The Adventures of Bazza Koala are tools to help raise resilient, growth-minded kids who bounce back when life gets tough.
Kid’s who have the courage to fail, who are rich in real-world experiences, nourished by imagination, and driven by the spirit of adventure and curiosity.
Bazza Koala’s Story
Bazza Koala is the brainchild of creative Joshua Appleby.
A dad, educator, musician, and eternal grom who couldn’t shake the feeling that kids’ books were missing something.
With a lifelong love of picture books and years of teaching experience, Josh noticed a gap in kid’s lit. Where were the stories that combined adventure, real-life lessons, and that uniquely Aussie spirit of getting back up after you’ve face-planted?
Enter Bazza: a loveable, adventure-seeking koala who’s travels far and wide to find the perfect placve to RIDE.
Whether he’s surfing, bike riding, snowboarding, skateboarding, or getting ridiculously muddy, Bazza lives life full-throttle. And just like many young adventurers, he tends to get a little carried away and learns life’s lessons the hard way.
Sound familiar? You might know someone just like Bazza.
This loveable, little fur ball was created by Joshua Appleby.
Josh is a surfer, dad of two boys, and a former instrumental music teacher with over 15 years’ experience in Queensland Colleges. He’s taught countless kids, from nervous beginners to confident performers, how to focus, express themselves, and keep going when things get tough.
His unique combination of creative flair and educational structure is what makes Bazza’s stories resonate.
Joshua understands that rhythm, repetition, and surprise are what keeps kids engaged, while meaning, growth and quality time are what parents value.
He wrote The Adventures of Bazza Koala kid’s picture book series after witnessing how emotional tools like breathwork and mindset made a huge difference in his students’ ability to perform under pressure, not to mention his own journey.
Now, through storytelling, he brings those lessons to your living room or wherever your bedtime stories take place.
The Books That Get Kids (And Parents)
At Apple Bee Books, we’re all about capturing young readers’ attention while sneaking in resilience, emotional tools, and that Aussie battler spirit.
Our books are for the adventurous child, from babies experiencing their first story to confident little readers tackling books on their own.
We also love Australia’s unique way of life, landscape, and creatures. Our stories take young readers on adventures through the Aussie bush and to endless beaches, celebrating the laid-back lifestyle that makes this country so special.
Here’s what we’re really about: encouraging active lifestyles for kids and instilling a love for the great outdoors. We want kids to get out there, explore their surroundings, and develop a deeper appreciation for nature, fostering a generation of young readers who are curious and connected to the world around them.
Who illustrates The Adventures of Bazza Koala?
After searching far and wide, Josh found the perfect illustrator to bring Bazza to life. He struck gold when he found Diana Mendoza, an absolute ripper artist from Caracas, Venezuela.
Being from Caracas, Dia’s portfolio wasn’t full of Australian native animals or landscapes, however, Josh identified a creative flair that aligned with his vision of what Bazza was to be.
Dia’s illustrations are chockers with life and do an awesome job of visually telling Josh’s stories. If you look closely, you might even spot some cheeky paw prints, lightning bolts, and hidden gems tying the story, and the whole series, together.
