Exhibition: Story Time: Australian Children's Literature

Last night's opening exhibition crowd deemed the new National Library of Australia exhibition, Story Time: Australian Children's Literature, presented in association with the National Centre for Australian Children's Literature, a huge success. 

They were a buzz with excitement and even squealed with delight as each new story was discovered on the walls and in the display cases. 

I guarantee that book lovers of all ages will adore this new exhibition, as it takes you on a journey down memory lane. 

Remember your childhood favourites; Seven Little Australians, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie,  Mary Poppins and Blinky Bill.

Rediscover books from your children's childhood: Possum Magic, Koala Lou, Animalia, Max, The Hidden Forrest and The Arrival.

Or discover some newer childhood favourites: Where is the Green Sheep?, Dinosaurs Love Cheese and The 65-Story Treehouse.

CBCA 2019 Book of the Year Awards Winners

Today in Canberra we celebrated the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year Award at the National Library of Australia. 

What I love about this event is the opportunity to celebrate children's literature and to catch up with my tribe. 

Before the announcement of the winners, the audience was entertained by two talented group of students. 

Students from St Bede's Primary School, Braidwood, performed a voice and action montage showing how Reading is Our Secret Power. The students had the powers of strength, flexibility, speed but most importantly reading. With the secret power of reading they said, 'We can do anything with the power of reading.'  

The second performance was by students from Canberra Girls Grammar School, who retold the story of Noni The Pony Rescues a Joey by Alison Lester, using a great set of face masks.

CBCA 13th National Conference

Each year there are a wide range of conferences and events that authors and illustrators have to choose from and 2019 is a bumper year of them. This year some of the big ones on Australian East Coast have included; SCBWI Sydney, Creative Kids Tales Writers' Festival Gymea NSW, KidLitVic Melbourne, CYA Brisbane (6-7 July) and CBCA Canberra.

It is sometimes a difficult decision to pick which ones to attend. Frankly, if the hip pocket was really deep, I would attend every single event on the calendar. However, as the CBCA one was going to be held in Canberra and just a 2 minute walk from my apartment in the city, it was a easy decision to attend.

Creative Kids Tales Writers' Festival 2019

Georgie Opening the Festival

Invest was the theme and this year's CKT Writers' Festival was a great investment!

Georgie Donaghey organised another whopper festival, it included:

• Jackie French, 
• Emma Quay,
• Jacqueline Harvey,
• Deborah Abela,
• CKT members, 
• Susanne Gervay,
• and some publishing editors & agents. 

I didn't partake in any assessments on the day, instead I wanted to invest my time in listening to the presenters and socialising/connecting. This blog will look at the top tips that I will invest into my craft. 

March Book Launches

On Saturday, 24 March 2019, I attended the book launch for Grandma's treasured shoes, created by Coral Vass and Christina Huynh and published by the National Library of Australia.

Coral has masterfully told a story about shoes while sensitivity revealing the story of a refugee family. Shoes can tell remarkable tales about someone's life; 

Dance in the dark shoes, 

worn and torn shoes, 

escaping shoes, 

school shoes,

and dancing dress shoes.

(shoes types from Grandma's treasured shoes) 

As Christina first picture book illustrations are heartfelt, as it intertwines her own family's story of coming to Australia from Vietnam. We were honoured that she shared treasured items that her family carried on their journey across the sea to Australia.  

Congratulations so Susan Hall and all of the NLA Publishing Team on the publication of another story that shares the past and present stories that shape the nation of Australia. 

Day Two: Portfolio Project with Nina Rycroft.

Day Two of Nina Rycroft's online course, Portfolio Project. 

It has taken me a day (today is actually Day Three) to mull over the CHALLENGE set by Susanne Gervay and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. They set an illustration challenge to take a child from a classroom and give them a character.

My mind went blank and I've worked in schools for many years. I was thinking all kinds of things to illustrate even an incident in the sand pit and then POCK! It hit me in the head like a yo-yo trick gone wrong. 

This is a work in progress and still needs colour but I like to let my ink dry for 24 hours before I paint over it.

Susanne & Marjorie: Illuminate Don't Decorate (Show Don't Tell)

The second session was a video of Katrina Avery about 'Fitting it all in - An IllustrationBiz Planning Tool'. I was a founding member of IllustrationBiz and I value Katrina's insights about the business of illustration. 

Towards the end of 2018 I began working on planning my day in blocks around my energy levels and daily commitments. This change was inspired by the YouTube video The Daily Block Schedule by Jordan Page (Thanks Jen Storer for sharing this in the Duck Pond). I found that Katrina's planning tool dovetails quite nicely in with Jordan's ideas. 

Katrina: Organise, Prioritise and Plan 
I also liked this thought from Katrina 'Is your disorganisation my emergency?'

Day One: Portfolio Project with Nina Rycroft.

Today I started to watch the latest online course by Nina Rycroft, Portfolio Project. She has brought together such an amazing and inspiring group of people. Day One was Karen Abend and Penelope Pratley. Words that come to mind are growth, development, play and observation.

My intention is to learn and be inspired to progress my illustrations into a portfolio that I can share with people in the industry.

Karen: Make it Doable.

It was wonderful to do a workshop with Karen again after last year's Sketchbook Revival which inspired my 100 Days of Circles sketching.

Penelope: Learn from your favourite illustrator's styles.

Again I am reminded that Richard Scarry was a childhood favourite and his books would help settle my mind and keep bad dreams at bay.

These days I love so many illustrators; Stephen Michael King, Julie Vivas, Anna Walker, Alison Lester, Anil Tortop, Tania McCartney, Katrin Dreiling and Russell Ayto to just name a few.

National Library of Australia Open Day

There were crowds of people at the National Library of Australia today for their annual Open Day.

On the way into the library I bumped into the author of You can do it Joey, Kerry Malone who had gone to listen to Holly Bidwell tell and preform her amazing stories.

I met up with Tania McCartney and we were both delighted to be introduced to Ron Brooks, award winning author and illustrator. Ron had given two workshops earlier in the morning, coming to Canberra for a day trip all the way from his home in Huon Valley, Tasmania. Unfortunately I was not at the library early enough to participate in Ron's workshops. As an aspiring illustrator I'm sure I would have learnt a great deal from these workshops instead will have to study some of my favourite Ron Brooks illustrated books; John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat written by Jenny Wagner and two books written by Margaret Wild, Old Pig and Fox.

As part of the open day Tania McCartney read her new story The Gum Family Finds Home, illustrated by Christian Booth. This is the first time that Tania has read this story to children. They gathered around the storyteller's chair, sitting on sea of cushions, balloons in hand (the occasional one escaping - the balloons that is). The children were very engaged and one gorgeous little munchkin was ready to give Tania an answer for all of her questions. Yes he was from Tasmania (No but his mum was). Koalas needed gum trees to eat gum leaves from and not gum nuts.

Book Launch - Wyrd by Cate Whittle

As part of the Love Your Bookshop Day we flew on our brooms to Harry Hartog in Woden to celebrate Cate Whittle's new book Wyrd. I look forward to reading about Emma and Pip and the magical powers that Emma has unexpectedly gained when she is turned into a witch.

It was fabulous event at a wonderful bookshop, with many children in attendance plus the friendly faces of quite a number of Canberra's children's authors and illustrators and a few members from the CBCA ACT Branch.

                                           

                                                                           Leanne, Cate & Karen                              

May Gibbs Touring Display Launch

The May Gibbs Touring Display from the State Library of NSW is currently showing at the Queanbyean Library until  9 August 2018 when it then move to other libraries in NSW.

The display celebrates a 100 years since May Gibbs' gum-nut babies were published and became part of our Australian literature culture that is still shared with children today. The display features many of her popular characters, books and costumes.

At last night's the launch, librarian Lynette Sebbens read the first chapter of Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie, giving the audience a taste of the fear and curiosity that these two characters felt about the creatures know as 'humans'.

The special guest at the launch was author and illustrator, Tania McCartney who has written and illustrated a book about a little girl called Mamie (HarperCollins, November 2018) whose story echoes the childhood of May Gibbs.

Creative Kids Tales Writers Festival 2018 Wrap Up

Georgie Donaghey asked the attendees of the Creative Kids Tales Writers Festival 2018 to be 'Prepare to be inspired!' and we were definitely inspired.

The hand of hope is needed in the story. - Suzanne Gervay
Write something memorable. - Suzanne Gervay
Do things in a positive light. - Georgie Donaghey
Take the germ of the truth, then lie and be good at it. - Wai Chim
Go to lots of talks and gleam ideas. - Tristan Bancks
Write the story that only you can tell. Your heart story. - Sue Whiting
Authors please leave space in your manuscript for the illustrator. - Sarah Davis
Illustrators are like film directors, they choose the cast (characters) and the set for the action to occur. - Sarah Davis

CBCA Notables Books Wrap Up

In Canberra on Tuesday night (27 February) CBCA ACT Branch and Harry Hartog hosted the CBCA Book of The Year Awards Notables List Announcement. See the complete list here.

It was a glorious night catching up with authors, illustrators, teacher librarians and other book lovers.

We were delighted that two of our local authors' books were long listed.

Tania McCartney's book Merry Everything, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, was long listed for the Picture Book of the Year Award.

Cate Whittle's book Trouble and the New Kid, illustrated by Michael Stephen King, was long listed for the category of Younger Readers.

There were so many wonderful books chosen this year and as per usual some books that you hoped would make the list but didn't.

I was fortunate enough to have reviewed the following Notable Books for Kids' Book Review.

Rewarding My Inner Child

Last week during my Artist Date I took my inner child on a rewarding trip to the art store and bookshop. These are the two places that I can lose all sense of time passing.

In the art store my creativity comes to life as I browse the shelves choosing pencils, paint and paper.

While in the bookshop my imagination is fostered by the brilliant stories and engaging illustrations. On this Artist Date I was looking for illustrations that made my heart sing.

My inner child soared with delight at the colours, textures, characters and words. Now that my inner child is nourished she can activate my creativity.

I sure need my inner child to let help me let loose my creativity now that am participating in the Nina Rycroft Picture Book Illustration e-Course. The course is stretching me in ways that I didn't consider. It is giving me new insights to the process an illustrator goes through to create illustrations that will complement and add to a manuscript.

However the hardest part is the critic that is in your head yelling louder and louder that you cannot possibly create characters for a manuscript. My morning writing pages are working overtime to stop these Monsters that exist in my head. Monsters from my past that crushed my inner child, the child that liked to dream.

So HOORAY to places like the art store and the bookshop that help set my inner child free from the monsters.

Book Launch: Marvellous Miss May

A fabulous book launch at Harry Hartog (Woden) with Stephanie Owen Reeder for her new book, Marvellous Miss May, published by The National Library of Australia. 

Stephanie read the book to an enthusiastic crowd. Clowns and a ringmaster were there plus preforming jugglers.

Like any great book launch there were colouring in sheets,lollies and cake. You always need cake for a book birthday!



For a book review by Shaye Wardope from Kids' Book Review see here. 

Awards and Friends: A Celebration of 2017

Tania, Jacqueline & Gina

A mini children's book writers celebration.

Last night there were more children's writers present at the  ACT Writers Centre Awards Night than the previous year.
It was a special night as four of these writers received recognition for their work.

Congratulations to Canberra children's book writers.

ACT Book of The Year Award. 
Shortlisted: Fail Safe by Jack Heath

The ACT Writers Centre Publishing Awards.

Children’s Book Category:
Winner:
Gina Newton, Amazing Animals of Australia's National Parks
Highly Commended:
Tania McCartney, Australia Illustrated

Anne Edgeworth Fellowship 

An award for an emerging young writer in the Canberra Region.
Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern was announced as a joint winner of this fellowship.

Tania McCartney's November Launches with a Twist

It has been such a huge month for friend and fellow creator Tania McCartney.

Tania is always looking for new, exciting and original ways to connect with the community and in November she hosted two launches with a twist.

The first launch was a WINDOW REVEAL at Harry Hartog Bookseller in Woden on 13 November. The window reveal was part of her launch of her first Christmas book, Merry Everything. See a review here. 

The second launch was a MAP LAUNCH, 26 November, where we celebrated the launch of Tania's Australia Illustrated Map, see review here. This is her first map (she is currently working on a World Map) and you really have to get a copy to fully appreciate how much information she has packed into this map. There is so much to look at, just like if you travelled around Australia.

Canberra 52-Week Illustration Challenge Members Meet

Kelly, Amie, Sam, Irene,
Leanne, Genevieve, Tania
(Missing from photo - Delene)

This morning eight members from the 52-Week Illustration Challenge met in Canberra for the final time in 2017.

Everyone's artwork has progressed so much since the last meeting.

One of Canberra member's, aka Goldie Chemsford, has featured as pick of the week around seven times and we loved looking at the originals selected by the 52-Week Illo' Challenge Team.

We had a few new people join us and we enjoyed seeing their illustrations and how unique their style is. It is just so invigorating to meet with like minded people.

Our next meeting?

This one we thought we might try a Saturday arvo.

We plan to spend a little bit of time creating illustrations together.
Please bring equipment that is will not create a mess for our host cafe.

When: Saturday, 20 January 2018
(Please note new date! There is now a SCBWI ACT event on 13 January 2018)
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Where:  Cafe Twenty One, 21 Marcus Clarke Street, New Acton
RSVP: For numbers please leave a message below or contact me.
What to Bring: Please be brave and bring an illustration to share and something non-messy to create with.
Children are welcome.

Dragons and Vets: August Children's Book Author Talks @ Harry Hartog

Have you ever dreamed of ....

Having a dragon as a special friend?

OR

Being a vet when you grow up?

If your answer is yes, then the authors hosted by Harry Hartog Bokseller, 

Westfield Woden in August have written the perfect books for you.

Does the Australian Bush have Fairies?

As a child were you fed an extensive diet of fairies and magic in your bedtime stories?

Maybe it was the Fairy Godmother from Sleeping Beauty or Tinkerbell from the story of Peter Pan or was it the Australian version of fairies, the little gumnut babies featured in the stories by May Gibbs?   

For more than 100 years Australian children have been reading stories by May Gibbs. The love of her stories and illustrations has given many Australian children, and undoubtedly children all over the world, an image of the kind of fairies that you can find in the Australian bush, gumnut babies and blossoms.

I'm a reviewer again!

I'm so pleased that I have been able to begin to review children's books again for Kids' Book Review.

Thank you to the Kids' Book Review Team for welcoming me back to the fold after so many years away while I was President and Vice President for CBCA ACT Branch.

So far I have reviewed three books for KBR which can be viewed on their Website or Facebook page or using this link.