Change is in the air and autumn's russety colours are invading the streets of Melbourne and the countryside ... most certainly around Clunes where
we spent the first weekend of May at their annual, and 10th
anniversary, book festival. It was a great event as usual with a range
of book sellers, displays, activities for children, food stalls and a
program of quality sessions to interest festival visitors of all ages
and interests.
At our Books Illustrated stand we took the fortuitous opportunity to feature the May 1 release picture book Bird & Bear and the Special Day written & illustrated by Ann James, who was our feature illustrator for the two days.
As well as a change of season Books Illustrated has moved to a new address. Not far from Beaconsfield Parade, our new showroom is located at 74 Mills St, Albert Park which is conveniently located on the number 12 tram route from the city - appox a 20 minutes trip.
You are welcome to drop by (by appointment) and see how we are settling in.
More news on our new home when a few more boxes are unpacked!
Special Federation Square Book Market Saturday May 14 - 11am - 5pm With Story Box Library and two featured illustrators live on the big screen!
Robin Cowcher 12noon - 2pm Robin will show how see created the illustrations for the newly released picture bookYou have my Heart written by Corinne Fenton. Corinne will also join Robin to personally sign books.
Annie White 3pm - 5pm, will share her illustration style from recent picture books including My Dad Is A Bear, shortlisted in the 2015 Prime Minister's Awards Children's Fiction. Written by Nicola Connelly and published by New Frontier Publishing. Other titles featured will be the well-loved Clementine's Walk, Clementine's Bath and that old favourite The Ugly Duckling.
Here at Story Box Library
we’re feeling super proud to be celebrating the release of our 100th
story this week with the addition of Kate Ritchie's reading of May
Gibbs' Tales from the Gum Tree to our growing and diverse library of fantastic stories from Australia’s finest authors and illustrators.
To celebrate this milestone, we have made May Gibbs' Tales from the Gum
Tree our FREE preview story for the month of May, and you can watch the
story in full on the Story Box Library website.
Thanks to Scholastic Australia we also have 100 beautiful hardcover
copies of May Gibbs’ Tales from the Gum Tree to giveaway. We will
be at the Books Illustrated stand with a copy to give to each family
that visits us at the stand and signs up for a 12-month family
subscription, cost $29.95. Photo: Kate Ritchie's reading of May Gibbs' Tales from the Gum Tree
The Hush Treasure Book Exhibition
The Hush Treasure Book Exhibition continues until Sept 16 at the Dromkeen Homestead
This exhibition showcases original illustrations from this rich
collection of stories by a selection of Australia’s favourite authors
and illustrators. A feature is the sculptures created for the cover
image by Kevin Burgemeestre.
This exhibition is in support of the HUSH Foundation,
linked to the Royal Children's Hospital, which has already produced a
marvelous series of Music CDs. This their first book!
Robin Cowcher is a Melbourne-based illustrator whose first picture book Little Dog And The Christmas Wish, published in 2014, was chosen as the inspiration for the Myer Christmas window display for 2015.
We will be promoting Robin's most recent
picture book and prints at the Federation Square book market,
Saturday 14 May. You can browse her signed booksand limited edition printson the Books Illustrated website.
'YouHave My Heart 2' limited edition print by Robin Cowcher, fromYou Have My Heart (The Five Mile Press) $90 'YouHave My Heart 3' limited edition print by Robin Cowcher, fromYou Have My Heart (The Five Mile Press) $90
Unmasking the Wild
An Auction and exhibition of masks by Australian Children's Book Illustrators
Geelong Regional Library, until July 3
A unique collection of masks collectively titled Unmasking the Wild,
created by 22 of Australia’s talented children’s illustrators, was
unveiled for the first time at The Masked Ball extravaganza in Melbourne
to celebrate the end of the 30 year journey for Isobelle Carmody and
her legion of faithful readers, that was The Red Queen, the last in the Obernewtyn Chronicles.
Join us for the exhibition opening as part of the Geelong After Dark, Free
Friday, 6 May 2016 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
Mask Auction online
All of the masks will be available for sale by auction online to raise funds for two charities: Crisis Fund, run by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) and the Moon Bear Sanctuary in Chengdu, China.
Look for details of the auction on our website soon!
2016 CBCA Conference – 20-21 MAY 2016 – SYDNEY
Read – Myriad possibilities!
Be enthralled by some of Australia’s best loved, award-winning
children’s book creators, including: Libby Gleeson, Graeme Base,
Jeannie Baker, Nadia Wheatley, Terry Denton, Steven Herrick, Sarah
Ayoub, Dub Leffler to name a few!!
On Monday 18 April the The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announced the list of Notable Books (also known as the Long List) for the 2016 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
Be at the conference for the announcement of the CBCA Book of the Year Short List and meet the 2016-2018 Australian Children’s Laureate – Leigh Hobbs!!
National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June) is a time for all Australians to learn about and celebrate our Indigenous history and culture. We recommend Reading Australia's latest newsletter
for a range of focus books, relevant resources for primary and
secondary students and an insightful interview with Indigenous
artist/illustrator, Bronwyn Bancroft.
We are featuring a new May release Mad Magpie by Indigenous author-illustrator Gregg Dreise, published by Magabala Books. This follows Gregg's successful picture book Silly Birds that won Speech Pathology Australia's 2015 Indigenous Children's Book of the Year Award.
Visiting Canadian Illustrator Jon Klassen this Month!
Jon Klassen, author/illustrator of I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat and the upcoming We Found a Hat, is coming to Sydney and Melbourne this Month!
Sydney Writers' Festival presents
Children's Books by Design with Jon Klassen
May 21. 2016 1:30 pm, Wharf 2 Theatre
Prices: Adult $20, Concession $15 Book here.
Sunday 22 May 2016, 11.00am-12.30pm at Deakin Edge, Federation Square
BOOKING FAST Book your tickets
Hats Off: Jon Klassen Storytelling Workshop Book here.
We are thrilled that Meg is the recipient this year as we are great fans of her writing.
May with the Australian Children's Laureate
Leigh's It’s your story Calendar May theme is Read the World a Story, visit the Laureate website for reading suggestions and ideas. The illustration for May's theme is from Leigh's book Fiona the Pig's Big Day, you can watch it being read by Clare Bowditch on Story Box Library. Or get involved in the National Simultaneous Storytime on May 25th at 11am when people all over Australia will be reading I Got This Hat written by Jol and Kate Temple, illustrated by Jol Temple (HarperCollins Publishers).
In the illustration above Mr Badger is reading a story to his little badgers from the The Big Book of Mr Badger. Featured below is a limited edition print of Mr Badger,available on our website.
Here at 
The Hush Treasure Book Exhibition 
Visiting Canadian Illustrator Jon Klassen this Month!
Sydney Writers' Festival presents
