Five New Prints by David Miller

David has a unique illustration technique creating colourful, detailed, three dimensionl paper sculptures. This technique is beautifully captured in his range of prints from his new book Millie's Special Something by Tania Cox (Penguin Books), Lofty's Mission by Krista Bell (Hachette Livre Australia), and books written by David Rufus the Numbat (Ford Street Publishing) and Big and Me (Ford Street Publishing).  

City Library, National Year of Reading and Australian Children's Literature Alliance event

On Thursday Nov 29, (the hottest night in Melbourne for one hundred years!) The City Library hosted a wonderful event to mark the last showing of the Are We There Yet? Exhibition that has been touring Australia for this National Year of Reading. It has been a privilege for Books Illustrated to be involved in this tour. Check the NYoR website for the winners of the National competition which has been associated with this tour.

The highlight of this joint event between National Year of Reading, The Australian Children’s Literature Alliance and the City of Melbourne Library Services were talks by our Australian Children’s Laureates Alison Lester & Boori Monty Pryor. Both gave a taste of their first year in this new position, as well as  their personal projects, that they will continue to develop during 3013. You can learn more about the laureate position, projects and how to become involved on the ACLA website.

A bonus highlight for the audience was a presentation by Ann James on behalf of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) to Bob Graham. The presentation was a certificate of his 2012 nomination for the prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Award. This award is presented each two years to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.

Inverloch 'Magic Beach' National Year of Reading exhibition

In November Books Illustrated curated an exhibition of Alison's work from Magic Beach at Inverloch Library to celebrate the success of National Year of Reading. In true Australian Children's Laureate style Alison took to the surf before joining the event at the Inverloch Library. There were fish n' chips, Zart Art kids workshops, and of course, Story Time with Alison. Thanks to the Inverloch Library team, Swellmamas, and the National Year of Reading for organising this event!

New Prints from 'Herman and Rosie'

We have three new prints from Gus Gordon’s fabulous new picture book Herman & Rosie (Penguin Books Australia). Set in New York, this gorgeous picture book by Gus Gordon is a story about friendship, life in the big city, and following your dreams.
This is a tale about a big city. It's a tale of hotdogs and music and the summertime subway breeze. It's a tale of singing on rooftops and toffees that stick to your teeth. But most of all, it's the tale of Herman and Rosie.

'And it stayed in her head (like good tunes do)' $195

'Quirky, soulful and alive . . . a book to treasure, like a favourite song.' Markus Zusak.
For Jazz buffs read the review on Jazz Planet blog!

 

Exhibitions opening this November

Exhibitions 

Are we there yet?: A Creative Journey

The last venue for this tour for the National Year of Reading.Don’t miss the chance to see this great exhibition of Alison Lester's art celebrating the diversity of Australian life - in the heart of Melbourne!
The Gallery @ City Library, Melbourne, Nov 12 to Nov 30253 Flinders Lane Melbourne (close to the CAE)03 9658 9844   www.melbourne.vic.gov.au 

Mirror

Books Illustrated has been assisting Jeannie Baker tour her Mirror exhibition around Australia for three years. The last venue is Blacktown Arts Centre, NSW where it will be shown from 
November 12 to February 2, 2013. The Opening will be held on November 24. www.artscentre.blacktown.nsw.gov.au 
 

Special gifts for that time of year!

Come and say hi! We will be having an Open Day/Open House at the Books Illustrated Showroom on...

Sunday November 25, 10.30am to 4.30pm. 

Visit to see our range of signed books and prints  … and SPECIALS! Ann James will be there to personalise and sign her books.

Want to order prints or books to have posted and received by Christmas?  Please check with us if you want to order in December, as Australia Post have provided guides for lodgement cut- off dates.

Congratulations to Glenda Millard & Greg Rogers

Every two years, IBBY (The International Board on Books for Young People) publish an Honour List of outstanding, recently published books honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. 

These books are considered the best in children's literature from each country and suitable for publication throughout the world, providing insight into the diverse cultural, political and social settings in which children live and grow. (If you are interested in the work of IBBY Australia visit their website). 

This year two Australian books were included on this honour list - Glenda Millard’s novel A small free kiss in the Dark and Gregory Rogers picture book The Hero of little Street. It’s fabulous that we have Australian books recognised internationally! Our congratulations and a reminder that three limited edition prints are available from Greg’s wonderful series of wordless picture books.

New prints from Alison Lester's classic 'Magic Beach'

We are excited to announce three new prints from Alison Lester’s picture book Magic Beach (Allen & Unwin).This well loved classic celebrated it’s 20 year anniversary in 2010 with a special edition with a limited edition wall frieze. This hardback edition, signed by Alison, is available at the special price of $19.99.

'...we walk when it's cloudy and grey' $250

`...we swim in the sparkling sea` $250

'...we bask in the glow of the fire' $250

Spring at Books Illustrated

Here is Books Illustrated's country office - and Ann James's studio. I'm working on my, so far, nameless new picture book.

Spring has certainly sprung up here, bees are buzzing, birds are nesting and making a pretty racket and it's quite a fresh and lively catalyst for us!

Ann x

Anna Walker at Fed Square Saturday 13 October

Meet Anna Walker at Books Illustrated's Stand, Fed Square Book Market
Saturday October 13, between 2pm & 5pm

This month Books Illustrated will be at Federation Square on: 
• October 13 - Meet Anna Walker and celebrate the release of her two new picture books Peggy, published by Scholastic and Today We Have No Plans, written by Jane Godwin and published by Penguin.
  Watch Anna illustrate and have a book personally signed!

The Federation Square Book Market runs each Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Books Illustrated attends on one Saturday a month - usually the second Saturday of the month when we feature a new book or an illustrator demonstrating on the Atrium screen. 

Current Illustration Exhibitions

Don't miss the last days of this exhibition of contemporary book illustration - closes October 7! The exhibition, curated by Customs House Gallery is showing at Blarney Books, 37 James St in lovely Port Fairy -  a great day trip for the school holidays! Open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 4pm.

     

Illustrations by - Sarah Davis, Sue deGennaro, Walter Di Qual, Leigh Hobbs, Chris McKimmie, Andrew McLean, David

Miller, Cat Rabbit & Isobelle Knowles, Sonnia martinez, Lucia Masciullo, Craig Smith, Shaun Tan, Anna walker and Bruce Whatley. Art by Chris McKimmie from Alex and the Watermelon Boat published by Allen & Unwin.

At Home with Bob Graham

We enjoyed an 'At Home' at Books Illustrated Showroom with Bob Graham on Sunday September 30, with visitors calling in to meet Bob and offer congratulations on A Bus Called Heaven winning the Picture Book of the Year Award in this year's CBCA Awards.

Audrey of the Outback in Paju Book City, Korea

Christine Harris and Ann James' delightful character Audrey of the Outback was ready to greet Books Illustrated when they arrived in Paju Book City...

Illustration from 'It's a Miroocool!' 

Gus Gordon's book launch

Unfortunately we can't make it but we thought you might like to go to the launch of Gus Gordon's fabulous new picture book...

To find out more about Herman and Rosie visit Gus' blog here. 

The launch of 'The Wattle Tree' at the Royal Botanical Gardens Shop

Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens shop Sunday September 16th for the launch of this charming new picture book The Wattle Tree written by John Bell and illustrated by Ben Wood.

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Books Illustrated at Paju Book City

September Exhibition - Books Illustrated in Korea  

• Paju Book City Booksori Festival

Books Illustrated has been invited to present an exhibition of Australian Children’s Book Illustration at the inaugural Booksori Festival which will run from Sept 16 to 23.  The festival is the largest Book Festival in Asia and is being developed as a mecca for the international publishing Industry.

 

The heart of the exhibition is a series of promotional prints curated for the Bologna Book Fair this year. It will be augmented with other sections promoting Australian Literature including Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing DVD and a promotion of the inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate position held jointly by Alison Lester and Boori Monty Prior. As well as events with publishers we will be running illustration workshops with visiting children.

Paju Book City is an amazing concept in itself –‘A place where people, books and culture are in harmony’. It is a specially designed city focussing on books. To celebrate producing books, in 2011 the city started creating bookstores with libraries, exhibition spaces and book cafes in publishing houses under the name of Check Bang Geo Ri (Street of Bookstores). As a result, 42 bookstores have been opened and the city has become a member of the IOB (International Organization of Booktowns). We are excited that representatives from Australia's own booktown, Clunes, will also be at the festival. 

We look forward to being part of this festival and sharing it with you soon!

Ann James at last year's opening ceremony.

Dean Dowen at Central Goldfields Gallery, Maryborough

The next exhibition to follow The Lost Thing at this Central Goldfields Gallery in Maryborough, Victoria is:

Returning Comet by Dean Bowen.

1st September - 14th October 2012 

Dean, is well know for his fine art but his first picture book Song for Lorkie, written by Jennifer Castles and published by Allen & Unwin in 2011 was selected to be shown at the Bologna Book Fair in March this year and will be featured at the Paju Book City festival in South Korea in September. 

Metempirical
2011
Oil on Linen
122 X 244 cm

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Recent Books Illustrated Exhibitions

Recent Books Illustrated Exhibitions
• Bark! Bark! Bark! An Exhibition of Terry Denton’s illustrations at Cube Gallery in Frankston This was a fun exhibition celebrating the National Year of Reading and Children's Book Week offering people many opportunities to meet Terry and hear him speak and attend his workshops.

• The Lost Thing: Book to Film
An Exhibition of the art of Shaun Tan at Central Goldfields Gallery in Maryborough in Victoria.

Amongst the many visitors, school children who've come the exhibition are now creating their own lost things inspired by workshops with Ann James and Friends of the Gallery. These will be exhibited at a venue in Maryborough from September 1 to October 14.


                     Lost Things created by Ann James as inspiration for kids' workshops

New giclee prints by Anna Walker

Check out our website for new prints now in stock at Books Illustrated,
including a number of beautiful illustrations from Anna Walker's new book Peggy.

Anna Walker

'Peggy and the pigeons' is one of the new prints available from Anna Walker's new picture book Peggy, $90. Published by Scholastic Australia.

2012 CBCA Book of the Year Awards

2012 CBCA Book of the Year Awards 

Congratulations to the authors, illustrators and publishers of award-winning titles for this year in the prestigious CBCA Book of the year Awards.  You can check out the list at  www.cbca.org.au and read the judge’s report in the latest edition of Reading Time (Journal of the CBCA).

A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham

We are delighted that A Bus called Heaven has been awarded The Picture Book of the Year.

We'd like to congratulate Bob Graham, and guessed there are many others who would like to also.
So we have invited Bob to be our guest at an Open Day at Books Illustrated on Sunday September 30.
Bob will be here to chat and sign books between 2pm & 5pm.

Bob Graham is a multi CBCA Award-winner and creator of many classic Australian picture books including Greetings from Sandy Beach, Crusher is Coming, How to Heal a Broken Wing and so many more …
 

Please visit Books Illustrated show room on Sunday September 30th and congratulate Bob in person!

Jane Tanner at Fed Square

We had a lovely time at the last Federation Square Book Market and were thrilled to be joined by illustrator/author Jane Tanner promoting her new book, Lily and the Fairy House.

Here are some photos of Jane's enthralled and engaged audience - adults and children alike! A lovely day, we look forward to the next Jane Tanner day at Fed Square!

We also displayed prints from her new book which are now up on our website too!

To view more prints by Jane visit the  Books Illustrated Prints page. 

Books Illustrated Print Displays for Hire

These digital giclee prints of original illustrations represent the work of picture book illustrators from around Australia and can be viewed on the Books Illustrated website.
Displays may be especially suited to libraries and schools looking for a way to promote an interest and engagement with picture books; small gallery spaces - waiting rooms, foyers etc.
Prints can suit events or themes eg. Book Week celebrations; Units of work focussing on illustrator studies; Media and techniques used in picture books; Environment. Please contact us if you are interested to find out more information. 

Freya Blackwood

Anna Walker

Felicity Marshall

A Scritchy Scratchback Success!

We had a lovely day yesterday with two groups of kids at Gasworks Arts Park doing scratchback workshops - what a talented bunch!

Here's one way to create scratchback artworks if you would like to try these at home. *And please feel free to comment on this post if you have other tried and tested recipes!

Materials: A4 or A3 paper, oil pastels, black acrylic paint, a scratching instrument like scissors

How to:

- Practice the design (in ours they used reference material about animals to practice drawing characters/creatures)
- Make sketches for the design using your drawings as inspiration
- Cover all of a new sheet of white (cartridge) paper with a good coating of oil pastel (pretty dense)
- Either:
- Paint whole surface with black acrylic paint
- or
- Only paint your creature as a silhouette onto the surface
- Then... leave it to dry
- Using a sharp instrument, scratch through the black paint to create patterns or lines that bring through the colours of the oil pastels below!

Enjoy! And remember it takes a bit of practice but once you've got the hang of it this style of artwork can be beautiful!

Scrathback in action!

An example where the silhouette of the creature was painted on in black and then scratchback was used to create texture and pattern. 

This is an example of where the entire page was covered in black paint and the shape of the creature was scratched out.