IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art Auction

 

Visit the auction site to see over 40 pieces of original art

We need your support. Following the success of our inaugural 2023 fundraiser, we will once again be running Mini Masterpieces to raise funds for the Australian branch of the International Board on Books for Young People, IBBY Australia. We have invited celebrated Australian children’s book illustrators to donate post-card sized artworks for an online auction. You could OWN one of these gorgeous pieces - we have over 40 on offer. 

Ann James, Renee Treml, and Peter Carnavas

Formed in 1966, IBBY Australia is one of 82 National sections of IBBY, and each year must pay a membership fee of almost $10 000 to remain part of the international IBBY organisation.

IBBY was established following the Second World War and aims to build bridges to international understanding through children’s books. As you may be aware, IBBY Australia promotes Australian authors and illustrators by submitting their work for several IBBY administered international awards, including:

• The Hans Christian Andersen Award

• IBBY Honour Book List

• The Silent Books collection 

• The Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities list 

You can read more about IBBY and about IBBY Australia.

The Mini Masterpieces auction will run from 14 November to 28 November, with the original artworks promoted as a unique Christmas gift. Each piece will have a reserve of $75.

Nicky Johnston

The Fix-it man by Dimity Powell illustrated by Nicky Johnston

I had not seen this book from 2017. I picked it up at the library where I volunteer at Westmead Children's Hospital.  The little girl loves the way her dad can repair things but what about mum? At first we see her sitting and watching as the girl and her dad work together. You might notice mum has a rug over her knees and a scarf tied over her hair perhaps showing she has been having chemotherapy. 

"She's too sore on the inside to help us, but her fingers still work fine."

Closer look shows mum is adding ribbons to a hoop. 

"Dad makes Mama's bad days better too, with his soothing peach and honey brew."

The teapot breaks but dad is able to mend it - well it is almost as good as new - but then on turning the page (even though the text does not directly say the words) we know her Mama has died. On early pages the picture frames in the lounge room are filled with happy images of their family of three. Now the page is monotone, and the picture frames are empty. Mum's wool basket sits to one side untouched. Tea does spill out of the teapot - the cracks are too wide - just like the cracks in their hearts.

Bookseller blurb: It's handy having a dad who can fix just about anything. A young girl believes her father is the king of fixing things, but following the death of her mother, she discovers that broken hearts are not as easy to repair as damaged toys and cracked teapots. Together, she and her father find a way to glue back the pieces of their lives. The Fix-It Man is a poignant picture book that explores how a child can cope with the loss of a parent (in this case, the young girl's mother). Repairing damaged emotions is not as straightforward as gluing a broken kite back together or sewing up a torn toy. And grief affects all members of a family, with each responding in their own way to the loss. By sticking with her father, the young girl is able to strengthen her resilience and ability to cope with one of life's harshest experiences.

This is a book where the cover does not really hint at the content - this is a book adults should read first to check your child is ready for this story which deals with the illness and death of a parent. Please take a minute to read my previous post about books that deal with death and the timing for reading them. Read what Dimity Powell says about her book. From her link you can also read a large number of review comments. Here is a link to the trailer - the soundtrack might make you cry now that you know that the mum has died. 

This is a poignant story of loss and one that will resonate with many children who have lost a parent or other loved one.  With its gentle text and soft palette, even though it is sad it is not gloomy because the love between this family oozes from the page and from that, the hope is tangible. ... Grief is a natural part of life and while we might like to protect our children from it, nevertheless it happens and we often struggle helping them to cope with their loss.  This book allows conversations to start and explores the way it is an emotion that we each express and deal with in our own way. The Bottom Shelf

Jorn's Imagination by Coral Vass illustrated by Nicky Johnston

"Jorn loved ideas. He collected ideas everywhere he went."

"Then one day, Jorn had a new idea. A magnificent idea."

"Jorn decided to enter a competition."

The timing of this book is perfect as we celebrate 50 years of the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Opera House opened in October 1973 and this month in 2023 there are a huge number of events to commemorate this event. 

Did Jorn Utzon really find inspiration in orange peels? I adore this idea and do hope/assume it is true.  young children do need to read about the creator of one of our most iconic buildings and this narrative is very accessible. 

I also found this text very engaging as an adult reader even though I knew some of the back story. It was fascinating to discover Jorn demonstrated his interest in architecture from a very young age. There was a huge amount of controversy in Sydney over the building of our Sydney Opera House - issues of the design, money (it was very expensive), time and construction conflicts but none of this needed to be explained in this book - the main idea here is to celebrate the genius of Jorn Utzon and the glorious building that has become an iconic symbol of Sydney and Australia. My own personal connection comes back in 1973 when my father who was the President of the parent group at my high school (Mackellar Girls) decided the school speech day or presentation day should be held at the Opera House. Very strangely I was not able to be there, but I imagine it was a very exciting day.

The timeline on the final end paper is excellent and the front-end papers invite close study and then these images are repeated later in the text. 

I love the suspense and pace of the final pages where we see people looking across from the Botanical Gardens but we cannot see the Opera House, then turn the page and as a reader we are still waiting for the big reveal, then another page turn, with a recap through fragments of his inspiration, and then finally the full building nestled beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the soft dusk light. 

Publisher blurb: Was it a sailboat, a seashell, a swan or an orange peel that inspired Jørn to design Australia’s most recognisable building? In this gorgeously illustrated story, we follow Jørn through childhood as he discovers his love of building and creating, gathering ideas from everything around himself. When he grows bigger, so do his ideas, and something begins to take shape… can you guess what it might be? Jørn’s story is about embracing dreams, believing in your own abilities, and the power of new ideas. Written in honour of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Opera House, it is also a topical springboard for educators and families into how the iconic landmark came to be. In celebrating the incredibly talented Jørn Utzon, it shows children that there are no limits to what they might achieve if they follow their dreams.

I would have liked a further reading list to be included and perhaps a list of sources used by Coral Vass because I did read that she did huge amount of research for her book including talking with the Utzon family. This is hinted at in the dedication.  A photo of the Sydney Opera House could also have been included on a notes page. But on the other hand, this book is aimed at younger children and it can be used as an excellent jumping off point for further research. By way of coincidence a relative of Jorn Utzon was a student at my former school. This book should be added to every Primary school and public library here in Australia. 

John Utzon's, Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination is written with the wonderful lilting cadence of repeated phrasing, alongside the anticipation of ‘expected’ surprises through language. Writer Coral Vass easily - and cleverly - takes us from Jørn's youth to adulthood with an elegant economy of words, deftly explaining all the while how his creativity is nurtured and grown. Kids' Book Review

Sensitively written and illustrated in a way that doesn’t reveal the mystery to the end, this is a book that not only celebrates a little life that has big dreams that come true, but inspires the reader to drift away and imagine ... The Bottom Shelf

Jorn's Magnificent Imagination was a 2023 Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book Notable title. Here is the web page for Coral Vass. Here are some teachers notes from the publisher. You can see all of Nicky Johnston's books here. 

Here's another children's book about our Opera House (long out of print but it might be in a library):

Meet Florence, a flamboyant fur seal who lives on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Unlike the other seals, Florence has plans. Big plans. She's going to be a world-famous singer.

But does Florence have what it takes to become a real SEALPRANO?

Based on a true story, THE SINGING SEAL is for anyone who has ever felt small but dreamt BIG!

From the book Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty

Further reading for teachers and adults:

Architect Magazine

Art Now and Then

Doco Mo Mo Australia

Amira's Suitcase by Vikki Conley illustrated by Nicky Johnston

Amira finds a tiny plant in her suitcase. Why does she have a suitcase? Where do Amira and her family seem to live? This is a strange place filled with make-shift shelters and dirt floors yet it seems to be her new home. Amira, we read, had been looking for a place to hide but now, instead, she has a tiny life to nurture. She makes sure the fragile seedling has sunlight and water. Each day the tiny plant grows a little bigger and curiosity about her suitcase plant draws attracts the attention of living in this place. Amira meets Nala and she shares the happiness of watching her plant grow. Nala shares a seed and they plant this inside the suitcase. Then Tien joins the girls and he passes on another small seed. 

Over the following pages we watch as the plants grow so tall they no longer fit into their suitcase.

So "together they dug a new home for the plants. Together they smiled at the flourishing leaves. And together they climbed up, up, up towards the sun."

From the front cover this book looks so inviting. The colours are appealing and the design elements will help make a reader curious. There are hints of a journey along with the small shadow of a plant. I agree with the words of the blurb which say this is "a gentle, thought-provoking tale about friendship and hope".

I love the way the cover looks like the suitcase – the words ‘tratar con cuidado’ means ‘handle with care’ in Spanish. The end papers match the suitcase lining. 

On the half title page, it is clear the suitcase is heavy – the story has started before we even reach the first page of print. Amira does not talk about where she lives or why but the background images of corrugated iron and dirt and the way she has no shoes speak volumes about her situation and the situation of her family. This is reinforced when we see the mattress on the floor of their ‘new home’ and the way the family possessions are in cloth bundles and recycled boxes. 

Please take a few minutes to read this piece where the author talks about the inspiration for this book.

Every line of the text has been placed carefully on the page and the illustrations move from large to small to double page spreads. There is a strong emotional component to this story. When Amira smiles at her plant something blossoms inside her. And there is a sense of hope conveyed through the growth of the plant and the new friendships. The language is also very special – word placement such as ‘a finger of sunlight’; ‘a bud of warmth’ and ‘Amira’s hand quivered and tingled’. 

I like the way the image from the title page is repeated near the end but this time with the addition of her two new friends. The sequence page where we see the plant growing is another page is the perfect way to show the passing of time. This book will also give readers things to think about – Why was Amira hiding? Where is this happening? And most importantly What will happen next?

This is one of those deceptively simple books that, with close reading, reveals a deeper story. You could share this book with your youngest students but it is your older upper primary students who will see further possibities as you guide the discussion. 

The family’s struggles are presented in an age-appropriate and relatable way, as is Amira’s ability to adapt and find hope in her new environment. ... A poignant tale of new beginnings.  Kirkus

Amira's Suitcase has been shortlisted for the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year awards (Early Childhood). Here are a set of teaching notes where you will find some discussion questions which might be useful for a group of very young children. Read the judges report here. 

I would pair this book with any of these:

Found You

Mustafa

My name is not Refugee

Amira's Magpie

Salih

Teacup

You could also explore books which feature seeds and plant growth:

The Secret Sky Garden

The Girl who Planted Trees

The Flower

Rose's Garden