About Us

Red Kangaroo Books
As the only bricks-and-mortar independent bookshop still standing within 1500kms, Red Kangaroo Books has survived and thrived in the remote town of Alice Springs in central Australia and has been trading for over a decade.
Our Focus
Our mission is to provide the vastest selection of fiction and non-fiction books that encompass the region’s history, arts, flora and fauna, geology and travel.
Unlike the monolingual stereotype of Australia, our store houses an extensive collection of works in a wide range of Aboriginal languages such as Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Pintupi-Luritja, Warlpiri and more, from children’s stories to academic texts.
We also play a crucial role in supporting teachers in the region, especially those working in small Aboriginal communities far from Alice Springs.
“A gallery of the ideas, knowledge, and stories that make up Mparntwe/Alice Springs. We couldn’t ask for a better curator than Red Kangaroo Books.”
Fiona Dorrell, Acting Executive Director, NT Writers Centre


Supporting Local Authors
Red Kangaroo Books excels at supporting our local writers and illustrators with local stories to tell, nurturing a community of readers and writers that share diverse ideas and experiences. There are arguably more writers per capita in Central Australia and the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the nation. It is not unusual to have six of our top ten bestselling books written by local writers. Local writers are supported through regular book launches and promotions at the shop, and readers get to meet and talk to writers to share ideas and responses.
There is a monthly Book Club, which brings readers together; a weekly newsletter that provides information about new releases locally and around the world. The NT Writers Festival—held in Alice every two years—is strongly also supported and sponsored by us.
As writer Morris Gleitzman put it: “The perfect small festival…exactly the right atmosphere to explore big and complex ideas in the company of generous minds. All in a location reminding us that stories are the foundation of every civilisation.”
Our Team

Stephanie and John Capper
Red Kangaroo Books Owners
Red Kangaroo Books owner John Capper came to Alice Springs in 2001, initially to work at the local television station.

Bronwyn Druce
Book Shop Manager
Bronwyn's parents were ready to retire and have a sea change and asked her to manage the shop in...

Bernadette Ryan
Newsletter Editor
Bernadette Ryan is the brains behind our weekly newsletter. A country lass who then moved to a 25 year...

Thor F Jensen
Bookseller and Illustrator
Thor is a Danish adventurer, filmmaker and author who moved to Mparntwe/Alice Springs in March...