Books Illustrated E-News

A new feature for visitors to Books Illustrated showroom st 74 Mills St, Albert Park!
The council have very kindly issued our street corner with a new bench seat - perfect for sitting and browsing in this lovely autumm weather. Come to our two week footpath BOOK SALE which includes many books for babies and many favourites for all ages.

Footpath BOOK SALE - March 14 to March 24

Federation Square Book Market
Sunday March 25
Time: 11am to 5pm

This month's guest illustrator is Anna Walker. - on our stand from 12noon to 2pm

Anna will be showing the developmental work for her latest picture book Florette, published by Penguin Books.

'When Mae has to move house from the country to the city, she feels lonely and sad - until she discovers a beautiful place full of green in the centre of Paris. What she finds there sparks something special and beautiful that will make her feel much more at home' - you tube video introducing the book.

Anna will have just returned from a trip promoting her picture books in South Korea, so she could have some interesting stories to share!

Other books written and illustrated by Anna Walker include Mr Huff (winner of the Early Childhood section of 2016 CBCA Book of the Year Awards), and Peggy. Anna collaborated with author Jane Godwin for All through the Year, Today we have no Plans, and Little Cat and the Big Red Bus.
Books and prints by Anna will be available for sale, including a new print from Florette.

These monthly sessions offer a rare opportunity to see, at first hand, what goes into the making of picture books for children.

Check out more about Anna on her website and the range of prints available through Books Illustrated.

Limited edition print - $90
Book - hardback $24.99

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Books Illustrated touring exhibitions
These exhibitions are currently been hosted at venues around Australia -

Are we thereYet?: A journey around Australia continues at Goulburn Regional Gallery, NSW till March 18.

Fine Focus: a retrospective exhibition of the work of Rachel Tonkin continues at Dromkeen Homestead in Riddells Creek, Vic until May 20.

ANZAC Illustrated print exhibition opens at Avondale Heights Library, Melbourne on March 10
and continues till April 30.

Illustration: working drawing by Jane Tanner from The Soldier's Gift written by Tony Palmer, publshed by Penguin/Viking

Illustration Inspiration - The Bologna Children's Book Fair - April 3 to 6

We count ourselves very fortunate in having been able to attend the Bologna Children's book fair in Italy for several years because it is an inspiration for us for many reasons.
The first is that we've have the opportunity to curate many promotional exhibitions of contemporary Australian illustration - the range of work each year we've always found inspiring.
Then, in Italy, the inspiration continues with the Bologna International Illustration Exhibition showcasing illustration from all over the world, and the many associated activities and exhibitions in the city of Bologna itself.

Each year at the fair a focus country installs its own inspiring exhibition. This year Catalonia and the Balearic Islands are IT, and their positive focus seems apt for us all to consider:

Three lines will structure our presence at the Fair: looking to the future, with the conviction that children’s literature represents the future of the world, an optimistic, new and modern future. This includes the certainty that children are the drivers of this future and that books help their dreams grow and come true. It is a future that must be shared, because it is based on everyone’s shared responsibility so we can provide children and young people from all countries with opportunities to read books of literary and artistic quality and because we are convinced of books make a better world. We will do our part with books in Catalan, because children’s books in Catalan contribute to this future by featuring children’s literature and illustration from our rich cultural and publishing tradition.

Hello! from Australia Exhibition at the 2017 Bologna Book Fair
An illustration from the picture book, Welcome to Country, by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy, published by Walker Books has been printed on a large canvas and will be the welcoming image to our exhibition Hello! from Australia. This exhibition of prints and books promotes contemporary Australian illustrated books and this year will represent 26 publishers with 85 books. The catalogue will be lauched later in March and can be viewed on line at ISSUU.com. We are happy to forward a PDF copy via email.

A combined Australian stand has been reinstated for this year with 5 independent publishers: Allen & Unwin, Berbay, Melbournestyle, MidnightSun and Upload ( Educate2Empower Publishing) and Books Illustrated, supported with funding from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. Although a small stand, we stand tall with 12 creators (including our current Childrens' Laureate, Leigh Hobbs and past Laureate Alison Lester) attending.
Already three major awards have been achieved by two publishers on our stand.
• Melbournestyle's Spellbound: Making pictures with the A-B-C by Maree Coote, is awarded 'Special Mention' in the Bologna Ragazzi Award, 2017
• Alphabet City Zoo by Maree Coote, published by Melbournestyle, is awarded 'Distinction' in the NAMI Concours Award, 2017
• Berbay Publishing, is nominated for Best Publisher, 2017 Oceania.

Ruben, a new picture book by Bruce Whatley, published by Scholastic Australia (image shown above) will be launched by Australian Children's Laureate, Leigh Hobbs, on the Australian Stand. We are thrilled to be part of this celebration as some of Bruce's illustrations from Ruben were exhibited in the Bologna International Illustration Exhibition in 2014.

A significant Australian contingent will be participating in the Third International Laureate Summit - Laureate Leigh Hobbs, project manager, Mike Shuttleworth, Board members Ron Gorman and Ann James, past Laureate, Alison Lester and past manager, Justine Alltimes.

With more than 25,000 people taking part over 4 packed days of programmes and special events in 6 huge halls, it really is a unique mix of culture, illustration, books and the business of the Publishing Industry.

We look forward to sharing some of this with you in April and beyond ...

Other November events and awards

Congratulations to all those creators & publishers who have books included in the newly released Notables list for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
Following are events in each state and territory leading up to the announcement of the Shortlist on March 28,. Winners announcement is at the start of Book Week - August 18 to 25
The CBCA Victorian branch will host a shortlist event in Melbourne for teachers & librarians on March 28.

Also of note this month, from the Children's Book Council of Australia, is a call for nominations for the Nan Chauncy Award. This biennial award, named after Nan Chauncy (a noted Tasmanian author of classic children’s books), has been created to honour people who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of Australian children’s literature. Nominations will close on 31 March 2017. The recipient will be announced in August. Further details at cbca.org.au

Dromkeen Lit Fest
Saturday March 18
A festival for all ages with book related activities and workshops at Dromkeen Homestead and surrounding gardens.
Ther are sessions with authors and illustrators including Claire Saxby, Mark Wilson, Glenda Millard, Mark McBride, Gabrielle Wang and Bret Cardwell.
In Focius, A retrospective exhibition of author illustrator, Rachel Tonkin is on in the Dromkeen gallery.
www.dromkeen.com.au

Circle exhibition comes to Melbourne!
March 16 to May 14, Domaine House - Royal Botanic Gardens

Award winning children’s author and artist, Jeannie Baker, has published her long anticipated new book, Circle. This beautifully illustrated story follows the 11,000 kilometre migration of the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri), the longest unbroken migration of any animal - travelilng from Australia through Southeast Asia to its Alaskan breeding grounds and then back to Australia.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, in partnership with the Melbourne Friends, are hosting an exhibition of the astounding artwork featured in Circle. During the exhibition, professional development sessions with Jeannie Bake are offered for teachers, as well as specially designed education, vacation care and holiday programs, supported by Melbourne Water, Birdlife Australia and ZartArt.

March with the Australian Children's Laureate

Leigh Hobbs' It’s your story Calendar March theme is Navigate a Story
Visit the Laureate website for reading suggestions, activities and ideas.

Print title: Mr Chicken aboard the 139
from : Mr Chicken Lands in London, published by Allen & Unwin.
size: 300mm(w) x 310mm (h)
price: $255

Leigh Hobbs will be attending a biennial summit of International Children's Laureates at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, so Mr Chicken, recently the star of Leigh's newest book, Mr Chicken Arriva a Roma, will certainly be at home in Italy!
Look out for new prints from Mr Chicken arriva a Roma prints due in April to coincide with this visit!