Meet the author and illustrator Briony Stewart

The newest book by Briony Stewart

Book seller blurb: Gymnastica Fantastica! is a joyful and exuberant picture book about a child discovering and attempting new physical skills and putting on wonderfully imperfect shows for whoever will watch them. Join Gymnastica, a small person with big energy, as they bend and balance, bounce and roll, attempt a cartwheel and a spectacular trapeze flip-out finale. Written in playful rhyming text and with brightly energetic and appealing illustrations, this is a book that kids and parents alike will find irresistible to read aloud and delight in its energy and humour.

Actually, I really did briefly meet Briony Stewart today which is why I am penning this post. My brain as usual turned to mush and so I stammered hello and quickly read her newest book in the bookstore. I did manage to mention Accidentally Kelly Street (CBCA 2023 Notable Picture Book) BUT if I had had the presence of mind, I would have talked about her past books many of which I loved. AND I should have gushed way more! Briony had travelled all the way from WA to visit our Sydney bookstores with her newest book - I do hope the publisher, Lothian Children's Books, paid her travel. In Kinokuniya where I saw her, she had just done a window painting which I stupidly failed to photograph. Here is a photo from a different Sydney bookstore - the wonderful Gleebooks.

First stop, painting a window at @gleebooks_kids 

(where you can get an actual gym ribbon with your copy - whaaaat? So cool) 

followed by some signing at @betterreadbookshop 

and @harryhartog.marrickville 

Gleebooks Kids said on Instagram - We have been so looking forward to the release of the wonderfully fun GYMNASTICA FANTASTICA, full of lovely onomatopoeia and words that roll and spin around just as much as our energetic main character. We have been longtime fans of Briony’s playful illustration style and we’re thrilled to discover she is as fabulous and vibrant as her delightful characters.

She is also completely hilarious…everyone needs to hear the story of how the police were called to her own 9th birthday party! We will feature all her books during the month as our illustrator in residence, swipe through to see her brilliant window, some of her magnificent books and the joy and loveliness that oozes from her face every time she smiles! Signed Briony books available and grab a free swirly rainbow extravaganza with every copy of GYMNASTICA FANTASTICA (while stock lasts). Welcome to Sydney Briony Stewart!

I did say I was involved with IBBY but Briony was very signing a huge pile of books. Her book The Red Wheelbarrow is included in the IBBY Silent book collection at Lampedusa which is a HUGE honour for an Australian Picture Book.

Stewart's first picture book, The Red Wheelbarrow was published by University of Queensland Press in 2012. A wordless picture book inspired by the famous poem by William Carlos Williams, celebrating the beauty in small everyday moments. The book was ... selected by the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) to be part of its international silent books project, a travelling exhibition which was launched in June 2015 in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Wikipedia

I guess I should also have mentioned our IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art auction which begins on 18th November. We did invite Briony to participate and I would love to know if the invitation actually reached her. I totally understand she would have been way too busy to be involved - she has young children and new books and lectures at Curtin University!

Briony gave an interview to Kids' Book Review in 2014. 

Here are some of the other books Briony Stewart illustrated and wrote and some she did covers for.

Mina and the Whole Wide World

Kumiko and the Dragon's Secret

Kumiko and the Shadow catchers

This book would make a perfect gift for new parents and their babies, and will also be enjoyed by older children as they learn to read independently (and perhaps even read the story aloud to a new sibling?) No expense has been spared in its production – from the embossed title and thick, high-quality paper through to gorgeous endpaper designs (try and spot all the babies!) ...

 It’s a beauty and I predict it will become a modern classic. Storylinks

Accidentally Kelly Street

Read The Bottom Shelf review

Briony Stewart awards list adapted from the UQP website:

• Notable, 2023 CBCA Book of the Year - Picture Book
• Shortlisted, 2023 Children's Peace Literature Award
• Winner, 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards – Children’s Literature Award (Mina and the Whole Wide World)
• Notable, 2022 CBCA Book of the Year – Younger Readers
• Shortlisted, 2016 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award – Picture Books
• Winner, 2012 Queensland Literary Awards – Children’s Book Award
• Winner, 2012 Queensland Literary Awards – Children’s Book Award
• Recipient, 2010 May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship
• Inaugural Winner, 2007 Voices on the Coast Writing Competition
• Joint Winner, 2007 Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction – Children’s Division
• Joint Winner, 2007 Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction – Children’s Division
• Inaugural Winner, 2007 Voices on the Coast Writing Competition