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Would you save baby Hitler if you could?

He killed 6 million Jews,millions of disabled people and started World War 11.

The world has ended and there is one tin of soup left. Would you share it with your brother?

It’s the future where babies can be genetically designed. Should all babies be perfect?

Michael Parker, author of YA novel ‘Doppelganger’ (Penguin); author of philosophy textbooks,  Deputy Headmaster of Senior School Cranbrook in Sydney poses challenging questions in:-

‘ethics 101 conversations to have with your kids’

Published by Jane Curry Publishing Australia

Cranbrook School is a old boys’ school overlooking stunning Sydney Harbour in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Committed to social justice, its Indigenous Scholarship Fund offers tuition to indigenous boys.  All royalties and profit for the sale of this book go to the Indigenous Scholarship Fund.

It was a wonderful launch at Oscar & friends Booksellers Double Bay.

CONGRATULATIONS Michael

Proud to support this event as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012

Flying over fields of wheat, sheep, the famous astronomical DISH, I landed in a small plane in the beautiful country town of PARKES for the National Year of Reading.

I was bringing the joy of books to kids and teachers.

The fabulous librarian Shellie Buckle welcomed me in her lady beetle Library car – the cutest car ever.

Middletown Public School celebrated JACK and NO to school bullying supporting their anti bullying programme.

The Holy Family School discovered that the ‘Ships in the Field’ are ‘Sheep in the Field’ and we laughed and had a great time.

A whirlwind of literary events – life in the READING lane!

Loved speaking to the kids and parents and grandparents at Sutherland Library Sydney for the National Year of Reading.

Touched by this email from Jennifer Dyer who was convenor of the Library Technician’s Conference at Bankstown this year:-

‘That was a fabulous presentation you gave at Sutherland Library this week. ‘

Thankyou to the fabulous librarian at Sutherland Library – Melinda – visit that terrific library as there’s lots on there as well as BOOKS!!!!!

The launch of Oliver Phommavanh’s sequel to Thai Terrific – called Thai No Mite was fun, fabulous and delicious – at Kinokuniya Book Shop in Sydney.  Kinokuniya support Kids Authors!!!

Lots of kids and parents.

Lots of food – pad thai and spring rolls and more

Lots of jokes – it’s Oliver afterall – he’s a funny guy

Lots of celebration of another winning book for kids – Thai-No-Mite  published by Penguin Books.

Special treat was meeting Jennie Orchard of Room to Read there – www.roomtoread.org

Room to Read is one of my favourite charities bringing literacy and books to the kids of the developing world. So far 6.6 million kids have books and Room to Read builds a library every 4 hours in countries like Vietnam, Nepal, India – love Room to Read and Jennie who founded it in Australia.

Proud to be an author ambassador for Room to Read.

Loved talking to the teacher-librarians at Maroubra Junction Public School in the eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

 The Reading Hour is on the 25th August – mums and dads, teachers and kids, grocers and butchers, life savers and dog trainers …. EVERYONE … are going to pick up a book and read for the National Year of Reading 2012.

Pick up a book and read – in a group, under a tree, with friends …. it’s cool and colossal.

www.love2read.org

Kate Colley shared her favourite new books – you can always count on Bloomin’ Books.

I shared ‘Ships in the Field’ and the complex issues within Anna Pigantaro’s painting:-

- the dog of war and the dog of hope

- the fighter planes becoming birds of hope

- refugees who are transparent and become so small as they board the ships

- and …..

-with some of my favourite people – teacher-librarians.

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!!!!!

“* This hopeful, heartfelt novel will give teens an understanding of what it means to have a reason to be self-conscious. Librarians won’t be able to keep it on the shelf.” - School Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘Heart wrenching and beautiful are the two words that immediately came to mind as I read “Butterflies’ …

Gervay paints a picture of Katherine as she grows and changes allowing the reader to believe in her as a real person. Unlike other teen angst books, Katherine does not dwell in her angst, but moves beyond it and chooses to leave the misery and find joy in her daily life.

Gervay allows Katherine to win at the end- not because she suddenly becomes amazingly beautiful, but because she always was beautiful and knew that within herself.

…. Kudos to Gervay for painting the reader a picture of a self-reliant teen girl who does not depend on a boy to make herself feel valuable. Highly recommended for libraries- school, public and personal- who want to add to their girl power collections.” -

SWON Libraries Royal Reviews;  http://www.swonlibraries.org/royal-reviews?a=dr&id=6255

The love, memories, friendship washed over and into us as Australian children’s authors and illustrators celebrated 15 years of The Children’s Writers and Illustrators’ Network at The Hughenden Woollahra Sydney.