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