August this year was very different from the way it usually is for the CBCA community! I know from social media that many schools and libraries still marked CBCA Book Week in its original spot so it was heartening to see books and their creators being appreciated in the traditional way. In a much-needed bonus for creators who saw their incomes slump as bookings were cancelled there has been, as one Canberra-based author so aptly put it, a recent upsurge in work in CBCA Book Week ‘Original’ as well as in CBCA Book Week ‘Reimagined’ in October.
May I remind you that authors/illustrators are ready and willing to visit schools and libraries in person or virtually and many are willing to record sessions or do online presentations. Most have their own websites or are on social media. Please get in touch if you have difficulty contacting anyone and I’ll try to help.
There is still plenty of time to book an author or illustrator to visit in October (or indeed any time convenient to you) so please consider supporting them in this way. Our wonderful WA creators would be delighted to hear from you and we look forward to you sharing photos of your CBCA Book Week events on our Facebook page and our newly created Instagram account. Many thanks to new committee member, Tyshana McEwen for setting that up. See details further in this newsletter.
I’d also like to formally welcome Kris Williams, our WA Branch Secretary and apologise to Aniek Ragan, who stepped down at the 2020 AGM and whom I accidentally forgot to acknowledge in our previous newsletter for her sterling work as our WA Branch website manager.
We also welcome new committee member Lindsay Fletcher and look forward to benefiting from her expertise in the area of marketing. I am particularly delighted to announce that Natalya Simon (whom many of you might know from The Literature Centre) has accepted the position of Vice President and I know she will make a valuable and positive contribution in the role. It is wonderful to have so many fresh new faces on the committee and so important for the overall succession planning of the Branch to have volunteers willing to commit and take on essential roles.
Following my interim term as the WA Branch representative on the CBCA national board, Sue North briefly took up the role but has since withdrawn so Tania Longman has stepped into the breach and will represent the WA Branch at least until the national AGM in 2021. It’s an exciting and challenging time as we negotiate the path forward for the organisation and we thank Tania for taking this on.
I’m sure we are all aware of counting our blessings in WA and grateful that, despite some restrictions, we are now able to run many of our events and functions. I do hope you will join us for the official CBCA Book Week Opening and Dinner on Friday 16 October, to celebrate the announcement of the Book of the Year winners and acknowledge the recipient of the 2020 Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature. As an added bonus we are offering you the opportunity to purchase a signed, limited edition art work by internationally respected WA author and illustrator Jan Ormerod. Our guest speaker will be dynamic local author, science presenter and STEM champion, Cristy Burne whose effervescent personality, infectious humour and joyous enthusiasm are sure to be the perfect antidote to COVID gloom and doom. It will be a great night so book now!
Would you like to be the owner of a signed, limited edition (18/50), framed print by beloved WA author and illustrator Jan Ormerod?
This evocative illustration, ‘Let the boy dig’ is from Jan’s book Water Witcher which was shortlisted in the CBCA Picture Book of the Year category in 2007. The frame measures 45cm x 43cm. The photos are intended as a guide only and do not do it full justice.
The WA Branch is pleased to offer this art work via silent auction with the winning bidder to be announced at the CBCA Book Week Dinner on Friday 16 October 2020. The bidder does not necessarily need to be present at the Dinner but collection/delivery will be at their expense.
The starting bid is $200. Bids will be accepted in $10 increments. Click here to place your bid. About the book Water Witcher is the story of a family’s struggle to survive on the land during a drought. When Dougie learns that his grandfather has the rare and mysterious gift of water witching, he is determined to see if he, too, can find water on the farm. Jan Ormerod’s rich evocative drawings vividly recreate the harsh beauty of the Australian landscape and bring to life with warmth and character a farming family in the bush.
About the author Jan Ormerod grew up in Western Australia, and as a child she was constantly drawing. After art school she taught art and both tertiary and secondary levels, turning to children’s book illustration after becoming a mother. Jan’s first book, Sunshine, was acclaimed and awarded around the world. She had more than 50 books published with her final work The Swap, written by Andrew Joyner, published after her death. Jan lived in Cambridge, UK. Sadly, she died of cancer in January 2013 and is survived by her two daughters.
CBCA Book Week 2020
Curious Creatures, Wild Minds
Whether you have already celebrated in the original August spot on the calendar or are planning events for official CBCA Book Week 2020 from 17-23 October we’d love to see photographic evidence of your wonderfully creative interpretations of the Curious Creatures, Wild Minds theme. Please tag us on social media using @cbca_wa, use the hashtags #cbcabookweek, #cbcabookweek2020 or send photos to janbooks@aussiebb.com.au
2020 Make Your Own Story Book
Due to COVID there was a surge in individual entries as budding authors and illustrators put their time at home to good use. Our judges are judging the 460 entries and the winners will be notified by the end of September. Non-winning entries will be returned to their owners in late September or early October.
The Awards Ceremony is an invitation only event for winners and their guests. It will be held at The Literature Centre in Fremantle and COVID restrictions will be observed. Our guest speaker is Michael Speechley, author and illustrator of The All New Must Have Orange 430 and The Gift.
While our budding authors and illustrators were creating their entries, Sean E Avery, author and illustrator of All Monkeys Love Bananas and Harold and Grace was extremely busy creating a series of 26 video clips. These clips supported our entrants through every stage of the storybook and picture book making process, right down to returning to the entry form and checking each requirement had been included. They were amazing and the MYOSB team cannot thank him enough for his commitment.
As he worked developed the videos, Sean created an ‘on the fly’ picture book – Happy as a Hog out of Mud – to demonstrate each part of the book making process. This book was spotted by Melbourne’s Larrikin House publishers and will be released in April 2021. Sean’s comment on this amazing coup – “It cracks me up that I just did it on the fly to demonstrate a concept to kids! Just goes to show that the best creative work comes out when you don’t over-think things.”
Congratulations Sean!
Denise Robins
CBCA WA Branch Instagram
The WA Branch is excited to announce that we are now officially on Instagram. The aim of this network is to provide timely announcements about CBCA events – both nationally and locally – and an interesting, up-to-date, well-curated selection of posts that are relevant to Australian children’s literature. We are especially keen to promote our WA creators on this platform and would love you to join us. We would love to connect with local authors, illustrators, publishers, libraries, bookshops, teachers, librarians and anyone interested in children’s literature. You can follow us @cbca_wa, tag us in your relevant posts and share our page with friends, colleagues and family! Keep an eye out for our trending hashtags #cbcawa #cbca2020 #cbcabookweek2020. If WA Branch members have any achievements or new books to share, please get in touch through our Instagram page.
2020 CBCA Book Week Merchandise
It is not too late to order official merchandise from the WA Branch .You can download an order formhere.
We remind you to enjoy the free downloadable activities for CBCA Book Week 2020 created by Gwyn Perkins.
Using the Curious Creatures, Wild Minds theme, Gwyn Perkins has created colouring posters, bookmarks and a special Draw your own curious creature activity to allow children to invent their own. All are available for download from our WA Branch websiteas well as the CBCA Book Week Resources page on the National website: https://cbca.org.au/book-week-resources
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards
Congratulations to Holden Sheppard and Meg McKinlay who were among the recent winners of the WA Premier's Book Awards. The announcements were made at the State Library of WA on 7 August and the ceremony was live-streamed on Youtube. If you missed out on the ceremony, please click here for the full article and to watch the video.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Holden Sheppard whose award-winning novel Invisible Boys has been picked up by Australian director Nicholas Verso and producer Tania Chambers for television and movie rights. Please read more information on the Fremantle Press website.
Book Discussion Group
Davina Bell’s first YA novel, The End of the World is Bigger than Love, generated lively discussion that continued post-meeting on the footpath outside Oasis Lotteries House. Were Summer and Winter really identical twin sisters or were they the same person coming to terms with trauma and grief? If only Davina Bell had been at our discussion so we could interrogate her.
For the rest of 2020, meetings will be held at Oasis Lotteries House, Hampden Rd Nedlands at 7.00pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Here are the amazing books for the rest of the year.
23 September
The Lost Soul Atlas
by Zana Fraillon Hachette
Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow was a CBCA Honour Book in 2017.
28 October
The Erasure Initiative
Lili Wilkinson Allen & Unwin
Lili Wilkinson established the insideadog.com.au website, the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature and is the author of 11 YA novels.
25 November
The History of Michief
by Rebecca Higgie Fremantle Press
WA author, Rebecca Higgie won the inaugural Fogarty Literary Award for her manuscript of The History of Mischief.
Aussie STEM Stars
Check out Aussie STEM Stars - an exciting and inspiring new series from Wild Dingo Press that celebrates experts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Perfect for children in the 10-13 age range, the first three books in the series will be released this month and there is a strong WA connection with Cristy Burne and Dianne Wolfer as the authors of the Fiona Wood and Munjed Al Muderis titles respectively. Each book follows the real-life story of Australia’s top scientists and inventors, chosen on the basis of their pioneering work. Themes explored in the books include childhood, school, family and formative experiences, what inspired them to pursue their chosen path, how they persevered in the face of challenges and what they have contributed to science in Australia.
Paper Bird books in Fremantle is hosting a Sundowner on 11 September where Cristy and Dianne will launch their titles. RSVPs are essential due to COVID restrictions: cj@cristyburne.com
Cristy Burne will also be the guest speaker at the CBCA WA Branch Book Week Opening and Dinner on Friday 16 October and thanks to Wild Dingo Press we have copies of all three books to give away as raffle prizes.
Red Paper Kite
Red Paper Kite is a boutique independent publishing company based in Perth and created by French illustrator Sandra van Doorn. As a child she loved to scribble and doodle in her books so each RPK title incorporates colouring pages and space for the reader to add their own illustrations or narrative, making it a truly unique keepsake. To quote Sandra, “Multiculturalism is at the forefront of our brand, so you will notice our books are a beautiful blend of Australian Authors and foreign Illustrators. We are very proud of adding our books to the already beautiful publishing landscape of WA. By the way, one of our titles, HUGO The boy with the curious mark, is written by local Author Johann Devezy”.
In Memoriam
VALE Goldie Alexander
Children's author Goldie Alexander passed away, age 84, on 3 August after a battle with cancer.
Recent Book Launches from WA Authors and Illustrators
Happy Hearts
by Jevita Nilson
Illustrated by
Marina Zlatanova
Published by New Holland
A heartwarming time was had by all, celebrating the launch of Jevita Nilson’s debut picture book Happy Hearts, Sunday 23 August at Joondalup’s Peppermint Grove Cafe.
Jevita wrote the book to help herself and her young family heal in the face of losing her mother when only just becoming a mother herself. The book is beautifully illustrated and imaginatively written and shares the story of the unique bond between young Zachary and his Nanna, connecting mind and hearts after loss.
Joanne Morrell
A Crocodile in the Family
by Kitty Black
Illustrated by Daron Parton
Published by Hachette
Bedtime, Daddy!
by Sharon Giltrow
Illustrated by Katrin Dreiling
Published by Exisle
A sunny afternoon on the 29 of August, a packed Paper Bird courtyard, a basket full of pink sprinkled doughnuts and the launch of two very special picture books.
Inspired by her son’s crocodile impersonations and unique qualities, Kitty Black constructed A Crocodile in the Family. A stunningly entertaining story about a family of birds who discover an egg. When the egg hatches and out pops a crocodile, the bird family defend keeping and caring for him against the animal community. This is a story about love, belonging and how one family doesn’t fit all.
Bedtime Daddy is a joyful, comical, resourceful story of role play during what majority of parents know to be the rigorous bedtime routine A baby bear acts as the parent whilst the Daddy bear happily plays the child. He brushes his teeth, gets into his teeny pyjamas and even goes to the potty. Sharon’s stuffed bear and passionate reading of her work kept the group of children and adults enthralled whilst listening to this fun story. The perfect present for Father’s Day.
Joanne Morrell
We Love You, Magoo
by Briony Stewart
Published by Penguin
The famous Sharon ensured that the launch of We Love You, Magoo by Briony Stewart was just fabulous. The sun was shining as children learnt how to draw Magoo and then joined their pets for the dog parade. Local authors Karen Blair, Renae Hayward and Mark Greenwood, whose dog Banjo made a guest appearance, had a tough job picking best in show. Paper Bird was on hand with copies of Briony's books as were many SCBWI members to launch Magoo into the world.
Kris Williams
Little Book Bites
If you have a picture of a child, family member, pet or any other interesting reader you'd like to feature in our electronic newsletter, we'd love to see it! Please email it to beckborona@gmail.com.
New Releases from WA Authors, Illustrators and Publishers
Rebecca Higgie The History of Mischief
Fremantle Press
September 2020
Briony Stewart We Love You, Magoo
Penguin
September 2020
Steve Heron
Illustrated by Benjamin Johnston Ling Li's Lantern
MidnightSun Publishing
September 2020
James Foley Chickensaurus
Fremantle Press
September 2020
Shirley Marr
Illustrated by Katy Jiang Little Jiang
Fremantle Press
September 2020
Hélène Magisson Claudette
Red Paper Kite
October 2020
Sigi Cohen
Illustrated by James Foley There's Something Weird
About Lena
Walker Books
October 2020
Meg McKinlay
Illustrated by Matt Ottley How to Make a Bird
Walker Books
October 2020
Gabriel Evans Norton and the Bear
Berbay
October 2020
Dates for Your Diary
It’s so exciting to see that live book launches are happening again. Please check our social media – Facebook and Instagram - for the most current information about these.
21 - 25 September, School Excursions
28 September - 2 October, Public Program Perth Cultural Centre
Francis Street & William Street, Northbridge
Please visit the Awesome Arts website for more information.
Ling Li's Lantern Book Launch and Lantern Party Please visit Steve Heron's Facebook page for further information and to confirm times closer to the dates.
How to Make a Bird
Book Launch
by Meg McKinlay
and Matt Ottley 6.00pm
Thurs 29 October
The Literature Centre
Knutsford St & Hampton Rd
Fremantle
WA Branch Supporting Bookstores
Buy your books from the experts at these stores and receive the discount offered to all CBCA members.
CBCA WA Branch Committee Members President - Jan Nicholls, Vice President - Natalya Simon,
Liz Allen, Nola Allen, Beck Borona, Sharon Coppin, Mary Gimondo,
Felicia Harris, Lorraine Horsley, Sarah Klass, Tania Longman,
Sheena Matthews, Chloe Mauger, Tyshana McEwen, Trish Montgomery, Denise Robins, Gail Spiers, Jane Stanton, Sue Stopher, Kris Williams,
Tracey Willis, Sally Woffenden.
National Board Director: Tania Longman Newsletter Editor: Beck Borona Website Manager: Sarah Klass WA Book of the Year Judges: Sandi Parsons, Jan Pocock
