We start this Enews with a piece written by Tony Ellwood, the Director of the NGV, for the NGV News "The change of seasons has long been a source of inspiration for artists. Myoung Ho Lee's 'Tree', pictured above, is one of my favourite works in the NGV's Collection. For Lee, the seemingly humble tree unites the sky, the ground and humanity, and in this work he gives the tree its own canvas so that we as viewers can fully appreciate its beauty." We agree that the rythmic changes in the seasons and even more, the unexpected changes in the world, are a source of inspiration for creators of story in what ever medium.  Our autumn offer is a little bit more suburban ... We were inspired to install a new letter box on the front fence of 121 Cobden St, South Melbourne. Our purpose built showroom is at the rear of this little cottage and although closed physically for visitors at the moment, it's open on line and we offer these small enticements for the passers by. This scene was reated by Ann James based on her characters Bird and Bear from her two picture books Bird and Bear & Bird and Bear and the Special Day , who also feature on the decal on the window behind. Another enticement (from our showroom ) that we can offer in this time of social isolataion is the book and jigsaw boxset of Shaun Tan's award winningTales from Outer Suburbia. Available on line now Of course the wonderful range of Shaun Tan's limited edition prints are also available and can be viewed here . The Children's Book World continues to be inventive and resilient  with the challenges of COVID 19. The Bologna Children's Book Fair in ltaly, the most important annual international event for children's books and illustration, postponed from April is being held virtually from May 4 to 7 (be Quick!) The announcement of the prestigious lBBY Hans Christian Andersen Award made on May 4. The 2020 winners are Jacqueline Woodson of the U.S.A., for Writing, and Albertine of Switzerland, for Illustration. Jacqueline Woodson "creates books with incisive insights for a wide range of audiences, from very young children to adults. The dossier notes her books “feature lyrical language, powerful characters, and an abiding sense of hope. The dialogues are pitch-perfect, the stories are raw and fresh, and the endings satiate the reader.” Albertine "creates books with multiple levels of interpretation as an illustrator, but also as an author. Her dossier states that she is “known for work that expresses spontaneity combined with attention to detail." More information  The Best Publishers Award for Oceania was given to Windy Hollow Books (Australia). Windy Hollow has been publishing high quality, literary picture books by Australian authors and illustrators for the past 14 years. The Company works with established authors and illustrators but also make it its mission to find and nurture new talent. Congratulations! www.windyhollowbooks.com.au The Illustrator’s Wall where illustrators get noticed is on-line. Over the years this area has become one of the fair’s favourite places, welcoming visitors with thousands of posters, drawings, photographs, pictures and contacts. This year BCBF offered illustrators from around the world the opportunity of virtually posting their artwork to be seen by publishers and professionals and lead to potential new partnerships. This year there are  2,500 participants from 5 continents and 80 countries and territories - you'll see a good selecton of Australian illustrators there! Click through to the wall here and go to Oceania. There are three new digital platforms to explore - Global Rights Exchange; Fair Tales -BCBF blog and Galleries with 8 exhibitions on line. More information Agencies With all the changes in the children’s book world including publishing, several new literary agencies have started, opening up new opportunities in this time of change and uncertainty and some booking agencies are offereing online sessions - eg • Annabel Barker Agency  - selling international rights on behalf of publishers, as well as operate as a literary agency with a focus on unpublished children’s and YA authors and illustrators. Annabel is the former rights direcetor and managing director of Hardie Grant Egmont website • Booked Out Speakers Agency - received funding from the Copyright Agency's Coivid -19 emergency funding to run a new project during term two.‘ Reaching Out’ is a discrete project offers a range of online sessions for primary and secondary students.These online sessions will be offered at a reduced price, with some exceptions - details here Other organisations continue support and offer online opportunities relating to children's books and picture books and illustrators in particular. Reading Australia continues to provide quality resources based on Australian Literature. Currenty they have 18 primary and 120 secondary units. Two we'd like to highlight are: • One Tree by Christopher Cheng and illustrated by Bruce Whatley Students may find a connection with this picture book about a grandfather's sadness at leaving his farm to live in an apartment. His grandson finds a way to bring the natural world into their home, returning hope to his grandfather's life.(suitable for Year 3)  • Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy Students will learn about the importance of Welcome to Country, and explore welcoming ceremonies of other cultures. They will construct their own Acknowledgment of Country, examine the vocabulary used in the story, and analyse the illustrations.(suitable for year 3) Both these books are available for purchase from our website.                                           State Galleries and Libraries  Tony Ellwood, Director of the NGV, recenty suggested to look back at their interviews with Alison Lester, Ron Brooks, Leigh Hobbs and Shaun Tan, saying, the works of these illustrators fill the bookshelves of many of our homes and have provided much joy over generations! Australia Reads Campaign has received $100,000 in funding from the Federal Government to be used "to support their campaign on the benefits of reading and motivating all Australians to get back into a regular reading habit". The centrepiece of the campaign, the Australian Reading Hour, for this year will now be held on November 12. More details Creators - they just keep creating and sharing Here's a rather artistic neigbourhood library installed by Bob & Carol Graham near their front gate. Children's book writter and illustrator Bob Graham turned his hand to building and printmaker Carol Graham created the handsome lino blocks to print on its exterior. Ann James visited to exchange a book! Designer and book illustrator Lee Burgemeestre has had her letter box in action now for quite a while, with changing themed dioramas. This miniature exhibition is a recent one, developing and changing over time to include works by fellow artists and enthusiastic neighbours, many of them children!

Awards  The Australian Book lndustry Awards will be announced on-line Wednesday May 13, 4pm.  Of special note is the announcement of the two Hall of Fame Awards  Helen Garner as the recipient of the Lloyd O’Neill Award for outstanding contribution to the industry and Erica Wagner as the recipient of the Pixie O’Harris Award for consistent contribution to Children’s Literature. Both have contributed a lifetime of outstanding work to the Industry and will be recognised on the evening.  More details  2020 Australian Book Design Awards. The Australian Book Designers Association (ABDA) has announced the shortlists  Best designed children’s illustrated book · Argh! There’s a Skeleton Inside You! (Idan Ben-Barak & Julian Frost, A&U) designed by Julian Frost · I See, I See (Robert Henderson, A&U) designed by Robert Henderson · Liarbird (Laura Bunting, illus by Philip Bunting, Omnibus) designed by Philip Bunting · Lights Out, Leonard (Josh Pyke, illus by Chris Nixon, Puffin) designed by Marina Messiha ·  Lottie and Walter (Anna Walker, Puffin) designed by Anna Walker and Bruno Herfst More information World llustration Awards A number of picture book creators from Australian and New Zealand have been longlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2020. Spanning 10 categories, the 500-strong longlist includes five ANZ illustrators nominated in the children’s publishing category-  · Amy Haarhoff for The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiki (written by Clare Scott, Picture Puffin) · Sally Soweal Han for String (unpublished) · Tania McCartney for Fauna: Australia’s Most Curious Creatures (NLA Publishing) · Jess McGeachin for Colin Collects Colors (Little Bee Books, September 2020) · Anna Zobel for Who’s Your Real Mum? (written by Bernadette Green, Scribble). Now in their 45th year, the global awards have been run by the UK’s Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the Directory of Illustration in the US since 2015. A shortlist of 200 will be announced in June, with shortlisted works to be featured in a printed full-colour catalogue, distributed to curators worldwide. More information The Australian Children's Laureate  Ursula's writing challenge for May is inventing words checkout the May Mixes on the   Australian Children's Laureate website! The Laureate Calendar with writing tips and activities from Ursula each month can be downloaded for free! Share Tweet Forward

Books Illustrated is an enthusiastic supporter of the Australian Children's Laureate Program , Copyright Australia's Reading Australia and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation   Books Illustrated is an enthusiastic supporter of the Australian Children's Laureate Program , Copyright Australia's Reading Australia and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation  Facebook Twitter Website Copyright © 2020 Books Illustrated, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 121 Cobden St, South Melbourne, Vic 3205 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences    Subscribe to our E-News

BEHIND THE STUDIO DOOR INTERVIEWS

Tohby Riddle
July 2019

Bruce Whatley
March 2019

Anne Spudvillas
January 2019

Patricia Mullins
January 2019

Marc Martin
September 2017

Lisa Stewart
March 2016

Ilse van Garderen
October 2015

Anna Walker
June 2015

Mark Wilson
April 2015

Shaun Tan
December 2014

Leigh Hobbs
August 2014