Love being part of the Australian contingent.
Shaun Tan inspired a packed auditorium at Imperial College London.
Shan Tan is such a deep thinker but with lots of humour and self deprecation too. He accepts the frailties of life, observes, is in the malstrom of lifes he illustrates the human condition – its quirkiness, challenges, and that endless curiosity that drives us all.
Robin Morrow presenting on Bob Graham’s work which was great.
Loved Frane Lessac’s session with her colourful, celebratory picture books embracing all cultures.
Loved Mark Greenwood’s earthy, real work with indigenous communities in the West which he translates into significant historical picture books many illustrated by Frane Lessac.
In my own session on Ships in the Field,I explored how my personal story that translates to the universal story of an immigrant world seeking family, love and home.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS were but British academics Marjorie Couglan Editor of Paper Tigers respected e-journal and
Janet Evans Lecturer in Education Liverpool Hope University
both presented Australian Picture books including Arim Greder’s ‘Island; John Marsden’s and Matt Ottely’s ‘Home and Away’.
It was a special day.
I was touched when Merle Harris from Canada, was excited to meet me because she has been teaching I AM JACK for many years and it’s part of her school curriculum. Their one lonely copy can now be supplemented with I Am Jack being published in the USA (Kane Miller ) at last. So deeply felt.
Shared with the Director of Library Services, Friends Seminary a Quaker School ‘Ships in the Field’. She’s taking it back to New York for her school.
Brilliant panel with Bart Moeyaert, award winning Belgium author translated into many languages and iconic Aidan Chambers Hans Christian Andersen Medal award winner and winner of the Carnegie Medal for ‘Postcards from No Man’s Land’.
They are champions of translating literature into English. Aidan gave some funny examples of mistranslation.
Actually I worry about how my ‘Butterflies’ truly reads in Bahasa (Indonesian) as the book looks cut down and censored. I’d never know.
Finally, so excited about meeting the Slovenian contingent, especially Veronika Rot Gabrovec, lectuere University of Ljublijana Slovenia. Veronika teaches Australian literature and knows my Slovenian publisher of ‘I Am Jack’ – just translated.Exciting to connect to the world through literature.
Great to share it with the Australian contingent, Robin Morrow and Jenni Woodroffe from IBBY Australia, and Frane Lessac illustrator exaordinaire.
