Books Illustrated E-News

Recent News

Our guest author/illustrator at Clunes Book Town festival in May was Gabi Wang.

Be sure to check details in our monthly news for Books Illustrated's
program with the Melbourne Book Market. Market visitors have
the opportunity to meet authors and illustrators of picture books.

Margaret Power

We were very sad to hear of the death of Melbourne illustrator Margaret Power,
on May 20.
Margaret was a great friend of ours and very involved in our illustrator and picture book events particularly in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
Margaret received her first commisssion to illustrate the picture book Creatures in the Beard, written by Margaret Wild. It was published by Omnibus Books in 1986 and went on to be shortlisted in the 1987 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Her next picture book, also published by Omnibus Books, The Long Red Scarf was written by Nette Hilton and was an honour book in the 1988 awards. Margaret was a wonderful draftsperson who worked with a gentle realism, depicting the humanness of people and the animalness of creatures with amazing accuracy and sensitivity - particularly horses and cats which she knew well and loved passionately. While continuing her previous career in advertising and fashion design she illustrated a number of notable picture books and became well known too for her fabulous cover illustrations, in particular those for reissued classics such as Seven Little Australians. Her illustrations are included in the John Barrow Collection at the National Centre for Australian Children's Literature in Canberra, and also in the Albert Ullin Collection of State Library of Victoria. She will be remembered warmly by many in the Children's Literature world.

A celebration of her life will be held at The Gables, 15 Finch St, East Malvern in Melbourne on Monday June 3 at 11am.
All are welcome, but for catering purposes, please RSVP by Wednesday May 29 to Lisa Berryman - Lisa.Berryman@harpercollins.com.au

The Society of Book Illustrators first national gathering was at Dromkeen in 1990. Pictured here are,
left to right, Julie Vivas, Liz Honey, Margaret Power, Jane Tanner, Margory Gardner and Kay Stewart

Books Illustrated at the Melbourne Book Market in June

Abbotsford Convent - Saturday June 1

Queen Victoria Market - Sundays 2, 9,16, 30

• Meet Kirsty Murray & Karen Blair, 11am to 1pm on Sunday 2.

• Meet Judy Watson, 11am to 1pm on Sunday 16.

New Prints and books
Now available now for purchase from our website or showroom
121 Cobden St, South Melbourne (open by appointment)

Shaun Tan - print

We are delighted that Shaun has made this so far unpublished Illustration, available for sale as a limited edition Giclee print. He gives some background to this arresting image:
This oil painting is a personal piece based on memories of my parents building a house when I was about 3 and 4, with a bit of a dark-light twist, depending on how you wish to see it. For myself it has something to do with a joyful acceptance of mortality.

Print Title: All we ever wanted
Price: $220 (details and purchase here)

Karen Blair

Picture book: When Billy was a Dog written by Kirsty Murray, published by
Allen & Unwin $24.95 and Limited edition Giclee print Billy & Boots - $95
(details and purchase here)

Judy Watson - picture book - new prints coming soon!

Leonard Doesn't Dance written by Frances Watts, published by ABC Books - $24.99

Above: Terry Denton's Illustration from Moonwalkers.

Countdown to the 50th anniversary of
the Moon Landing July 21,1969.

New picture books (hardback) available now ...

Moonwalkers $19.99 Touch the Moon $24.99

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION

Developing your creative ability is of course, important, but it is only part of the picture. You can only achieve financial stability if you equip yourself with the business skills to develop and grow your artistic career. Understanding your rights, knowing how to negotiate a fair deal, establishing a good working relationship with your publisher and understanding your worth as a creator are essential aspects of your business.
An Australian Society of Authors (ASA) One Day Seminar
Friday June 21 in person in Sydney or by video conference.
Details here

This new book by Jeannie Baker is a how-to guide to making your own collages, brimful of fascinating hints and tips from a master of the genre.
Over the course of a 40-year career, Jeannie Baker has perfected the art of collage in the creation of picture-book classics such as Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Window. Her stunning pieces, devised by assembling all sorts of different textures, are known all around the globe. Whether it's dried flowers or tiny shells, spaghetti or postage stamps, she uses the world around her to make work that is astonishingly beautiful and deeply creative. In Playing with Collage, she shares her secrets and encourages her readers to get creative. Within each of this book's four main sections, Jeannie presents an abstract collage of her own and offers suggestions and starting points for beginners. There are no right or wrong answers in this treasure of a book, it's all about trusting your instincts ... and playing!

Jeannie Baker is the author and illustrator of a number of children's picture books, including Where the Forest Meets the Sea, a Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book, Window, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal, Mirror, winner of the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award, Home in the Sky, Circle and Belonging. Her characteristic use of mixed media to create detailed and elaborate collages is stunning and unique. Originally from the UK, Jeannie lives in Australia. Find Jeannie online at www.jeanniebaker.com

Book - Playing with Collage - $27.99

OTHER JUNE EVENTS

CBCA Victoria is hosting several judge's talks aimed at sharing information about the books selected in the CBCA Award categories and the judging process for the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. The first in Melbourne is Tuesday 28th May, commencing at 6.30pm at SLAV Headquarters, The Dream Factory in Footscray with Victorian based Judges - Mandy Cooper, Jo Panckridge, Brook Tayla.
Bookings and further details at http://vic.cbca.org.au/events

RECONCILIATION WEEK
May 27 - 3 June

Make the most of Reconciliation Week by donating to the ILF campaign to raise funds to create and publish books in first language.

By making a donation to the ILF this National Reconciliation Week, you are supporting a cause that is grounded in truth and walks together in courage. Your donation will ensure Indigenous stories and truths are told, written and shared, and the joys and opportunities that books and reading bring, are made accessible to all children in Australia.
Tina Ray - Program Director ILF

Making books with communities that children can relate to and in their own language is essential to developing preliteracy skills and creating long-term equality. This End of Financial Year, your tax deductible donation will help us continue to publish more community stories, recognising UNESCO's declaration of support for the revitalisation of our Indigenous Languages.
Karen Williams Execuitive Director ILF

Fantastic Worlds Exhibition
June 7 to July 7 Counihan Gallery /Moreland City Council in Brunswick, Vic

This exhibition, curated by Edwina Bartlem, invites visitors to explore the fantastic, curious and imaginary characters and worlds of children's picture books as illustrated by some of Australia's leadfing book artists including Graeme Base, Lance Belchin, Leigh Hobbs, Elise Hurst, Alison Lester, Marc Martin, Tai Snaith, Cat Rabbit & Isobel Knowles, Shaun Tan and Anna Walker.
Details including public programs

Willy Lit Fest
2019 Williamstown Festival - Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 June
Details and bookings

World Refugee Week June16 to June 22

The Refugee Council of Australia's 2019 theme continues the focus on celebrating through sharing food and stories from around the world! They invite you to start a conversation in your workplace, school or community by registering for their ideas package - https://www.refugeeweek.org.au

Copyright Agency's Reading Australia project also invites you to use the resources prepared on two related Australian picture books The Little Refugee by Anh Do and Suzanne Do, illustrated by Bruce Whatley and Refugees by David Miller.

Related picture books are available for sale through Books Illustrated including ...

Two wild ducks become refugees when their swap is drained. Their journey in search of a new place to live exposes them to danger, rejection and violence before they are given a new home. Award-winning artist David Miller tells their story in Refugees with brightly coloured three-dimensional paper sculptures.

Two stunning picture books by Armin Greder, Flight & The Mediterranean

and two more below
My two Blankets illustrations, Freya Blackwood Out illustrations, Owen Swan

The Australian Children's Laureate Program

Morris Gleitzman's Stories Make Us Calendar

Welcome to Just Admit It June, that time of year when we turn our minds to one of the most fascinating aspects of stories – the way their exciting unexpected dreamboat tendrils of shimmering invention are always coiled around nuggets of truth. So many truths waiting to be discovered as we read – in stories, in characters and in ourselves ...

Visit the Laureate website for Morris's thoughts on the theme,
great reading suggestions and book related ideas.