Entertainment
22 August, 2026
‘But Why?’ sparks kids
TWO retired Cairns teachers have drawn on more than three decades in education to create a children’s book designed to encourage reading, curiosity and learning.
Nancy Feuerriegel and Geoff Shannon’s ‘But Why?’ was published through Amazon in January 2026 after five years of development. The pair have each spent about 35 years teaching, including across Far North Queensland and remote communities.
Ms Feuerriegel said the idea began with her before she invited Mr Shannon to collaborate during one of their regular walks.
“We have read so many books, thousands of books in our 35 years of teaching each and you know which is a good book, and what’s not a good book,” she said.
Mr Shannon, who specialised in teaching reading, said literacy remained central to the project.
“To me, reading is just the most important skill a child can have,” he said.
Their teaching careers included working together as learning support teachers at Cairns School of Distance Education from 2004 to 2013, during which they travelled to outback stations and remote communities throughout the Gulf and Cape.
That experience helped shape But Why? as more than a story, with material designed to give parents, teachers and home tutors ideas to use while reading with children.
“We knew that the home tutors you offer them something as a teaching strategy or a good idea and they just absorb it,” Mr Shannon said.
“They’re so thrilled to have a bit more in their repertoire.”
The book features children from each Australian state and territory, diverse family structures and a character who uses a wheelchair. Each answer page also includes something for children to identify as out of place, with answers provided at the back.
The illustrations were created by Marnie Feuerriegel, Ms Feuerriegel’s daughter and an artist based in Berlin. Finding the right illustrator had been one of the project’s biggest challenges.
The authors are now planning visits to local schools and day care centres and will deliver an author’s presentation at Cairns School of Distance Education during Book Week.
