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.