Children’s Literature returns to Dromkeen Homestead! Launch December 7

Children’s Literature returns to Dromkeen Homestead!

Dromkeen Homestead’s new owners and Books Illustrated Gallery are celebrating the history of Dromkeen and Australia children’s literature with the opening of an exhibition of The John Barrow Collection of Australian Children’s Book Illustration on Sunday December 7.

This will be the first showing of the John Barrow collection which includes original artworks by some of Australia’s well-known illustrators including Graeme Base, Ann James, Alison Lester, Bob Graham, Terry Denton, Jane Tanner, Julie Vivas and many more.

The collection features work from the modern classic era of Australian Children’s Literature, 1980 -2004.

This is an opportunity for creators, publishers, booksellers, teachers, librarians and other children’s literature enthusiasts to revisit Dromkeen, reminisce with some vintage books and illustration and gain insight into the future vision for the homestead.

Invitation attached  - RSVP by Dec 3
Dromkeen Homestead, Riddells Creek, Victoria

The John Barrow Collection 
John Barrow, a primary school teacher with a love of story in many forms, began his collection of original book illustration with two purchases from the newly opened Books Illustrated Gallery in 1988. This intriguing collection, which continued until his death in 2004, comprises over 133 illustrations and books, and reflects both his personality and the Australian publishing and illustration styles of three decades.

About Dromkeen Homestead
Many will fondly remember the halcyon days of children’s literature at Dromkeen homestead in Riddles Creek, Victoria. Purchased by booksellers Joyce and court Oldmeadow in the 1970s it became a literary destination until 2008 when the property was sold and the valuable Dromkeen collection of children’s literature, featuring original manuscripts and illustrations (established in 1974), was housed at the State Library of Victoria.
The homestead is now being re invented as an event venue. One of the new owners, Bernadette Joiner, a teacher with a passion for children’s literature, is keenly rekindling the homestead’s connection with this part of it’s history.  www.dromkeen.com.au

About Books Illustrated
Books Illustrated has been promoting Australian picture books and their creators for over 25 years. Starting as a gallery in 1988, it has had an interesting history that has culminated in a program of exhibitions promoting the work of Australian book creators throughout Australia and overseas.
www.booksillustrated.com.au

For publicity information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Ann Haddon info@booksillustrated.com.au       Ph: 03 9534 7751

Oz children’s books revealed for the Hello! from Australia exhibition at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015

Oz children’s books revealed for the Hello! from Australia exhibition at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015

Media Release: Friday, 6 November 2014

Illustrations from 32 books have been selected out of 109 submissions from 24 Australian publishers for 2015 Hello! from Australia exhibition. The works, which celebrate and promote the vibrancy and variety of Australia's children's book illustrators and publishing, will be showcased at the 2015 Bologna Children's Book Fair.

The exhibition is the seventh annual display of Australian children books to be displayed at the fair, and is an initiative of the Australian Publishers Association created in partnership with Books Illustrated, funded by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.

The Australian illustrated titles to be represented at Bologna include:

·       One Minute's Silence (David Metzenthen, illustrated by Michael Camilleri, Allen & Unwin)

·       Our Village in the Sky (Janeen Brian, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, Allen & Unwin)

·       The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and the Present (Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Freya Blackwood, Allen & Unwin)

·       Thunderstorm Dancing (Katrina Germein, illustrated by Judy Watson, Allen & Unwin)

·       The Unlikely Story of Bennelong and Phillip (Michael Sedunary, illustrated by Bern Emmerichs, Berbay Publishing)

·       On a Small Island (Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Fremantle Press)

·       Caravan Fran (Cheryl Orsini, Hachette Australia)

·       The Arrival (Shaun Tan, Hachette Australia)

·       The Hairy-nosed Wombats Find A New Home (Jackie French, illustrated by Sue De Gennaro, HaperCollins)

·       Mike I Don't Like (Jol & Kate Temple, illustrated by Jon Foye, HaperCollins/ABC)

·       Withering-By-Sea (Judith Rossell, HaperCollins/ABC)

·       Outside (Libby Hathorn, illustrated by Ritva Voutila, Little Hare/Hardie Grant Egmont)

·       Silly Birds (Gregg Dreise, Magabala)

·       Alphabet City Zoo (Maree Coote, Melbournestyle Books)

·       One Step at a Time (Jane Jolly, illustrated by Sally Heinrich, MidnightSun Publishing)

·       Tea and Sugar Christmas (Jane Jolly, illustrated by Robert Ingpen, National Library of Australia)

·       A River (Marc Martin, Penguin Books Australia)                  

·       Hasel and Rose (Caroline Magerl, Penguin Books Australia)         

·       The Greatest Gatsby (Tohby Riddle, Penguin Books Australia)     

·       Tim and Ed (Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner, Penguin Books Australia)

·       Alligator in an Anorak (Darron Parton, Random House Australia)             

·       Alfie's Lost Sharkie (Anna Walker, Scholastic)

·       Thelma the Unicorn (Aaron Blabey, Scholastic)

·       Forest of Bones (David Kennett, Omnibus Books/Scholastic)

·       Imagine a City (Elise Hurst, Omnibus Books/Scholastic)

·       The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade (Davina Bell, illustrated by Allison Colpoys, Scribe Publications)

·       Sticks & Stones, Animal Homes (Tai Snaith, Thames & Hudson)

·       Sylvia (Christine Sharp, University of Queensland Press)

·       Bogtrotter (Margaret Wild, illustrated by Judith Rossell, Walker Books Australia)

·       Vanilla Ice Cream (Bob Graham, Walker Books Ltd)

·       Bridie's Boots (Phil Cummings, illustrated by Sara Acton, Working Title Press)

·       Scary Night (Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Stephen Michael King, Working Title Press)

In addition to the illustrations, the exhibition also includes the display of more than 100 contemporary Australian illustrated books published in 2014 and 2015.

The exhibition aims to:

·       support publishers in the promotion and sale of rights

·       facilitate contact between Australian publishers and international agents and promoters

·       promote Australian culture internationally, and

·       draw attention to the diversity and depth of Australian children’s books.

Previous Bologna exhibitions of Hello! from Australia have received an enthusiastic afterlife at other book festivals and fairs, including presentations at:

–      Paju Bookcity in South Korea;

–      the National Youth and Children’s Library, Seoul;

–      the Korea Foundation Cultural Gallery, Seoul;

–      the inaugural International Illustration Concours on Nami Island, Korea; and

–      the Capital Library Beijing, China, as part of Australian Writers Week.

A highlight of the 2015 fair will be the presence of the Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French who will give the opening speech at the Australia Party and be part of the second international Children’s Laureate Summit in Bologna.

For more information please contact Ann Haddon at Books Illustrated on info@booksillustrated.com.au
or +61 3 9534 7751

View the 2014 catalogue online here.

The 2015 rights catalogue will be released in February 15.

Travel back into history
next Saturday, November 1,
at Clunes in central Victoria !

Books Illustrated will be showing a moving exhibition of illustrations from picture books about war, in particular WW1 and ANZAC. Appropriately, the exhibition will be hung in the RSL Hall, in the main street of this historic gold mining town.

Many of the illustrators and authors will be there to talk about their experience of creating these books.

Books available for sale and signingWe look forward to seeing you there ...

www.clunesbooktown.com.au

A Week in Korea Sept 7 to Sept 14

We are arrived to a very hot and humid Seoul on Sunday Sept 7. After approx 90 mins drive north of Seoul and a short ferry ride we were on Nami Island - a balmy evening, paths lit with recycled fairy lights  ...

Next morning we were able to see the view from our rooms more clearly ...

The Hello! from Australia exhibition of book illustration and contemporary children’s picture books, shown in March this year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, was beautifully re-curated for Nami Island's Pyeonghwarang Gallery. Australia was the focus country for their Chusok festival held this week - the exhibition promoting Australian culture and the link between Australia and Korea through children’s illustration and books - The Hello! from Australia banner was featured all over the island !

The  Holiday draws thousands of visitors to the island and we held workshops with children and illustrators and enjoyed a special planned Aussie BBQ!

On Thursday 11 we travelled back to Seoul to have meetings, including at the National Library for Children & Youth and at Paju Book City.

It's been such a full week that we haven't had the time to communicate beyond what we've been involved in, but we look forward to 
being able to share some of our experiences after we've arrived home!

Mud & Magic

The opening of Ann James' exhibition Mud & Magic was on Friday 1 August, 1.30pm at Central Goldfields Old Fire Station Art Gallery in Maryborough central Victoria. The exhibition will run from 2 August - 7 September celebrating Ann James' 32 year career illustrating picture books for Australian children. Featuring 'I'm A Dirty Dinosaur' written by Janeen Brian and published by Penguin Books. 

Beginning with A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle, Ann's first book in 1981, the exhibition presents Illustrations and background process from many books including the Penny Pollard series, Lucy Goosey, Sadie and Ratz, The Butterfly, Shutting the Chooks In, The Way I Love You, It’s a Miroocool! and Bird & Bear, which demonstrates Ann's playful approach to making pictures with a variety of mediums and techniques.

Ann has painted a giant Dirty Dinosaur mural on the back wall of the gallery painted with mud from her dam in Central Victoria!. Over 700 school children will visit the exhibition through August adding their own magic to the swamp mural with creatures they have created. Ann will run a workshop at the gallery on Saturday August 30 for 8 to 12 year olds. Visit  Ann's page on Books Illustrated.

Kid's magic pencils and mud painting inspired by Ann's book

The Opening of Illustration House - a great step forward for Illustration!

After many years of planning, the first public gallery in Britain dedicated to Illustration Artwork in all it's forms opened on July 2.

While in London earlier this year, we were privileged to be shown through the new home for Illustration House - still in renovation mode. Even then, we could see the potential for exciting programs with flexible exhibition and workshop spaces. The location of the 'house-like' building is in the fabulous central location of Granary Square near King's Cross Station.

 Their inaugural exhibition Inside Stories showcases the work of one of the UK's most important and best-loved illustrators - Quentin Blake, who says -
The House of Illustration is about to do something remarkable. Illustration has been one of the most distinctive strands in the history of British art and I'm delighted there will now be a dedicated space where everyone can view, discuss or learn about illustration; British and international; past, present and future.

We'd only wish we were able to get back to see this important exhibition!

More details at www.houseofillustration.org.uk

Elise Hurst at Fed Square Book Market

Join us to celebrate the release of Elise Hurst's new picture book"Imagine a City" (published by Omnibus Books). 

Elise is famous for her moleskin sketch books which were an inspiration for this book. 

This is a chance to ask Elise about this style of working, watch her demonstrating and have a book personally signed. 

Imagine a train to take you away… Imagine a city and drops of rain. A world without edges where the wind takes you high where buses are fish and the fish fly the sky... We have signed copies of the book available.

Visit Books Illustrated's Facebook page to find out more. 

ANZAC Exhibition opening - today at Books Illustrated

Wondering what to do today in Melbourne?
Join us at Books Illustrated for the opening of our ANZAC exhibition and meet illustrators Craig Smith and Mark Wilson. 

Sunday July 6, 12noon to 5pm  
Books Illustrated Showroom Open Day
ANZAC exhibition
To continue our ANZAC theme join us for our second open day at Books Illustrated! Meet and have a chat with Craig Smith, illustrator of I Was Only Nineteen and Mark Wilson, illustrator and author of My Mother's Eyesand illustrator of A Day to Remember, from 2pm to 4pm - discover and discuss their illustration approach and techniques.
Click above to watch the book trailer for I was Only Nineteen based on John Schumann's song, powerfully illustrated by Craig Smith.
Visit the Books Illustrated Facebook page for more information about this event. 

Too excited to sleep?
If you're too excited to sleep from the anticipation of the next World Cup game read Lachie Hume's picture book"Banjo Bounces Back". Banjo is a Hoofball star. He and his friend Bella just love the game. But when Banjo gets injured, it's only too easy to stay in bed and play Haystation and suck on molasses. Can Bella help him get back on track?
Lachie Hume's books and original artwork available here.

The Bob Graham retrospective exhibition - A Bird in the Hand!

The Bob Graham retrospective exhibition A Bird in the Hand! opened in Canberra on Friday May 16 at CMAG (Canberra Museum & Gallery). It also celebrates the Lu Rees Archives in it's 40th year.

It’s been a dream of ours for years to mount a retrospective exhibition of the work of Bob Graham and this dream has finally been realised! A confluence of events made this a possibility late last year and we seized the moment! We thank our partners who made this possible - the Lu Rees Archives, (Canberra), CMAG and Walker Books (the major publisher of Bob’s books).

Since opening of the exhibition, which was part of the 2014 CBCA National Conference, we have been buoyed by positive comments from those who have seen and responded to it. The exhibition continues at CMAG until August 24, so we hope many of you may have the opportunity of visiting over this time.

Several galleries around Australia have expressed interest in exhibiting this exhibition so, with the Lu Rees Archives, we are now seeking funding to be able to prepare it for touring. More photos and details will be available on our website, and an article on the background and design of the exhibition will be published in the July edition of Magpies Magazine. You can also view photos on the BI Facebook. 

Post by Books Illustrated.

Post by Books Illustrated.

Post by Books Illustrated.

One Word One Day Melbourne 2014

Thanks to all of the illustrators who participated in the 2014 One Word One Day at ABC Melbourne.

One Word, One Day is a fundraiser event for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in partnership with the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and sponsored by Zart Art. These photos are taken in the foyer of the ABC building in Southbank.

Post by Books Illustrated.

Congratulations Bruce Whatley!

From the 2014 Bologna Book Fair

Bruce Whatley proudly standing in the Bologna Illustration Exhibition 2014 with his award 

and illustrations. Congratulations Bruce!

Coming up! Books Illustrated at Bologna Children's Book Fair: 24th - 27th March

It is that time of year again for the Bologna Children's Book Fair! 

We want to congratulate all of the illustrators and authors whose books have been chosen for this year's 'Hello! from Australia' Exhibition and Display. We'd love you to share the Bologna Rights Catalogue with your networks and via social media to promote and celebrate the high quality of work being produced by Australian creators.

Click on the image below to view the 2014 catalogue on ISSUU where it can be shared and downloaded. ISSUU is a fantastic publications website used all over the world. The 2013 Bologna Rights Catalogue on the APA and ISSUU websites have been viewed over 3000 times! In the lead up to the fair we will be promoting the creators and their work via Books Illustrated's Facebook and Twitter - so stay tuned. Give us your feedback on #HellofromAustralia. 

We'd also like to congratulate Bruce Whatley whose illustrations have been accepted for the 2014 Bologna Illustrators' Exhibition and Illustrators Annual. Bruce said … 'looking at the list of artists exhibited this year, I realised it's a tough one - mainly European of course, but lots of Japanese and Korean too’.

These sample illustrations are from a book called 'Ruben’ which Bruce has written and illustrated, and Bruce has been creating over the past three years. It will be published late 2015 - early 2016 by Scholastic Australia.


Please come and see us if you're at the Bologna Children's Book Fair Hall 26, Stand B80 or follow our travels via Facebook and Twitter.

Ann James & Ann Haddon

A good afternoon at the Fed Square Book Market with Ben Wood - thanks Ben!

He demonstrated his watercolour skill and bemused many an onlooker by painting a pink
Koala! Check out his latest picture book The Bush Book Club, written by Margaret Wild ...

and keep an eye on our website for the announcement of a range of delightful small prints from this book.

Ben Wood at Fed Square in Melbourne - Saturday March 8 - 12noon to 3pm

Watch Ben as he draws his characters and brings them to life with watercolour! Take the opportunity to have a chat and have a book personally signed.

(Character sketches from The Bush Book Club by Ben Wood, Scholastic)

A Wild and Wood Picture Book Collaboration!
Books Illustrated is delighted to promote this March new release picture book The Bush Book Club, written by acclaimed picture book author Margaret Wild and illustrated by multi-talented Ben Wood, published by Scholastic Australia.

All the animals belong to the Bush Book Club and love to read. All except Bilby. He can't stay still long enough to read a book, not when there are somersaults and cartwheels and handstands to do. What would it take for Bilby to slow down and look into a book?
This is a picture book that everyone will want to share!

Ben has been illustrating for 10 years and has developed a wide range of illustration styles and skills using traditional and digital tools. Other books illustrated by him include Louie the Pirate Chef; Give me a home among the Gum Trees; The Wattle Tree and Red Caps Christmas.


Join us and meet Ben Wood at our stand at Fed Square Book Market on Saturday March 8!
 Ben's signed books and limited edition prints are available for sale at www.booksillustrated.com.au