Mummy Parrot cradles Baby Kea in a sunlit beech forest.

A picture book for little hearts

Baby KeaGoes to Foster Care

A warm, honest story that helps young children understand what foster care is, and know that they are loved through every step.

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Baby Kea hatches from an egg in a cosy nest inside a hollow log.
It all begins one bright morning in the beech forest…

The story

A little parrot, a big change,
and a whole lot of love

High in the beech forest below the mountain, Baby Kea hatches into a world full of sunshine and song. But when Mummy Parrot becomes unwell and cannot care for her little one, the kind social worker parrots find Baby Kea a safe foster nest between the rocks.

There are yummy fat worms, warm wings to cuddle under, and visits with Mummy Parrot. There are tears at goodbye time too, because big feelings are part of the story. And every night, if Baby Kea listens very carefully, there is a voice on the wind calling…

“Keeeeeeeaaaaa, I love you!”

Peek inside

Pages from the book

Painted in warm storybook watercolours, from golden forest mornings to starry nights.

Sample spread: Baby Kea hatches in the nest.
Sample spread: the social worker parrots meet Baby Kea.
Sample spread: the foster parrot feeds Baby Kea.
Sample spread: visiting Mummy Parrot with the auntie parrot.

Who it helps

Written for the littlest members of the foster care journey

Children entering care

Baby Kea's story mirrors a child's own experience gently: a safe new nest, kind carers, missing Mummy, and the reassurance that being loved never stops.

Foster carers and whānau

A ready-made way to open tender conversations at bedtime, with simple words for hard questions and space for tears and cuddles along the way.

Social workers and educators

A practical tool for preparing children for placement, explaining family visits, and normalising the mixed feelings that come with change.

About the author

Susan Francis

Susan Francis is a mum, a grandmother, and a short-term emergency foster carer. Hers is often the first safe home a child arrives at after coming into care, and she looks after them, sometimes for a night, sometimes for months, until a permanent home is found. She knows about starting over in an unfamiliar place herself: she moved her family across continents before settling in New Zealand, her home for the past 25 years.

She wrote Baby Kea Goes to Foster Care for the children who have passed through her care on the way to their forever homes. It is her love letter to each of them: a story that says you are safe, you are wanted, and love travels with you.

Susan as a kea parrot grandmother with glasses and a pink dress, standing on a sunlit forest path.

Common questions

Questions parents, carers and social workers ask

What is Baby Kea Goes to Foster Care about?

Baby Kea hatches in the beech forest, but when Mummy Parrot becomes unwell and cannot care for her little one, the social worker parrots find Baby Kea a safe foster nest. The story follows life in the foster nest, visits with Mummy Parrot, the big feelings that come with change, and the nightly reassurance that being loved never stops.

What age is the book written for?

It is a picture book written for young children, roughly ages two to six, in simple language made for reading aloud. Older children in care often connect with it too, because the story gives them safe words for their own experience.

How can the book help me explain foster care to a child?

Talking about a storybook character is much easier for a small child than talking about themselves. Baby Kea's story gently covers why a child might come into care, what a foster home is, family visits, and the mixed feelings along the way, giving carers, parents, social workers and teachers a natural opening for those conversations.

What formats is the book available in?

Baby Kea Goes to Foster Care is available on Amazon as a full-colour square paperback (8.5 by 8.5 inches, 24 pages) and as a Kindle ebook. The paperback is printed on demand, so it can be delivered almost anywhere in the world.

Is the author a foster carer herself?

Yes. Susan Francis is a short-term emergency foster carer in New Zealand. Hers is often the first safe home a child arrives at after coming into care, and she wrote the book for the children who have passed through her care.

Can agencies, schools or carer groups order copies in bulk?

Yes, bulk orders for foster care agencies, schools and carer support groups are very welcome. Use the contact form to get in touch with Susan directly.

The book cover: Mummy Parrot cradles Baby Kea, with the title Baby Kea Goes to Foster Care.

“Keeeeeeeaaaaa,
I love you!”

Bring Baby Kea home and share the story with a little one who needs it.

Buy on Amazon

Bulk orders for agencies, schools and carer support groups are very welcome.

Contact Susan