hills Kids. It's the sort of book I want to read over and over."
Drawing of Planet Earth
LilyLover of books, singing and shoes
“I loved this book. I found myself transported back to my youth where every day revealed a new adventure. The loveable gang have a bond that only true friends can share.”
Drawing of Planet Earth
Mark, Brunswick Heads Library ManagerLover of photography
"You should be so proud of that story. We seriously loved it. If only you knew how difficult it is to get my boy to even begin a fiction book, you would know that his compliment is probably worth more than any you will hear in your life!"
Drawing of Planet Earth
Mum and former 'hills kid'
Previous
Next
CLICK TO GET THE BOOK