Border writer Aimee Chan explores a youngster's wonder at this milestone in My Grandma is 100, available online, and in stores on Friday.

The picture book arose out of a potential creative disaster - Chan had extensively interviewed Edna Phillips, her husband's grandmother and a centenarian, last year for a possible podcast or similar.

"I recorded it all and it disappeared, that was quite a nightmare," the author said.

"I was quite upset and thought and thought and thought how would my children have reacted to all the different stories she told me?

"And that's when the idea for a children's book came about."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Chan did manage to redo the interview later, but that project has been put to one side for now.

In My Grandma is 100, a child tries to think of the right present for someone whose life and state of health is quite different to theirs.

The writer aimed to capture the steadfastness of Mrs Phillips, who died in August aged 102, having lived most of her life in Melbourne.

"Essentially she really was just about the day to day," Chan said.

"Do things properly, be good to your neighbours, be kind to other people, give back to your community, put one foot in front of the other and just go along with it.

"The stoicism and the ability to just adapt and cope and, you know, pull it together when you needed to."

Published in magazines and online, Chan had not written a picture book previously, but now is planning a second one.

"The day that I got my delivery for my book, I got an email from my new publisher with a contract for a second book, so that was a bit of serendipity," she said.

My Grandma is 100 will be launched on the Border at Albury Library Museum on November 30 at 2pm.