Are we there yet ? ... Yes, in Parkes!

Are we there yet?: a journey around Australia is one of Books Illustrated touring exhibitions and is currently been shown in Parkes NSW.

This exhibition is based on the award winning (The Children's Book Council of Australia's 2005 Picture Book of the Year Award) picture book Are we there yet?, written and illustrated by Alison Lester. Its the story of a family trip around Australia told by eight year old Gracie and is based on an actual journey undertaken by Alison and her family.

 The exhibition showcases Alison’s original illustrations along with preliminary work for the making of this book including: ideas and sketches; page roughs and dummy books; her children’s travel journals; family photographs taken on their journey around Australia – and the all important map!

Living up to its name, the exhibition has been exhibited in many venues around Australia, and overseas with fabulous feed back about the engagement of visitors with the exhibition. However, we have been particularly thrilled with this response from Shellie Buckle, manager cultural, education and library services ...

We officially opened the exhibition as part of Storytime yesterday.
We had a lovely morning.
A library family last year travelled around Australia for 5 months. Oscar the three and a half year old and his Mum created a map and photo display of their holiday, just like Are We There Yet?
He told us stories about their trip. Such an eloquent little man!

Exhibition of The John Barrow Collection at Dromkeen

  Visitors enjoyed the open day at Dromkeen on Sunday Feb 15.

At 2pm Ann James and Ann Haddon gave an introduction to the exhibition of the John Barrow Collection and Bernadette Joiner gave a taste of the new directions at Dromkeen Homestead – which includes reintroducing a focus children’s literature.

The collection which includes over 100 framed illustrations from Australian children’s picture books of the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s is both eclectic and impressive and reflects John Barrow’s passion for story telling and play.

The exhibition continues at Dromkeen until April 12 and bookings for school group sessions are welcome.

 A visit is recommended!

Alison Lester Shop at Fish Creek

On Sunday January 11 we travelled to Fish Creek, gateway town to Victoria's Wilson's Promentory, to visit the Alison Lester shop. The shop has been open now for a couple of months only, so still has that new feel ... open and airy ... a comfy reading space for kids and full to the brim with Alison Lester books, prints, cards and wrapping papers for sale.

Alison lester signing

Ann James signing

                               
Ann James was invited to do a joint signing with Alison, so it was lovely to spend a few hours with her, manager John Cooper and the many visitors who were just passing through or came especially for the signing.

Customer with shop manager John Cooper

                                   
    Well worth a visit!

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