The Meadowbrook Charter
The promise we make to every child
Every book, character, place and tradition in Meadowbrook is measured against this Charter before it becomes part of the world. It’s the reason Meadowbrook exists.
Our charter
What we believe
We Believe
Childhood is one of life’s greatest adventures — a time of endless questions, boundless imagination, unexpected discoveries, growing confidence, first friendships, first failures, and first triumphs. Every child deserves stories that honour this extraordinary season of life.
We Believe in Wonder
Wonder is where learning begins — a tiny seed, a shooting star, the smell of fresh bread, the sound of rain on leaves, the discovery of a hidden path. Meadowbrook exists to protect that sense of wonder.
We Believe Every Child Matters
Every child deserves to feel seen, heard, respected, valued, and capable. Children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with information — they are remarkable people already discovering who they are. Our stories walk beside them, never above them.
We Believe Every Creature Matters
In Meadowbrook there are no insignificant lives — the smallest ant, the quietest mouse, the oldest tortoise, the shyest echidna, the loudest cockatoo. Every creature has something unique to contribute, reflecting the world we hope children will help build.
We Believe Stories Shape Character
Facts teach the mind; stories reach the heart. Long after a child forgets the details of a lesson, they often remember how a story made them feel — a brave choice, a kind friend, a difficult apology, a hopeful ending.
We Believe Communities Change Lives
No one succeeds alone. Communities encourage, forgive, celebrate, and protect — they help people become the best versions of themselves. Meadowbrook is our picture of the kind of community every child deserves.
We Believe Hope Is Powerful
Our responsibility is not to hide disappointment, fear, failure, loss, or uncertainty — children already know these exist — but to show that hope can exist alongside them. Hope is not pretending everything is easy; it is believing tomorrow is worth walking toward.
We Believe Kindness Is Courage
Kindness is not softness. It requires listening, forgiving, helping, sharing, and standing beside someone who feels alone. Every Meadowbrook story celebrates that quiet courage.
We Believe Learning Never Ends
The wisest characters still ask questions; the bravest still feel afraid; the strongest still need help. Growth is lifelong — children deserve stories that celebrate becoming, not perfection.
We Believe Families Matter
Some of life’s greatest memories begin with a book opened together. These relationships are the true home of Meadowbrook; the stories are simply invitations.
We Believe the Future Is Worth Building
Every Meadowbrook story is written with tomorrow’s readers, parents, teachers, and leaders in mind. If our stories help shape kinder people, they have fulfilled their purpose.
Our promise
To every child who opens a Meadowbrook book, we promise:
- To respect your imagination.
- Never to underestimate your courage.
- Never to laugh at your questions.
- To create stories filled with warmth, humour, and hope.
- To leave every adventure with light on the horizon.
- To build a world you will always be welcome to visit.
“Where every creature has a story — and every story has a heart.”
How the stories work
An adventure on the surface, a journey underneath
Every Meadowbrook story has two layers. On the surface it’s an adventure. Underneath, there’s a life skill quietly at work.
| What readers see on the surface | What they take away underneath |
|---|---|
| A burnt cake, a flooded path, a flat tyre | Failure is a doorway, not a dead end |
| A race, a rescue, a construction project | Planning, adapting and persisting builds real-world confidence |
| A flood, a fire drill, an earthquake rumble | Knowing what to do turns fear into confidence |
| A missing invitation, a laughed-at question | Belonging, feeling safe and the courage to speak up can all be learned |
| A trophy passed, a rival respected | Character in sport mirrors character in life |
| A parent cheering too loud | Supporters shape the character of sport just as much as players do |
The themes
The life skills inside the stories
Each book is built around one main theme. These aren’t labels added afterwards: they shape every story from the very first page.
Purposeful Life
Meaning, identity, contribution and finding your voice
These stories ask a big, gentle question: what am I for? A baker whose cake burns, a cockatoo who speaks through his art, a platypus who fits no category. Each discovers that their own gifts have a place in the world.
What it builds: a sense that your unique qualities have value.
See these books →Employable Skills
Planning, building, problem-solving and learning by doing
Rockets that fail, surfboards that tip and workshops that need sorting. These stories show that skill is built through effort, practice, careful checking and being willing to be coached.
What it builds: the knowledge that mastery comes through effort and adapting, not luck.
See these books →Goal Setting
Vision, planning, persistence and reflection
Set a goal, make a plan, meet a setback, adapt, keep going, then look back. The characters walk the whole cycle, and storms, wobbly bubbles and lost maps are all part of the journey.
What it builds: the confidence that big goals are reached one step at a time.
See these books →Social Skills
Teamwork, empathy, communication and collaboration
Orchestras, construction crews and messengers learn that getting along is a skill: listening, sharing the work, checking what someone actually needs, and saying clearly what you mean.
What it builds: the words and habits for kind, clear relationships.
See these books →Values & Self-Care
Courage, honesty, integrity and emotional wellbeing
Stories about the inner life: feeling brave, telling the truth when it’s hard, sorting out worries, getting proper rest and having the courage to say no to a dangerous dare.
What it builds: the understanding that how you feel and what you believe are worth looking after.
See these books →Respect & Belonging
Inclusion, listening, accessibility and repair
Belonging doesn’t just happen. It is made, protected and sometimes repaired. These stories show what it means to make room, to ask how someone likes to be cared for, and to put things right after a mistake.
What it builds: the knowledge that everyone has a place, and everyone can help make one.
See these books →Sportsmanship & Character
Winning, losing, respect and team spirit
On the pitch, the court and the kite field, characters learn to win graciously, lose and learn well, respect opponents and officials, share the ball, and remember that supporters shape the game too.
What it builds: the understanding that how you play matters as much as whether you win.
See these books →Stay Safe
Emergency planning and staying calm when it counts
Floods, fires, storms, earthquakes and more, with no villains, only nature, preparation and community. Every story names the worry, then shows the plan, and reminds readers that the grown-ups are managing the situation.
What it builds: the confidence that comes from knowing what to do.
See these books →