In just over a week I will be speaking at the Texas Book Festival. My topic is:
"Children’s literature and literacy leaders from around the world will give us a glimpse of book trends that are happening in their countries"
I will represent IBBY Australia.
The IBBY speakers will come from China, Russia, Mexico, Canada and USA along with the executive director of IBBY from Switzerland.
USBBY are holding their conference in Austin Texas. I have talked about the speakers at this conference in a earlier post.
I thought I would share the books I plan to showcase along with some links to the author and illustrator web sites, details of any prizes won by these books and other relevant information. I have organised my presentation under five headings.
An Indigenous Perspective
Bronwyn Bancroft has illustrated over 40 books. I especially love Colours of Australia and Patterns of Australia. Bronwyn was our IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen award Nominee in 2016. Possum and Wattle is an alphabet book with over 100 words. There is a glossary at the back which explains some of the uniquely Australian plants, animals and landscapes.
Wilam: a Birrabung Story is our IBBY Australia Honour Book for 2020. Listen to this radio interview on ABC Radio National with Andrew Kelly. The word Wilam means home. This book is the story of the Yarra River in Victoria. You could use this book in your discussions about the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
The language is poetic and beautiful, while each double-page spread is a breathtaking work of art as Lisa Kennedy's rich and vibrant strokes breathe the life and colour of the river onto the pages. Kids Book Review
Little Bird's Little Day illustrator, Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr was the winner of the Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award. Here is a set of teachers notes for this book.
Baby Business is a very new title. Here is an audio interview with the author. Read this review for more details about the author and to see some illustrations from this book. Here is a set of teaching notes for using this book with a preschool group.
Our Unique Landscape
In 1990 Phil Cummings visited my rural school library. It is one of the very best author visits I ever hosted. Phil has written so many wonderful books including Newspaper Hats; Marty and Mei Ling; Feathers; Anzac Biscuits; Touch the Moon and Boy. Andrew McLean is one of our treasured Australian illustrators. I especially love Fabish the horse that braved a bushfire. Several of his books have won or been honoured by our Children's Book Council - Highway by Nadia Wheatley; My Dog by John Heffernan; A Year on our Farm by Penny Matthews; Reggie Queen of the Street by Margaret Barbalet; and Hector and Maggie written with his wife Janet. Take a look at my review of the Squeak Street series by Emily Rodda. Here is a Reading Time review of Through the Smoke.
Jackie French is the author of over 200 books. She writes for adults, young adults and children. Take a look at my review of Just a Girl. In this review I mention one of her earlier books which is a personal favourite - Tajore Arkle. Flood is one book in a set of four titles by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley. The other titles are Drought, Cyclone and Fire. Bruce Whatley has written and illustrated over 80 books. You can read his thoughts about illustrating Flood here.
Take a look at my review of Banjo and Ruby Red. Libby Gleeson is the IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen nominee for 2020. You can read more about Libby Gleeson.
Take a look at my review of Mallee Sky. I predict this title will make our CBCA short list for 2020.
When it rains up north the desert lake (Lake Eyre) in central Australia fills with water and everything changes. Read this review of Desert Lake.
Flora and Fauna
Jeannie Baker is famous for her amazing collage illustrations. Her books are made with passion and they take years to produce. In The Story of Rosy Dock, Jeannie wanted to highlight the problems associated with introduced species. In the different environment of Australia this plant has become a noxious weed. You can see the whole book here. Jeannie Baker has written 14 picture books and one book about the art of collage - Playing with Collage. She was the IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen nominee in 2018. You can read more about the plant rosy dock here.
I wanted to include books about Australia animals in my presentation. We have so many interesting and unique animals here in Australia - kangaroo, emu, echidna, wombat, dingo, bilby, lyrebird, platypus, quoll, and the koala. In this story many new babies are born and Koala Lou feels displaced. How can she win back the affection of her mother? You can see all of the illustrations by Pamela lofts on this video. Mem Fox is one of the most famous Australian children's writers. Her book Possum Magic (1983) can be read by children in French, German, Spanish, and sixteen other languages.
Dingo is one title from the Nature Storybooks series published by Walker Books. Other titles include Gecko, Emu, Bilby Secrets, Big Red Kangaroo and Searching for Cicadas. Claire Saxby as written 18 books. Her newest title Kookaburra (illustrated by Tanya Harricks) will be published in 2020. Dingo was joint winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Award) in 2019. Each pages in Dingo combine narrative elements with a factual text presented in different font. Here is a review from Reading Time.
Sue whiting is the author of 18 books ranging from non fiction to picture books and YA novels to beginning chapter books. Platypus is also from the Nature Storybooks series published by Walker Books. Here is the Kirkus review. Read more about Mark Jackson here.
Here is a set of Teachers Notes for Kookoo Kookaburra. In addition to Kookoo Kookaburra, Gregg Dreise has written Silly Birds; Mad Magpie; and Cunning Crow. Here is a very detailed review of Kookoo Kookaburra by Dr Sam Lloyd for Children's Books Daily.
Multicultural Society
Take a look at my review of Mirror. I have talked about Jeannie Baker earlier in this post when I mentioned The Story of Rosy Dock. In 1990 Jeannie's book Where the Forest Meets the Sea was the IBBY Australia Honour book:
A father takes his son by boat to a place where trees have grown for millions of years. It is a remote place near a coral reef with few visitors. While the father relaxes, the son explores the rainforest. His father’s remark that the forest has been here for over a hundred million years resonates with the boy. As he wanders the boy pretends that it is long ago when dinosaurs lived and aboriginal forest children played amongst the ancient trees. He takes time to sit still and listen to the sounds of the forest and marvel at the size of the majestic trees wondering how long each took to grow from a tiny seedling. Sadly the day ends too quickly as does the boys reverie. “But will the forest still be here when we come back?”
This is the second book I have included on my list by Mem Fox. Take a look at my section on Koala Lou. You can see a video of the whole book here. Mem Fox explains the inspiration for her book. Here is a set of Teachers Notes.
Take a look at my review of Sarah's Two Nativities.
You can see a video reading of the whole book here. Freya Blackwood illustrated our IBBY Australia Honour book Banjo and Ruby Red (see above.) In their star review Kirkus described My Two Blankets:
"Loneliness, cultural displacement, tentative friendship,
and an explosion of sharing and kindness are accessible even to very young
readers. The final image of Cartwheel teaching her friend how do a cartwheel
tugs at the heart with joy. An amazingly lovely import from Australia."
Universal Themes
This book celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is very special to see this collaboration between UK Author Nicola Davies and the Australian illustrator Marc Martin. Here is a review with more details. This book could be read in conjunction with other books about the rights of the child such as For Every Child; I have the right to be a child; We are all born free; and A Children's Chorus (1989).
Take a look at my review of Leaf Stone Beetle. Ursula Dubosarsky was our IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen nominee in 2016. Dirt Lane Press is a new publisher in Australia. Here is a quote from their web site:
"We also know adults find deep emotional and intellectual
satisfaction from the deceptively simple form of a picture book. A picture book
can encapsulate an idea, a theme, or a grand concern within a few well-chosen
words and a relatively brief sequence of illustrations. A well-crafted picture
book is as succinct as a poem."
Take a look at my review of Somewhere Else. You can see other books by Gus Gordon on his web site. Take a look at my review of Herman and Rosie; and Wendy. His newest book The Perfect Seat by Minh Le will be available early in 2020 and July will see the arrival of Finding Francois: a story about the healing power of friendship.
"Through the charred forest, over hot ash, runs Dog with a bird clamped in his big gentle mouth. He takes her to his cave above the river and there he tries to tend her burnt wing."
IBBY president Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright has written a detailed essay about Fox and the creators Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks. Here are a set of teachers notes for Fox. Read my review of Fox.
Take a look at my review of Teacup. Matt Ottley is the illustrator of 28 books including Suri's Wall by Lucy Estela; and Tree by Danny Parker. His newest book is Dumazi and the Big Yellow Lion by Valanga Khoza. Read more about Rebecca Young here.
Puffling (illustrated by Julie Vivas), also by Margaret Wild and Lucy Goosey are one of my most favourite books to read aloud to the youngest children. Margaret Wild is the author of over 45 books. Ann James is our IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen 2020 nominee. Lucy Goosey does want to leave her pond - an environment where she feels safe. The idea of flying away with the geese as they migrate, is terrifying. Her mother does fly away but then she comes back and she asks Lucy about her fears. Listening to each concern she is able to gently reassure Lucy that she will be safe. The themes of growing up, risk taking and love are perfect for young listeners.
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