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I’m not sure how or why but I’ve still got many of the board books of my childhood and now, those from my daughter’s early learning days. Their very construction may have something to do with standing up to the test of time. Maybe, I just can’t bear to part with them because of what […]

Loved sharing lunch with some of my very favourite illustrators and Davide Cali in Sydney’s beautiful botanical gardens over looking the harbour. Bliss.

David Cali is an original thinker and creator. His ’10 Little Insects’ is an illustrated/manga book which is crazy, real and inspired by Woody Allen and Monty Python.

Published by Wilkins farago dedicated to translating the best of the world’s Kids’ books – books that reach everyone who wants to enquire, laugh at themselves and the world, then come out with a bit more thinking.

www.wilkinsfarago.com.au

It was wonderful to catch up with the brilliant Donna Rawlins, Wayne Harris, Julie Vivas and Ursula Dubosarsky organised by reviewer, children’s critic, Western Sydney Literature officer Judith Ridge.

PS Ursula is just back from New York where she saw the adaptation of her picture book ”The Terrible Plop’ performed on Broadway.

Margaret Wild is a leading Australian children’s author. She has more than 70 picture books  with so many awards that I’ve lost count.

The adaptation of her brilliant multi award winning  picture book FOX illustrated by Ron Brooks and adapated into an opera by Monkey Baa Theatre www.monkeybaa.com.au was one of the great experiences of theatre.

The Lady Cutler Award gift of an illustration by the beautiful illustrator Julie Vivas will be deeply loved.

Edward Coffey who established the Lady Cutler Award which was sponsored by Hodder Publishers spoke about the importance of recognising those who contribute to children’s literature.

In 2011 Edward Coffey Chairman of  Peribo www.peribo.com.au has become the new sponsor.

Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell award winning fantasy authors spoke about their great-great-great-great mother who wrote the first Australian book ‘A Mother’s Offering’

Celebrations at The NSW Writers Centre for the BIG birthdays of award winning and best selling illustrator Sarah Davis and her husband mathematician Dave were filled with music lead by Sarah’s muso brother and a band of wild and woolly musicians.

Dave sang a wonderful love song to Sarah …… delicious. Every woman’s dream.  

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas.

This may just be my favorite picture book ever. I discovered it during grad school when I worked at a children’s bookstore, and it was love at first read. I don’t think I have ever once read it without tearing up. When I read it to the littles yesterday, Scott had to step in near the end when I was too choked up to speak. It’s a beautiful book, and true in the way that sometimes only fiction is.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a little boy who lives next to an old-age home. He is friends with all the residents and loves to visit them. When he hears his parents say how sad it is that his favorite resident, 93-year-old Miss Nancy, is losing her memory, Wilfrid Gordon quizzes all the other old folks about what a memory is exactly. “It’s something warm,” one tells him. “Something from long ago.” “Something that makes you cry.” “Something that makes you laugh.” And so on.

And so Wilfrid goes off and collects a box of treasures for Miss Nancy—a warm hen egg, a funny puppet, an old medal…

It’s what happens when Miss Nancy handles the gifts that always makes me cry. Perfectly lovely, and Julie Vivas’s tender colored pencil drawings are as lovely and moving as the story.

Author Libby Gleeson and illustrator Julie Vivas

The Lady Cutler Award dinner was filled with authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians and readers. Lady Cutler’s son presented the award this year to Chris Cheng who spoke to us from Hong Kong.

Authors Oliver and Susanne Gervay, Val Noake from e-lit

I gave the citation speech which was innovative over cyberspace.

Chris Cheng accepting the Lady Cutler Award via skype

Kris from Lateral Learning Speakers Agency and author Ursula Dubosarsky

Bill Condon, Jan Latta, Ursula Dubosarsky, Wendy Blaxland ……. who were celebrating Chris’ achievements and the Children’s Book Council.

Chris Cheng, the much loved Australian author and co-RA (leader) of Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Writers (SCBWI) Australia & New Zealand with me - the other coRA of SCBWI.

Chris and his wonderful wife Bini partied at their arty inner city house.

I was excited to Simon French & Donna Rawlings and their smart and car focussed baby - cute as a button. Apologies for the cliche.

Sarah Foster, Chris Cheng, Julie Vivas

Quinn and Margaret Wild

Chris and Bini