Jacinda Ardern’s memoir adapted into children’s book What If You Could

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to release a version of her memoir adapted for children, What If You Could. Photo / Penguin

Jacinda Ardern “couldn’t be more excited” to release a version of her recent memoir adapted for a younger audience.

Set to hit local and international shelves on June 4, What If You Could has been adapted for children from her 2025 book A Different Kind of Power.

Publisher Penguin has described the new book as a “guide for young readers on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong”.

The former Prime Minister broke the news today on Instagram, sharing a post that explained her inspirations and praised the book’s adaptor, Ruby Shamir.

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“When I wrote my memoir, I told a friend that, in part, it was aimed at my 14-year-old self”, she wrote.

“I never quite imagined having the opportunity to work with @rubyreadwrite and a group of amazing publishers to have it adapted into a book aimed specifically at young people. But here it is, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Ardern said it was “hard to believe” the book would be available for purchase in just two months.

What If You Could will be released with a red, white and blue cover in the United States, a yellow and black cover in New Zealand and Australia, and an orange cover in Britain.

“If I can convince just one young person in this chaotic and difficult world that they can make a difference (just as they are), then this book will have been worth creating.”

Last month, the 45-year-old shared one of her first updates since she moved to Sydney with husband Clark Gayford and daughter Neve.

She detailed the work she has been involved in since she left office in 2023, particularly with the Global Advisory Council for Law Zero, a group working to create artificial intelligence (AI) that is more “human-centric”.

Ardern said the organisation is “really sparking greater debate and conversation around how we ensure that, whilst all of the enormous gains of AI are felt widely and those benefits are felt widely”.

Her office had previously confirmed to the Guardian that the family are “basing themselves out of Australia – they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand”.

Her book A Different Kind of Power recently made headlines in New Zealand after a copy was burned at the Black Dog Tavern in Makotuku.

A pipe band played an ironic national anthem as pubgoers watched the pages blacken.

At the time, there were more than 1000 comments on a photo of Ardern’s book on the brazier burn pile, while the book-burning video had more than 15,000 views.

Many commenters on the pub’s social media posts defended its actions, while others were disappointed.

Black Dog Tavern owner Brendon Wilson refused to comment when contacted by Hawke’s Bay Today.