AN ILLUSTRATED CONCEPT PREVIEW

The little star that knew the way home.

One tram ride. One glowing clue. A city full of familiar corners. Here is a peek at the sort of Melbourne adventure we're dreaming up for families.

Fictional characters and concept artwork · Not a finished or orderable book

Watercolour concept illustration of a child, parent and beagle on a tram looking toward Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River — A tram window frames a familiar Melbourne evening.

The tram sang its little bell as the sun slipped behind the city. Across the river, the old station glowed gold. Mum squeezed my hand. Biscuit, who was meant to be sitting very still, put his nose to the window.

That was when I saw it: a tiny paper star, caught against the glass. It gave one brave shimmer, then lifted into the air.

“Where do you think it's going?” I whispered.

Biscuit gave a hopeful thump of his tail. When we hopped off the tram, the star was waiting for us at the corner.

Watercolour concept illustration of a parent, child and beagle following a small glowing star through a Melbourne laneway — The star leads the family into a warm, colourful laneway.

We followed it past café windows and painted walls, over the bumpy blue stones and around one last bend. The little star landed on a gate we knew by heart. Home.

“It knew the way all along,” Mum said. Biscuit wagged as if he had known too.

And that night, tucked into bed, I knew something else: even the biggest city can feel small when your favourite people are beside you.

The little star that knew the way home.

Come along for the next chapter.