Kaz Cooke

"Recognize your limitations. Then ignore them."

Kaz Cooke is an Australian author, cartoonist and radio broadcaster.

Her background is in news and feature journalism in Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin. Her career began a month after she left school, in 1981, at The Age newspaper and since then she’s written for heaps of other major daily newspapers (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and the Canberra Times) and magazines (including Who Weekly and the Women’s Weekly).

Since becoming a Mum in 1998 she has mainly worked from home writing books in her pyjamas; and still doesn’t know why there were books in her pyjamas (boom, boom). There have been some scuttling forays into radio shows with varying degrees of success (from “this is fun!” to “I’d rather eat my own shins with a fork”). Kaz illustrates her own work with cartoons, since 1983 often featuring Hermoine the Modern Girl.

She continues to write books with her trademark mix of meticulous research and trustworthy information untainted by commercial interests, and blended with her friendly tone, honesty, sharp wit, and pyjamas. Kaz lives in Melbourne with her family and enjoys toast.

What genres and audiences does Kaz Cooke write for?

She writes broadly for women, parents and girls, covering practical non-fiction topics such as pregnancy, parenting, teen and women’s health, plus humorous and historical takes on advice to women. Her work also includes books aimed at younger readers.

What themes and tone can I expect in her books?

Her books combine meticulous research and trustworthy information with a friendly, honest voice and sharp wit. Recurring themes include practical health and life advice for girls and women, parenting, and social history presented with humor.

Are Kaz Cooke's books illustrated?

Yes. Kaz Cooke is a cartoonist and often illustrates her own work, frequently featuring the character Hermoine the Modern Girl.

Where should I start if I want to read Kaz Cooke?

Pick a book by topic: for menopause read It’s The Menopause; for pregnancy read Up the Duff; for parents try Babies & Toddlers; for teenage readers try Girl Stuff 13+ or the 8–12 Girl Stuff volume; for social-history and humor try You’re Doing it Wrong.

Is there a recommended reading order for her books or series?

There is no strict narrative order. Choose by subject and target age. For the Girl Stuff titles, select the edition that matches the reader’s age (8–12 or 13+).