‘What a wonderful show. It’s the best Monkey Baa production I’ve seen yet – gripping, funny and moving and the young performers were outstanding’ from Mark Macleod author and publisher.
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 7/27/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Susanne Gervay, Jeni Mawter, Wendy Blaxland, Berkelouw Books Norton Street leighhardt, Demi Chat and the Keny Street Mystery, Peter "Zane" Haywood, Toni Brisland, Add a tag
The pianist was playing, the food was good, the drinks flowing, the crowd enthusiastic at Berkelouw Book Shop Norton Street, as Jeni Mawter launched Toni Brisland’s first book:-
‘and now we have Demi Chat and the Kent Street Mystery’ Jeni announced to cheers.
A cat and dog detective team solving mysteries illustrated by cartoonist and graphic illustrator Peter “Zane” Haywood.
Jeni spoke about the journey of writing ‘Wendy Blaxland and Susanne Gervay … and I were talking …about Toni (who) questioned the sanity of her .. journey as a writer. Well, today Toni, finally ….’ you’re published. Congratulations!
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 7/23/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Susanne Gervay, Laurine Croasdale, e-lit, Sue Walker, Aleesah Darlinson, Literature Live!, Bonnie Tratt, J A Mawter, Tina Matthews. Nina Rycroft, Add a tag
The fabulous team of Aleesah Darlinson, Jeni Mawter, Laurine Croasdale, Serena Geddes, Nina Rycroft, Sue Walker and me, were joined by illustrator and Play School Star Nina Matthews to do our first professional e-video conferencing with terrific schools from around NSW from the country to the city
with the technical expertise of NSW Education educators – Michelle Lindsay and Bonnie Tratt.
Huge thankyou to Michelle & Bonnie.
Literature Live takes authors and illustrators through video conferencing to schools across Australia.
It’s been a huge learning curve, but fantastic.
Nina Rycroft designed the Literature Live logo, our t-shirts and all the design work. So apart from being a fantastic illustrator, Nina is a great designer.
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/7/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Susanne Gervay, Room to Read, Melina Marchetta, Writers Festivals, Sutherland Shire Teacher-Librarians, www.youtube.com/user/sgervay. Psycho Dad by Tory, Add a tag
Love Room to Read - thankyou Pam Cook who coordinates the Kids and Room to Read programme
ROOM TO READ has its 10th anniversary at the State Library Sydney
- for its 10,000th library build in developing countries
Join in the celebrations with patrons Melina Marchetta, Deborah Abela and Me
- email Pam Cook and book on e: [email protected]
It’s FREE & your’e all welcome!!!!
Loved speaking to the Sutherland Teacher-Librarians - thankyou to Cecilie Yates who coordinates the Sutherland Shire Teacher Librarians Network.
How beautiful are these scenes of Cronulla Beach.
It was rewarding sharing the inside story of my books with the Professional Learning Day at Cronulla Beach.
Spoke about My JACK books especially ‘Always Jack’ is coming out October 2010 from Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Also talked about ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ with the music and lyrcis by my daughter Tory.
They laughed at the video clip of ‘Psycho Dad’ by Tory that drives my young adult novel.
Enjoy the video clip on my youtube channel – www.youtube.com/user/sgervay
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/6/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Susanne Gervay, Wendy Blaxland, Val Noake, Ursual Dubosarsky, Moya Simons 'Let Me Whisper You My Story', Andsrew Havas, B'nai B'rith, Courage to Care, HarperCollins Publishers, Joanne Fedler, Waverly Library, News, Writing, Add a tag
Moya wrote ‘Let Me Whisper You My Story’ in commemoration of Anna Parnas who died in the Holocaust; Anne’s daughter Eve (Moya’s dear friend), a child survivor; and to advocate for those who suffer injustice and racism.
It was a deeply moving launch with Adrew Havas founder of Courage to Care, part of the worldwide benevolent society called B’nai B’rith, advocating for justice.
Courage to Care goes into schools with facilitators like Moya and Holocaust survivors to talk about a better world.
There were a lots of authors and friends there to celebrate. 
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/5/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: South Korea, Susanne Gervay, Nami Island, Frane Lessac, Writers Festivals, Nami Island International Children's Book Festival, www.nambook.org, Add a tag
From October 1 to November 14, the Nami Island Festival welcomes publishers, writers, children, readers, international delegates from all over the world in a celebration of literature, the arts and peace.
The festival is publishing Peace Story with support from the United Nations.
Peace Story has come from the spirit of this festival which invited authors and illustrators from 22 countries to write about peace and create a unique picture book for the world.
Much loved authors and illustrators from countries including Austria, Bolivia, Turkey, USA …have participated. I was invited to represent Australia.
The award winning illustrator Frane Lessac has illustrated my story ‘Remember East Timor – with love from Australia.’
It is one of the most beautiful projects.
Frane and I will be in Nami Island from 2 to 8 th November for the Festival. Join us if you are there.
For morel information – www.nambook.org
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/1/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Susanne Gervay, Room to Read, Melina Marchetta, Charities, Room to Read. www.roomtoread.org, State Library Macquarie Street Sydney, Tristam Bancks, Add a tag
Melina Marchetta, Tristan Bancks and me, Susanne Gervay, as patrons of Room to Read invite you to celebrate Room to Read’s 10,000th library and its 10th year of operation.
It’s FREE FUN & FABULOUS!!!!!!!
Where? The NSW State Library, Macquareie Street Sydney
When? 10 am-12 p.m. 23 June
Cost: Free entry, donation encouraged.
How to book: For an official invite, contact Pam Cook [email protected].
Room to Read raises funds to support girls’ education, the establishment of school libraries and printing of books in home language in developing countries. www.roomtoread.org
Bringing literacy to the kids of the developing world. 
So far Room to Read is working with kids and communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zambia.
- has reached more than 3000 million kids
- aims to reach 10 million children by 2015
- gives scholarships to girls in remote and poor areas
Have a Great Time & Join Us Celebrating
the 10th Year of Room to Read
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 3/31/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writing, Sally Odgers, Susanne Gervay, Meredith Costain, Marc McBride, Gabrielle Wang, Black Dog Books, Aleesah Darlison, George Ivanoff, Short and Scary edited by Karen Tayleur, Add a tag
The Australia Council for the Arts got it right by supporting this innovative collection of stories and illustrations that are scary, fun, moving, questioning
- and donated by some of Australia’s most loved creators to help kids. All proceeds from the sales go to Australian kids to help them when they need mentoring and support.
SHORT & SCARY
edited by Karen Tayleur
published by Black Dog Books
isbn 9781 7420 31330
Here are some beginnings:-
JARED LOVES Karyn. The wind howled through the trees, as Jared carved a heart around the words……. George Ivanoff
Since time began the Shivers, lurking. Hide behind the human back …. Sally Odgers
ON A DAY of wild storm, a strange bird …. Gabrielle Wang
YOU’D BETTER take a look/ ‘Cos you don’t know who they took …… Meredith Costain illustrated by Marc McBride
THE THREE friends had been arguing the whole way home. …. Aleesah Darlison
Here’s my story -
LUNAR ROSE – ( I love that title).
‘I don’t want a birthday party this year ….. ThIRTEEN is the big one’.
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By: Aline Pereira,
on 12/18/2009
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Christmas, Reading Aloud, Eventful World, Chris Cheng, Susanne Gervay, Literacy and Numeracy Week, Children's Book Council of Australia, Literacy advocate, World Literacy, Lady Cutler Award, Add a tag
Australian author and literacy ambassador Chris Cheng was recently awarded the 2009 Lady Cutler Award, given by the Children’s Book Council of Australia, for his services to children’s literature. One of the ways in which Chris has gone/goes above and beyond his call is by bringing literature to children himself, both through scheduled school visits and more informal, spontaneous connections. His commitment and enthusiasm can be gleaned from the following notes, sent per my request, about reading Christmas stories to children these past few weeks:
One of the joys of being a children’s book author (and a teacher by profession) with a wife who is a teacher librarian, is that I am able to drop in to her school on a regular basis to read to the children. One of my favourite classes to read to is Kindergarten. Reading to little ones daily is one of the things I miss about not being a fulltime classroom teacher.
This year I have visited them quite a few times, simply to have the thrill of reading aloud and getting their reactions to the books. I love the fun of making the characters’ voices (if the text says ”he screams”, I will scream!), of making the sounds to accompany the text, of “reading” the pictures with the children… In the past few weeks I have spent a few afternoons there, reading Christmas stories. Since it’s a Catholic school, it is very easy and appropriate to share the religious significance of Christmas with the children through books. Some books focus on the traditional story of the birth of Jesus; some are told from the viewpoint of the animals in the manger; others celebrate the more secular Christmas images—the reindeer, the present laden sack; Santa Claus; snow…
In some Australian Christmas books Santa Claus appears not in a red thickly lined suit, but in board shorts and sun hats (there is definitely no snow Downunder at Christmas time!). He drives a car, instead of a sleigh, pulled not by reindeer but by kangaroos. I like to expose children to both traditional and non-traditional Christmas books.
In addition to reading the stories aloud, I talked to the students. I asked for their impressions, opinions, perceptions, interpretations. We talked about the illustrations and the words used in the books. This year they talked much about presents. Not just receiving presents, but giving mums and dads presents. I really loved it when, inspired by the books we read, the children started talking about their own experiences and plans:
“We go to church the night before Santa comes.”
“I’m giving a present to my mum.”
“We light candles.”
“I’m getting my dad a present.”
“I’m making my own present and it’s a secret, but I can tell you.” (It’s a wonderful privilege to be let in on their secrets!)Now the school year has ended in Australia. The classrooms are all packed, along with the Christmas decorations. The children are home on holidays—and busy, I imagine, making those secret presents. And it’s a nice, comforting thought to know that, through books, they will continue to learn about the joys of Christmas in all its widely different interpretations—and when it comes to helping spread the joy of reading these and other books, they know they can count on me!
For more on Chris’ work and his reaction to receiving the award, check out his website, and Susanne Gervay’s (winner of the award in 2007) 0 Comments on Chris Cheng’s commitment to literacy: during the holidays and beyond as of 1/1/1900
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 11/23/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Susanne Gervay, Salman Rushdie, Sharon Rundle, Neelum Saran Gour, Picador, Rosie Scott, Sujata Sankranti, Tabish Khair, Temsula Ao, Tom Keneally, News, Young Adult Books, The Hughenden, Meenakshi Bharat, David Malouf, Fear Factor: Terror Incognito, Andrew Y M Kwong, Denise Leith, Devika Brendon, Gulzar, Guy Scotton, Janhavi Acharekar and Meenakshi Bharat; with a foreword by Yasmine Gooneratne, Jaspreet Singh, Jeremy Fisher, Kiran Nargarkar, Meera Kant, Add a tag
Fear Factor: Terror Incognito ed
Bharat, Meenakshi and Rundle, Sharon
Just released in India and to eb released in UK and Australia
Fear Factor: Terror Incognito is a collection of 20 unforgettable stories by well-known and emerging authors from Australia and the Indian subcontinent including David Malouf, Salman Rushdie, Neelum Saran Gour, Tom Keneally, Rosie Scott, Jeremy Fisher, Susanne Gervay, Tabish Khair, Denise Leith, Andrew Y M Kwong, Devika Brendon, Gulzar, Meera Kant, Guy Scotton, Sujata Sankranti, Kiran Nargarkar, Temsula Ao, Jaspreet Singh, Janhavi Acharekar and Meenakshi Bharat; with a foreword by Yasmine Gooneratne.
A unique collaboration between Australia and India, the stories represent these writers protests against the phenomenon of modern terror. They do not offer solutions. Instead, they lead readers along the hidden paths of an unfamiliar psychology to make their own discoveries.
A joint publication with Picador UK and Picador India, Fear Factor: Terror Incognito is essential reading for anyone interested the global phenomenon of terror.
Author Information
Meenakshi Bharat is a translator, reviewer and critic. Her special interests include children’s literature, women’s fiction and English studies – areas which she has researched extensively. Currently, she is engaged in translating a volume of Hindi short stories. She is also getting a volume of short fiction ready for publication. She teaches at the University of Delhi. Sharon Rundle is a writer, editor and lecturer. Her stories, essays and articles have appeared in various publications and have been broadcast on radio, in Australia and internationally, since 1992.
ISBN:
9780330426213
01-03-2010 Australia
Category:
Short Stories
Imprint:
Picador Australia
Price:
$24.99 AUD
Picador Australia has The Australian edition on their website with a March release.
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9780330426213&am
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 9/25/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Writing, School Visits, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Susanne Gervay, Room to Read, Stephen Measday, Charities, Simon French, Brewongle, Sie Whiting, Add a tag
Bush, rocky outcrops, an old school house in Australian wilderness, the Hawkesbury River crossing on a ferry to drive through hilly roads to Brewongle.
If you love the environment, learning, enthused young people, authors and passionate environmentalist teachers, then you’ll love it here.
- Stephen Measday, little Quinn French, Simon French.Sue Whiting, Susanne Gervay
- Adrian and Brewongle Principal Mark Edwards with authors and baby Quinn
By: Aline Pereira,
on 9/6/2009
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Uncategorized, I Am Jack, Susanne Gervay, Morris Gleitzman, The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom, Cathy Wilcox, Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Meredith Hooper, Lynne Cherry, Mark J. Plotkin, The Shaman's Apprentice, Albert Uderzo, Aaron Boyd, Babu's Song, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Bert Kitchen, Bettye Stroud, Erin Susanne Bennet, Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Not so Fast Songololo, René Goscinny, Super Jack, The Two-Hearted Numbat, Toad Away, Tom Crean's Rabbit, Add a tag
I realise that the last update I gave of our progress in the PaperTigers Reading the World Challenge 2009 was just beyond the half-way point - however, the deadline was over a month ago now, at the end of July, so I thought I’d better round it off!
For our last three books we read together:
Toad Away by Morris Gleitzman (Puffin, 2004). All about a brave cane toad wanting to make friends with the human race and traveling with two cousins to the Amazon to find out the secret of their ancestors as to how to achieve this… My two loved this and laughed uproariously at the rather revolting antics that cane toads are wont to get up to. I have to admit that I would probably have encouraged them to read this one on their own if I’d realised at the outset what it was going to be like - but actually, it was good to be a part of something that so appealed to their typical-boy sense of humor…
Super Jack by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox (Angus & Robertson, 2003). The sequel to I Am Jack, this story focuses on Jack’s relationship with his family, especially the newly-introduced son of Rob, his Mum’s boy-friend. A family holiday intended to help everyone get to know each other is certainly eventful before the desired outcome is achieved… This is to be recommended to older children who may be trying to make sense of complex family relationships in their own lives.
Tom Crean’s Rabbit: A True Story from Scott’s Last Voyage by Meredith Hooper, illustrated by Bert Kitchen (Frances Lincoln, 2005). A very special, true story which is a great way to introduce early Antarctic exploration to young children - you can read a review from Create Readers here. This had the added kudos for my children of being a story which their grandad, who spent a year in the Antarctic quite a long time ago now, did not know…
Older Brother rounded off his Book Challenge with 
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud and illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennet (Candlewick Press, 2005); Not so Fast Songololo by Niki Daly (Frances Lincoln, 2001); and a launch into the Asterix books by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
Little Brother read: The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Fremantle Press, 2008); The Shaman’s Apprentice by Lynne Cherry (also the illustrator) and Mark J. Plotkin (Voyager Books, Harcourt, 2001) (which Older Brother had also read…); and Babu’s Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen and illustrated by Aaron Boyd (Lee & Low, 2003).
If you took part in this year’s Challenge, it would be great to hear from you - whether you completed it or not.
Next year may or may not follow a similar rubric - we are open to suggestions…
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 5/15/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Susanne Gervay, Jackie French, Morris Gleitzman, MonkeyBaa Theatre, MonkeyBaa Theatre for Young People, Seymour Centre Sydney, Sonya Hartnett's Thursday's Chld, Add a tag
Susanne getting ready for launch
What a special day with the extraordinary MonkeyBaa Theatre. The talent of the creative directors of MonkeyBaa Tim McGarry, Eva di Cesare and Sandie Eldridge and the talents of the Australian theatre community took my breath away at the Premiere of Thursday’s Child at the Seymour Theatre Sydney.
Morris Glietzman, Jackie French and I accepted with pleasure the role of Patrons of MonkeyBaa Theatre on 15th May at the premiere. The theatre was packed, the energy high and everyone seemed to be there from actors, Australia Council, the NSW Arts bodies, directors, critics, theatre lovers, writers and creators. Launched by the Rt Hon Virigina Judge a Minister for the Arts NSW Government. Loved it all.
For information on MonkeyBaa - www.monkeybaa.com.au
Morris Glietzman, Jackie French. Tim McGarry, Kerry Comerford
- Premiere of MonkeyBaa’s adaptation of Sony Hartnett’s Thursday’s Child
Jackie French and Eva di Cesare
By: Aline Pereira,
on 3/1/2008
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books at Bedtime, The Tiger's Bookshelf, reading aloud to children, The Philippines, Reading Challenge 2008, Alice Lucas, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko, Carl Angel, Folk Stories, I Am Jack, Mga Kuwentong Bayan, Reading Challenge, Stéphan Daigle, Susanne Gervay, The Birdman, Veronika Martenova Charles, bullying, Reading Challenge, Books at Bedtime, Susanne Gervay, I Am Jack, The Philippines, Carl Angel, The Tiger's Bookshelf, Reading Challenge 2008, reading aloud to children, Alice Lucas, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko, Folk Stories, Mga Kuwentong Bayan, Stéphan Daigle, The Birdman, Veronika Martenova Charles, Add a tag
In case you didn’t catch it in January, check out here what the PaperTigers reading Challenge 2008 entails: there’s still plenty of time to join in!
We are running three in parallel in our household as my boys decided they wanted to complete it on their own, as well as do one as a bed-time readaloud… so here are our comments about Book Number One!
Back in October, I wrote a post about I Am Jack by Susanne Gervay - the time to 
read it came at the end of January when Big Brother had a few issues with bullying (now, I’m glad to say, resolved). As usual, I turned to stories as a springboard for discussion and we read it all together as our first Reading Challenge readaloud. Big Brother’s situation had been squashed very early on and certainly never got anywhere near what poor Jack has to endure but reading the book opened up comparisons and empathy. It brought home the importance of talking - and being available to listen. A couple of bedtimes were prolonged to read an extra chapter; and we had a very late night as we arrived at the end – we couldn’t possibly have left it hanging. Once again, I really recommend this book…
Meanwhile, Big Brother* (aged 9) chose Mga Kuwentong Bayan: Folk Stories from The Philippines edited by Alice Lucas and illustrated by Carl Angel. It is published by Many Cultures Publishing, a division of the nonprofit San Francisco Study Center. The book contains three stories: A Creation Story, The Monkey and the Turtle and Aponitolou and the Star Maiden. Here’s what Big Brother has to say about it:
I thought it was brilliant – especially the story where all the stars came onto the ground. It was about a star woman and a human man who fell in love with each other and the husband already had a wife on earth so he had to spend half a year in the sky and half a year down on the ground. I thought it was quite fun to have a different kind of book to read, with almost black and white pictures. I tried reading the Tagalog version but I didn’t get very far!
Little Brother (aged 6) had chosen The Birdman by Veronika Martenova Charles and illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle. It is the poignant true story of a Calcutta tailor who buys and sets 
free the sickly birds that are left at the end of a day’s trading at the market. You can read PaperTigers’ review of the book here, and here are Little Brother’s comments:
I really liked the pictures because they looked very artistic with lots of bright colours and dots on them. I really liked Noor Nobi’s idea of making a flock of poor birds. He set them free and they didn’t go far away because they loved him. I liked that it was a true story because something like that is very good and kind.
We will keep you posted on Number 2 of our Reading Challenge selections. In the meantime, do let us know how you’re getting on, if you’re already on board; or let us know your book choices, if you’re just starting.
* I have Here and There Japan to thank for helping me finally to come up with what to call my children in my blog postings: other possibilities had been commented upon and others were too much of a mouthful… I think this now works?!? So thank you, Annie!
Thanks, Marjorie! I like that you put their ages in ()s. I think I’ll start doing that. I may even go back to add it! Wish I had thought of it 2 years ago!
annie
Marjorie, your sons’ reviews are quite wonderful! Thank you for letting us read them.
Thank you, Annie - and if I’ve given you an idea too, I’m delighted!
Janet, thank you for your kind comments. I now have two beaming boys at this end! And it would be great to hear from other young story-time readers / listeners too…
Marjorie - great post and a good idea of putting ages in ()! Picture book highlights from the month of February that my daughter (7) and I have read together:
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales (Mexico)
Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker, illustrated by Grace Lin (China)
Two of Everything - retold and illustrated by Lily Toy Hang (China)
The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Kazumi Wilds (Japan, USA)
Corinne, this is a wonderful selection of books! Anything in particular your daughter especially loves about any of them? We’ll be featuring a review of The Wakame Gatherers in this month’s update, by the way…
[…] hard to believe that a month has gone by since my first update on our rising to the PaperTigers Reading Challenge but it has and we are just about managing to keep […]