Imagine: The Wonder of Picture Books State Library of NSW

State Library of New South Wales 

9 July 2022 to 9 July 2023

FREE and open every day 10.00am - 5.00pm

This week I travelled into the city to visit the newest exhibition at our State Library of New South Wales entitled Imagine; The wonder of picture books.  I am very happy to say I was blown away - it is fabulous. This was a terrific way to start Book Week 2022. 

If you meet your friends, as I did, at the library shop make sure you take the stairs to the next level because there are trails of ants to show you the way taken from the book March of the Ants by Ursula Dubosarsky illustrated by Tohby Riddle. You do need to look down!

The exhibition is arranged in themes but I am going to admit that my companion (also a retired Teacher-Librarian) and I were so busy exclaiming over the illustrations and favourite books and new discoveries that we did not notice this arrangement until we were about to leave. Themes: Our Natural world, Families, Adventures, Making choices, Belonging and Courage, 

For each of the illustrators the exhibition focuses on one picture book. You can see original art from the book and other wonderful objects such as this actual paint box used by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. And this shoe which features in the poignant book Grandma's Treasured Shoes. 

One of the first things we saw was the art from Felix and Alexander by Terry Denton. I absolutely adore this book and read it to groups in my library for over 30 years. Here is a close up of little Felix but you can read more about this book on my blog post. 

The exhibition includes activities for children: Younger visitors can enjoy our dedicated activity space, brimming with fun things to do. Learn how to draw popular book characters and make a zine, read books from the exhibition (including 10 with braille), and play with the giant textured tree and magnetic wall.  

Here is the official site where you can find a pdf of the catalogue. Here is a video with some of the featured illustrators. It goes for 15 minutes and can be viewed at the exhibition. You can read an extended interview by Catherine Keenan where she discusses the changes in picture books with a number of experts and authors. 

I won't try to list every illustrator from the exhibition but here are a few with very special works:

Circle illustrated and written by Jeannie Baker Walker Books, 2016

My Two Blankets illustrated by Freya Blackwood and written by Irena Kobald Little Hare Books, 2014

A Soldier, a Dog and a Boy illustrated by Phil Lesnie and written by Libby Hathorn Hachette, 2016

Possum Magic illustrated by Julie Vivas and written by Mem Fox Omnibus Books, 1983

Amelia Ellicott’s Garden illustrated by Stephen Michael King written by Liliana Stafford Margaret Hamilton Books, 2000

Grandma’s Treasured Shoes illustrated by Christina Huynh and written by Coral Vass NLA Publishing, 2019

A Boy and a Ball illustrated by Phil Lesnie and written by Phil Cummings Scholastic Australia 2020.

Viewing the exhibition, which is set over two large rooms, you will discover some wonderful indigenous authors, books in braille and small collection with even more picture books which you can sit and read. 

Look out for these:

There is also an audio guide - click here. 

Finally there were a few books in the display I need to explore further: The Ballad of Dexi Lee; Waiting for Later; and Incredibilia. I am heading back to the exhibition next week with some IBBY committee members an IBBY delegate from Chile.