In Conversation With Margot Bain: The Grandmother Behind Grandma Gogo’s Mission To Raise Kinder, Braver Kids

Some children’s books are designed to teach letters, numbers or colours. Others become something much more personal, creating moments of connection between generations while gently encouraging children to become kind, confident and resilient people. That is exactly what Australian author Margot Bain set out to achieve when she created the Grandma Gogo children’s book series, a character inspired by her own experiences as a mother, grandmother and lifelong supporter of children and families.

Today, the Grandma Gogo children’s book series has grown from a simple idea into an award-recognised collection embraced by families, schools and educators. The release of Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet continues that journey, introducing young readers to positive values through the alphabet while encouraging meaningful conversations between children and the adults who love them. Behind the books is a story about family, encouragement and the belief that small moments can leave a lasting impact.

How a Grandmother’s Everyday Moments Sparked a Book Series

For Margot, the inspiration for Grandma Gogo came directly from her grandchildren and the countless everyday moments they shared together. The Grandma Gogo children’s book concept grew from exactly these kinds of quiet, everyday observations. Rather than focusing on major achievements or milestone moments, she found herself drawn to the simple acts of kindness, curiosity and courage that children display every day.

“Grandma Gogo was born with the idea of honouring the role of grandmother and her connection to her kiddos by highlighting the positive, inspiring moments when her kiddos did something amazing,” Margot explains. “Like helping with washing without being asked by 5-year-old Henry. I thought in order to empower this child, I would write a book about values, for example kindness. If something happened to their granny, I had something tangible to give them rewarding them for their actions, like a letter. Therein began the magic.”

What began as a way to celebrate and encourage positive behaviour within her own family soon evolved into something much bigger. After sharing her idea with her daughter, Margot was encouraged to turn those stories into a published work. That encouragement ultimately led to the creation of Grandma Gogo: The Little Book of Encouragement, followed by Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet, which continues to build on the same themes of kindness, resilience and positive values.

From Personal Loss to Published Author: Margot’s Writing Journey

Writing had not always been part of Margot’s plan, although storytelling was never far away. A significant turning point came after the passing of her father, who had been the author of three books. Reflecting on his legacy inspired her to pursue a dream she had previously kept in the background.

“The moment was when my Dad passed and he was an author of three books,” she says. “I said to myself, ‘I can do this.’ I wanted to transfer my dream into meaningful books for kids and grannies and parents to read to their kiddos.”

That desire to create something meaningful sits at the heart of every Grandma Gogo children’s book. Margot believes the early years of childhood play a critical role in shaping values, attitudes and behaviours. While academic learning is important, she feels that teaching children how to be kind, compassionate and resilient is equally valuable.

“It was so essential to write about values to live by,” she explains. “The age where the learning of kids especially up to age seven or eight years old is so impressionable and it is a guide towards positivity and living a life of goodness by colouring your life with awesome values. Traditional customs like values are relevant to all cultures around the world.”

The emphasis on values is woven throughout both books. In Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet, each letter introduces a positive action or quality designed to encourage children to think about how they interact with the world around them. Words such as brave, active and curious become opportunities to celebrate positive behaviours while helping children build confidence in their own abilities.

The Meaning Behind Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet

“Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet is based on words from Book 1, Grandma Gogo: The Little Book of Encouragement. They are words to describe actions and encompass words that describe what they have achieved. For example, A is for Active, B is for Brave. The book highlights doing and achieving with an awareness of values based on my experiences with my grandkids.”

As with every Grandma Gogo children’s book, the stories themselves are deeply personal. The stories themselves are deeply personal. Margot describes Grandma Gogo as being very much a reflection of her own personality and life experiences, while also drawing inspiration from some of literature’s most beloved characters. The warmth of Mary Poppins, the gentle wisdom of Winnie the Pooh and the imagination found within Alice in Wonderland all helped shape the spirit of the character.

“Margot Bain, the author, is the essence of Grandma Gogo, but this character encompasses many inspiring people in my life, including characters like Mary Poppins, the teachings of Winnie the Pooh and the wonders of Alice in Wonderland.”

Real Stories, Real Grandkids: The Heart of the Series

As a mother of four and grandmother of eight, Margot has had plenty of opportunities to observe the world through a child’s eyes. Many of the stories and messages in the Grandma Gogo children’s book series are inspired by real experiences with her grandchildren, whose curiosity and enthusiasm continue to influence her writing today.

“The stories have been based on inspiring moments with my grandkiddos and the stories have been relevant to actual experiences with them,” she says. “My own present journey of being there for my grandkiddos is of utmost importance, giving them a sense of safety, consistency and a sense of fun and joy.”

Interestingly, Margot believes children teach adults just as much as adults teach children. She describes countless moments where her grandchildren encouraged her to slow down, notice the small things and approach the world with fresh curiosity.

“They can teach us too about being curious, forcing us to look at nature by seeing or questioning about a bug or spider or asking what is this bug? The amazing things our grandkiddos do by us being present with them and learning with them encouraged me to put it into a book form.”

A Message for Parents: Presence Over Perfection

For parents navigating the challenges of raising children in a busy and often overwhelming world, Margot’s advice is surprisingly simple. Rather than focusing solely on achievements or outcomes, she encourages families to prioritise connection, presence and joy.

“My own journey of being present for my grandkiddos is of utmost importance, giving them a sense of safety, consistency and fun and joy. This is what I try to share about Grandma Gogo. Not a figure of discipline, but of security and joy where kiddos want to see more of their granny or grandad and feel happy to share stories and experiences with them.”

The impact of that message has extended far beyond Margot’s own family. The Grandma Gogo series has received significant recognition, including award nominations and growing support from educators and families. More recently, the stories have attracted interest for a television adaptation, introducing the possibility of reaching an even wider audience.

For Margot, the development of a television series is both exciting and deeply validating.

“The TV series is validation for my idea and I’m so proud and happy people get the intention of sharing the Grandma Gogo story representing the Grandma figure,” she says. “I’m so proud of my daughter’s creativity and her willingness to support the story of intergenerational connection. So excited for the next journey by transforming the concept to screen for kids.”

The Legacy of Small Moments

Despite the growing recognition, the heart of Grandma Gogo remains unchanged. Each Grandma Gogo children’s book continues to champion kindness, encouragement and the power of meaningful relationships. In many ways, they serve as a reminder that some of the most important lessons children learn do not come from classrooms or screens but from the people who take the time to be present in their lives.

When asked what final piece of advice she would leave for parents, grandparents and carers reading her books, Margot’s answer perfectly captures the spirit of Grandma Gogo.

“Enjoy every moment and breathe. Life is precious and we are all learning as we are moving forward,” she says. “Colour your life with awesome values.”

In a world where families are often pulled in a hundred different directions, it is a message worth holding onto. After all, the small moments we share today often become the memories and lessons that stay with children long after the storybook has been closed.