Meet the Canadian illustrator Thao Lam

Image source: House of Anansi 

About Thao Lam: Thao Lam fled from Vietnam to Canada with her family as a child. Learning English was difficult, and it was picture books that helped her understand this new world and ignited her passion for visual storytelling. She has an insatiable love for colored and textured papers, which she uses to create her exuberant collages. Source

Take a look here to read more about many of these titles.

The Paper Boat is part of the IBBY Silent Book collection and Everybelly was selected as a title for the 2026 USBBY Outstanding International Book list. 

Read the Kirkus Star review of The Paper boat. Here is a video of Thao talking about this book. 

Bookseller blurb for Thao (the book): A funny, eye-opening story about the challenges of growing up with an unfamiliar name and learning to be true to yourself, new from the critically acclaimed Thao Lam. Even though it's only four simple, familiar letters long, nobody can ever pronounce Thao's name. She's been called Theo, Tail, even Towel! But the teasing names - Tofu, Tiny, China Girl - are worse. Maybe it's time to be someone else? Thao decides to try on a different name, something easy, like Jennifer. It works, but only until she opens her lunchbox to find her mother's Vietnamese spring rolls, ... Thao's favorite! Now, it feels a lot more comfortable to be herself. Simple on the surface, this story inspired by Thao's own childhood is full of humour, heart, and important ideas of diversity, inclusion, and cultural pride. The story will be instantly relatable to readers who have ever felt different. Designed with a playful emphasis on typography, and Thao's own childhood photos added to her signature cut-paper collage, THAO champions being true to yourself and your background, and being empathetic towards others. It is a celebration of all that's in a name and the power of owning your identity.

Kirkus Star review comments:

Every Belly: Through cut-paper collage illustrations, Lam spotlights a noteworthy diversity ... 

Wallpaper: Paper-collage illustrations lend texture and depth to this fantastical story, with individual elements providing layers so real readers will want to lift them up and peek underneath. Simple shapes (triangles for trees) and careful attention to detail make complex emotions visible and real for young readers. The hand-lettered title adds to the accessibility and childlike qualities of this book. A unique and visually stunning approach to the classic dilemma of making new friends.

The Line in the Sand: The artwork uses bold pops of color and geometric designs to tell an elegant, profound story.

Mirror by Jeannie Baker

A picture book is text, illustrations, total design; an item of manufacture 

and a commercial product; 

a social, cultural, historical document; and foremost an experience for a child. 

As an art form it hinges on the interdependence of pictures and words, 

on the simultaneous display of two facing pages, 

and on the drama of the turning page. 

Bader, B. American Picturebooks from Noah’s Ark to the Beast Within.1976.

Think about the words - simultaneous display of two facing pages - Mirror by Jeannie Baker goes even further - it feels as though you are reading two books side by side.

To pick up a copy of Mirror was to experience something quite at odds with the whole tendency of books to enter the e-world, the virtual and slippery place where textbooks and novels cluster, waiting for the click of a button to whisk them into existence. Those experienced in handling picture books instinctively opened the cover to full width, to reveal two equivalent scenes, each one showing a boy looking out at the night sky from an upstairs window. One scene is of a building with lacy decoration, against a pink and green landscape of cultivated farmland; the other shows an urban skyline, with tall buildings many Australian readers would recognise as those of Sydney. Dr Robin Morrow

I have mentioned Mirror (2010) in several previous posts but I wanted to do a deeper dive into this innovative and important book especially after reading this essay from Reading Australia by Dr Robin Morrow. When Mirror was published I knew this was a book that readers in my library would need to experience closely and flat on a table for ease of opening SO I immediately purchased ten copies. Perhaps this was extravagant but in those days I had a very supportive Principal who allocated a generous budget to our school library. 

Mirror is one of those books that is sure to be found in every Australian school and public library and it is a book you should treasure in your own collection. Mirror is still available so it might be time to update your copy. Here are the teachers notes from the publisher Walker Books. You should also take a look at the NCACL Picture Books for Older Readers Database. 

The dual-book format illustrates the two disparate worlds, but also highlights the universal themes of family, community and home. Baker’s intricate collages are truly amazing, but the cultural respect and humanity in this book make it shine. Readings Melbourne

Here is the full Kirkus Star review:

This entirely original book is a strong contender to bring to a desert island, especially as it’s two books in one. Open the “books” simultaneously, in English from left to right and in Arabic from right to left. Scan the pictures and compare family life and global interdependence as the panorama of urban and rural scenes from two very different countries unfolds. Wordless, except for an introduction and an illustrator’s afterword in English and Arabic, the pictures allow readers to meet an Australian boy and a Moroccan boy whose lives become interconnected. The Moroccan boy and his father sell a rug woven in their rural home, and it ends up in Sydney, in a small house that is being renovated by an Australian family. As the boy in Australia draws a picture of his new “flying carpet,” the Moroccan boy sets up his computer, bought with profits from the rug. Baker’s entrancing collages, packed with visual information and created with fabric, sand, vegetation and other unusual materials, have the power to bring back child and adult viewers for infinite “readings.” Perfectly spectacular.

Mirror is a book to be treasured, to be read and re-read with children who will spot new details each time they look through the pages. The book stirs the imagination and creates countless opportunities to talk about our own culture and everyday life as well as exploring the culture of the people of Morocco in a way that children (and adults) will find relatable and personal. Kids' Book Review

Awards:

• British Book Design and Production Awards (2011) – Winner
• English 4-11 Book Awards Leicester (2011) – Winner
• Indie Book Awards – Children’s Category (2011) – Winner
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Gold Award (2010) – Winner
• Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year for Younger Children (2011) – Short-listed
• NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature (2011) – Short-listed
• West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award – Picture Book (2011) – Short-listed
• Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, Children’s Books (2010) – Short-listed
•  Joint Winner CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2011
• Australian Indie Award Best Children’s Book 2011
• An International Youth Library White Ravens Award 2011

Thinking about picture book forms

This week I have been so privileged to read the Master's Thesis of a friend entitled "Shapes and forms: Some recent uses of techniques in picture books". This thesis was written in 1990 but it is thrilling to see how many of her selected titles have really stood the test of time and I hope that nearly all of them are still available in your school library.  The thesis explores twenty forms - I won't list all of her choices here, but I have added a couple more of my own so I have a total of fourteen forms you could explore. The more I dip into this topic the more possibilities I have found such as stamping or using stamps (Jarrett and Jarome Pumphrey); dual functioning books (such as The Ribbon Le Ruban a book I long to own); clay sculpture illustrations such as Barbara Reid; photographic illustrations; narrative and illustrated nonfiction; and diorama constructions - try to find books illustrated by Soyeon Kim to see this form.

Here is a video of this book (in French)

I have listed the thesis picture book example first and then examples of my own. This thesis was originally given the title 'innovations in the picture book' but many of the forms/shapes listed are actually very old for example the popup book and the leporello. The book at the top of this post is a leporello! I do love that word (and form). So the thesis author changed her heading to Shapes and Forms.

I also need to think about where to place one of my most shared and most treasured but very obscure books:

1 is for One

1. Wordless

Up and Up by Shirley Hughes

Check out my Pinterest of Wordless Books (IBBY call them Silent books)

I have tons of favourites but I first thought of one special favourite, because it was the first wordless book I ever read, Sunshine by Jan Omerod. Thinking about more recent ones I would list Stormy by GuoJing and The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio. If you haven't discovered Peter Collington try to find his books in a library. My own favourite is The Tooth Fairy.

2. Paper engineering (pop up and die-cut or laser cut)

Haunted House Jan Pienkowski

The die cutting process is a way to create unique shapes in material. It’s often used artistically on covers to cut windows into a book or on interior pages to create flaps, pop-up structures or interesting shapes.

The master of the popup is Robert Sabuda. His paper engineering will amaze you. An older book I marvel over with amazing die cut pages is The Story of Snowflake and Raindrop. This book also fits into the category of a flip over book. More recent examples of die cut pages are found in books by Britta Teckentrup for example her book A Happy Place. You might also look for books by Aaron Becker and Su Blackwell. I recently spied this edition based on Mary Poppins with die cut or laser cut illustrations.

Read more about Hélène Druvert here.

3. Lift the flap

Where's Spot? by Eric Hill

I stumbled on Mouse's Wood by Alice Melvin a couple of years ago and now I see there are sequels. I also love the bird books by Bridget Farmer which have the sturdiest flaps and incredible art. Searching for Treasure by Johanna Bell illustrated by Emma Long made me gasp and you do need to add Who Lives here by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Rebecca Cobb to your collection. All of these books show that flaps are not just for our tiny reading companions but of course every little child does need to see and touch lots of books about Spot.

4. Flip over book (reversable)

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

I cannot cite many examples of these but I do love them. I always think of an old book - And then it Rained by Crescent Dragonwagon. Another example could be Mirror by Jeannie Baker. You don't flip this one over but readers see the action side by side in two different locations simultaneously.  An Australian example is Room on our Rock by Kate and Jol Temple. 

5. Stitching (using textiles)

The Shoemaker and the Elves stitching by C & W Birrer

I find books with illustrations made from embroidery or stitching or fabric patchwork very appealing. One UK illustrator to look for is Rachel Griffin. You could also look for The Whispering Cloth: a refugee's story by Pegi Deitz Shea and illustrated by Anita Riggio. I love the work by US textile artist Salley Mavor. I would love to own her book called My Bed. 

6. Letters in envelopes

The Jolly Postman by Allan Ahlberg (and sequels)

I have so many book forms that I adore but I think the value-added of real letters inside envelopes is one I find the most delightful. AND I thank publishers who are willing to invest money into the production of these. Santa Post by Emma Yarlett; Maisy's Christmas Letters by Lucy Cousins; Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour by Annette Langen; Meerkat Mail Emily Gravett; and of course The Jolly Christmas postman by Allan Ahlberg.

7. Collage

Where the forest meets the sea by Jeannie Baker

This is an enormous topic. My friend has a terrific Pinterest on this topic and I have one too of illustrators who use collage. Apart from our wonderful Australian illustrator Jeannie Baker,I love the work of Eric Carle; Ed Young; Robin Page; David Wisniewski and Susan L Roth. You may already have a new Australian picture book called Hope is the Thing. And there are so many other names such as Rachel Isadora; Melissa Sweet; Leo Lionni; Ezra Jack Keats; Lois Ehlert; Ellen Stoll Walsh. Another favourite Australian illustrator of mine is Patricia Mullins. I was also delighted to discover this book made with illustrations made from pebbles:

Stepping Stones

8. Reality (illustrations) versus fantasy (text) or illustrations show a fantasy which contrasts with reality.

Drac and the Gremlin by Allan Baillie illustrated by Jane Tanner

Another older example is Kirsty Knows Best illustrated by Anthony Browne. I also thought of Magic Beach by Alison Lester; A House for Wombats by Jane Burrell; Suri's wall by Lucy Estela illustrated by Matt Ottley and When You're Older by Sofie Laguna illustrated by Judy Watson. I recently discovered this old book: Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. There are sure to be lots more for this category. 

9. Page turner (anticipation and a guessing game)

I went walking by Sue Machin illustrated by Julie Vivas

Eyes in the Dark by Kim Dale; An animal guessing game by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page; Who's Next? Guess Who! by Anton Poitier illustrated by Sophia Touliatou; Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Sharon King-Chai; and for older readers a title from many years ago - Guess What? by Mem Fox illustrated by Vivienne Goodman. I also need to mention What's Inside: The alphabet book by Satoshi Kitamura and Brown Bear Brown bear by Bill Martin Jr illustrated by Eric Carle.

10. Participatory story 

We're going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Participation was always the focus of my early weeks with a new Kindergarten group. We read lots of books with a repeated refrain including We're going on a bear hunt; My Brown Bear Barney by Dorothy Butler illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller; There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof eating cake by Hazel Edwards illustrated by Deborah Niland; Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina; Peace at last by Jill Murphy; Owl Babies by Martin Waddell illustrated by Patrick Benson; and The Elephant and the bad baby by Elfrida Vipont illustrated by Raymond Briggs.

11. Leporello

I added this one to the list but I know the author of the thesis enjoys discovering these. You could add tunnel book to this category too. There is one of these inside The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg. I also have a book based on Can't you sleep little bear by Martin Waddell which you fold out and join into a circle or a carousel. 

Books that have accordion-style, or zig-zagged, pages are called leporellos (or concertinas). These books can be experienced in a few ways: readers can keep the book folded and turn the "pages," flipping the book at the end to experience the other side of the book; or they can completely unfold and expand the book to create one giant, linear narrative. Some leporellos are printed on the front and back, while others are one-sided. Let's Talk about Picture books (you can see examples)

Pages of Look by Gavin Bishop Gecko Press

12. Breaking the fourth wall and the off-stage narrator

This one is also my headings and I talk about this with lots of examples here. Look for Hide me, Kipper! by Mick Inkpen; Let’s Play! by Hervé Tullet; A Squiggly Line by Robert Vescio illustrated by Kathy Creamer; Fish and Crab by Marianna Coppo; Bear Hunt by Anthony Browne; The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston; Press Here Herve Tullet; and Escargot by Dashka Slater illustrated by Sydney Hanson. Another very curious example is Zoom by Istvan Banyai.

13. A catalogue book

Imagine by Alison Lester

I love this term catalogue book as used by the writer of this thesis. It is a perfect label for so many picture books that have no narrative but are filled with things to talk about. The big question by Leen van den Berg and illustrated by Kaatje Vermeire; Things to Look Forward to by Sophie Blackall; What to say when you don't know what to say by Davina Bell illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper (and sequels); The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown; Pablo Neruda Book of Questions illustrated by Paloma Valdivia translated by Sara Lissa Paulson; If I had a little dream by Nina Laden illustrated by Melissa Castrillon; and the most obvious example The Baby's Catalogue by Allan Ahlberg.

I need to mention two more titles for this catalogue book category:

Who is the world for?

Do you wonder?

14. Poetry with pictures

Read more here. 

A Life Song

Here is a quote from the final sentence of the thesis which inspired this post (I hope you have found it interesting and useful).

The book features explored in this thesis "support the proposition that the contemporary picture book is a subtle and skillful artform. Artists, authors, publishers and most importantly readers are increasingly aware of this fact. There can be no turning back."

Clara and the man with books in his window by Maria Teresa Andruetto illustrated by Martina Trach translated by Elisa Amado

"What does courage mean?' 'Courage is being brave enough 

to live the way you want to, the way you believe."

Before you read this book stretch out the cover and think about the girl, her basket, the distance she is walking and why the colour is yellow - to my eye this denotes a nostalgic memory.

On the title page you will see some very curious objects - with a group of students you could use these to either predict the plot of this book or better yet you could use the objects as student writing inspiration. There is a faded flower in a vase, a book, a clock, two wooden birds, a tiny picture of a house and one item I cannot identify.

The setting for this true story is 1920s Argentina. Clara's mother is a laundress. Clara has the task of delivering laundry to Juan - a man who never leaves his house. Juan is a wealthy man with a huge book collection but he also has deep shame about an event from the past. 

"What is your name?"

"Clara. 

Why are you shut in?"

This is a gentle story or as Mark Macleod once discussed - a quiet book. The illustrations are stunning and so powerful showing a story well beyond the minimal text.

I picked up this book at Gleebooks a few weeks ago because:

• I liked the book shape and landscape format
• There is a medal on the cover (Hans Christian Andersen award)
• The title is intriguing
• The copy I purchased has a dust jacket
• Many pages have no text
• The designer has used two fonts - one for the words in Clara's head and one for conversations with Juan
• This is a translated books (I always look for these) This book was originally written in Spanish in 2018 and the publisher Greystone Books has produced an English edition in 2025. The Spanish title is Clara y el hombre en la ventana.
• Greystone books are a Canadian publishing company - Canadians make fantastic books
• Finally a staff member recommended this book because I asked to see some picture books for older readers and high school students. 

This is the page with the text I quoted at the beginning of this post.

Trach’s illustrative style is so different from what I am used to, I want to own the book just for that.  Andruetto’s story is more one that an adult will enjoy more than a child, so it would have to be read to children.  Kiss The Book Jr

The spare text leaves ample room for illustrations to co-narrrate the story, from the a spread of the girl making letters with a stick to her shadow-like outline as she watches the birds and later reads the books she’s borrowed while making her laundry delivery rounds. They show as well the passage of time as she matures both as a reader and as a friend to the man. Readers imagine the relationship between the dreamy protagonist and her practical, hardscrabble mother, as well as with the absent grandmother who taught her to read and in this way fed her dreams. The entire story has the feel of a fairy tale, one that parallels the fairy tale that the man has gifted her and she has taken to heart. Global Literature in Libraries

The publisher list this book for readers aged 5-8 but I disagree. I would share this book with mature students aged 11+ because it is important to talk about what has happened to this man and why he is afraid to go outside. He didn't follow his friend? Was he afraid of persecution or imprisonment? Older students may understand the role of the Catholic Church during this time. I searched the Canadian library archives for a list of subject headings that have been applied to this book:  Library of Congress Subject Headings Friendship—Juvenile fiction; Identity (Psychology)—Juvenile fiction; Recluses—Juvenile fiction; Gay men—Juvenile fiction; Courage—Juvenile fiction; Books and reading—Juvenile fiction; Argentina—Social life and customs—20th century—Juvenile fiction

And there is a whole art lesson you could use with this book about the symbolism of colour and the use of colour as a way to convey relationships and memories. I guess with younger students this might not be an issue - reviewers like the School Library Journal list this book for K-2.

See more art by Martina Trach here. Just take a look at this brilliant illustration:

Jacket flap information is important! This is how I discovered the author of this book who comes from Argentina, Maria Teressa Andruetto, won the Hans Christian Andersen award in 2012 for Writing. Nearly all of her books are in Spanish. 

Companion books for younger readers and also senior primary students:

The Bridges

The Book of Gold

Nour's Secret Library

One Little Bag by Henry Cole

One Little Bag is a wordless book - these are sometimes referred to as textless books and IBBY call them Silent Books - but of course they are far from silent. This one for example contains a really complex and very satisfying story about the creation of a paper bag beginning with a tree in the forest and then moving from the factory to the grocery store. This is not the end, however, because this bag is used and reused over and over again and even becomes a part of the generational story of one family. 

"On the very first Earth Day my entire school celebrated. ... That day ... my lunch was packed in a small paper bag. On that first Earth Day, however, I did not throw my bag away after lunch. Instead, I folded in and slipped it back into my back pocket. ... The next day I used that same little bag to carry my lunch to school again. And the next day. And the next day. For three years. ... It looked a little weather beaten with all the stapes and scotch tape I used to keep it together. I figure that bag was used about seven hundred times."  Henry Cole

This book needs to be added to your school library BUT here in Australia it is way too expensive. This book was published in 2020 and while it is still available it now costs AUS$53+. Back in 2021 the library where I borrowed this book paid AUS$32.

Here is the blurb by Henry Cole: From a tall tree growing in the forest-- to the checkout counter at the grocery store-- one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school. And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is used and reused and reused again. In a three-generation family, the bag is transporter of objects and keeper of memories. And when Grandfather comes to the end of his life, the family finds a meaningful new way for the battered, but much-loved little bag to continue its journey in the circle of life.

In this video Colby Sharp talks about reading this book to his class. Take a look at the Kirkus Star review. Here is the webpage for Henry Cole. 

Cole beautifully shows how small acts of reusing something can become tradition in a family. The book never seems like a lecture, always just showing and demonstrating how reuse is possible and its great potential as well. The paper bag in the story if remarkably resilient for so much use by generations, but I think we all have items in our families that survive despite being used by everyone, to be handed to the next generation. Told in images only, the book is filled with fine-line drawings that shine with light. The paper bag is the only color on the page, its brown color becoming all the more warm and glowing and the red hearts popping with color. A truly great wordless picture book. Waking Brain Cells

I previously talked about Nesting by Henry Cole.

Meet the illustrator Freya Blackwood

 

The CBCA Judges said;

This wordless book is a deeply emotional, tender, poignant and quietly affecting story which sings on so many levels. Rereading will reward the reade. There is the need to stop destruction of the natural environment alongside themes of friendship, loneliness and displacement in a world where people are too busy to see beauty in the world. The characters, settings and transitions in time are engaging, emotive and worthwhile. There are many elements in this book; 

young and wistful protagonist, peacock and orange colour palette used to represent home life, 

delicately drawn figures and sensitive use of lighting.

2022 Picture Book of the Year short list

Freya Blackwood is one of our most talented Australian children's book illustrators. Her wordless book The Boy and the Elephant will go to Lampedusa to be part of the IBBY Silent Books project. This is a huge honour. 

The pathos of her characters is a joy to behold, and her work has deservedly captured international attention and a swag of awards and nominations. Penguin Australia

Freya has worked with some of the biggest names in Australian children's literature - Mem Fox; Libby Gleeson, Margaret Wild and the late Jan Ormerod. I especially love her two books which feature the poems of Banjo Patterson. Did you know the US version of Amy and Louis has a different title - Half a World away. 

Freya has illustrated over twenty-five books and has also done her own work as author and illustrator. My most favourite book illustrated by Freya is My Two Blankets. This book was featured by two Canadian academics at an IBBY (USBBY) conference in Seattle and I was pleased to include this book when I spoke at the Texas Book Festival in 2019.

In her hand-drawn illustrations, Blackwood uses colour and line to draw out the emotional complexity of growing up. It's the tender-sweet stories, those that make her "skin buzz and tingle" on first reading, that she accepts as book projects. The Sydney Morning Herald

In 2015 the CBCA listed three books illustrated by Freya Blackwood as their winners:

Winner Younger Readers: The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and The Present Libby Gleeson, Freya Blackwood

Winner Early Childhood: Go to Sleep, Jessie! Libby Gleeson, Freya Blackwood 

Winner Picture Book: My Two Blankets, Freya Blackwood, Text Irena Kobald 

In 2017 art by Freya was used for the CBCA slogan - Escape to Everywhere. If you have a school subscription or one through your public library here in Australia you can see some of Freya's books on The Storybox Library. Here is an interview with Freya Blackwood and The Art of the Picture Book. Here is a very comprehensive set of questions and answers.

My brother and I used to love visiting my grandparents because, among other things, they had a collection of picture books that was completely different from the collection we had at home. In amongst my grandparents’ books was a copy of Would You Rather by John Birmingham ... We loved Would You Rather because we had to interact with the story and think of our own answers. How fun (and horrible) is it to choose an answer for a question like this: "Would you rather eat spider stew or slug dumplings or mashed worms?" 

One of her most powerful books which shows the impact of drought here in Australia is My Two Summers and this is the title that won Freya Blackwood the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) New Illustrator award in 2004 and perhaps set on the path to her illustration career:

My Two Blanket was also selected for the White Ravens list. In this interview with Reading Australia Freya Blackwood talks about My Two Blankets and also her book Amy and Louis. 

In 2010, she received the Kate Greenaway Medal for Harry & Hopper.

The Terrible Suitcase

The Treasure Box

Banjo and Ruby Red

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