Balloons, partying, Glen Street Theatre, authors, illustrators, librarians, kids’ literature enthusiasts – the Christmas party by Children’s Book Council, Northern Beaches was a buzz!
Michael Stephen-King had us moved to tears with his stories of the heart:
- illustration as his place to escape, explore, create in a confusing world where his deafness separated him
His joyous lines capture the curiosity of childhood and we love him.
Glenda Millard also brought tears and laughs with her stories of family and relationships.
She invites us all into the safety of being different and celebrating it. Love her too.
It was a night of friendship and celebration of the children’s literature community-
authors Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Wendy Blaxland, Margaret Roc, Aleesah Darlison, Laurine Croasdal, Jill Bruce, Anna Feinberg, Kim Gamble
… the iconic Maurice Saxby father of Australian children’s literature
and Margaret Hamilton publisher, writer, and Director of the illustrator’s house Pinerolo in the Blue Mountains.and so many more.
Thankyou to Wendy Fitzgerald, president of the CBCA Northern Beaches and all the fabulous people who supported this night.
FABULOUS NIGHT!
How exciting to be welcomed with a huge window display at The Children’s Bookshop Beecroft of ‘Ships in the Field’, a National Year of Reading event.
Anna Pignataro the brilliant illustrator of ‘Ships in the Field’ loved speaking to authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, kids and friends.
Anna shared her Italian-Egyptian background and how her parents were forced out of Egypt, while I shared my Hungarian refugee background – in ‘Ships in The Field’ – a story of finding home.
Fabulous authors like Wendy Blaxland, Wendy Fitzgerald, Belinda Murrell, Margaret Roc, Felicity Pulman, Isolde Martyn, tanka poet Beverley George …Maria Simpson creator of Bilby Theatre, librarians like the fantastic Claire Stuckey and friends came to celebrate ‘Ships in the Field’.
Loved it!!!!!
Wandering through the Reading Room exhibiting children’s illustrations by wonderful artists such as Cathy Wilcox, Sarah Davis, Shaun Tan, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, the Children’s Book Council gathered in the warm candle-lit sun lounge of The Hughenden.
Everyone was waiting for Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Children’s Book Council.
Carol Keeble Pesident of the CBCA (NSW), Maurice Saxby a father of Australian children’s literature and Margaret Hamilton former President of the Children’s Book Council, the CBCA Foundation and a leading literary figure in Australia welcomed the Governor.
It was a wonderful evening of fine food, the company of authors and the children’s literary community.
Some of the authors included J.C. Burke, Christopher Cheng, Sue Whiting, Mary Small, Jill Bruce, Margaret Roc joining the President of the CBCA NSW and supporters to discuss books, listen to an address by Jill Bruce the new judge of the CBCA Awards and Wendy Smith the outgoing judge.
Fabulous night with everyone lingering on to share good company, food and celebrate children’s books.
British Carnegie Medal winner of young adult literature Mal Peet and USA Michael L Printz winner of young adult literature M T Anderson were funny, warm, engaging as they spoke to the Children’s Book Council dinner at The Hughenden Boutique Hotel.
Carnegie Medal Award winner Mal Peet
Michael Printz Prize winner M T Anderson
Authors Kate Forsyth, Wendy Blaxland, Sue Whiting, Maureen Johnson, Sandy Fussell, Margaret Roc, Lindy Batchelor, Jan Latta and others as well as John Cohen Editor of Reading Time , Judith Ridge youth literature office for Western Sydney and many fans celebrated.
Susanne Gervay, Carole Keeble CBC President, Jessica Francis CBC
- The GONG fans & authors
Jan Latta and Wendy Blaxland