Books Illustrated E-News

August this year is quite special for us as it marks the 30^thanniversary
since we started Books Illustrated.

Ann James installing the sophisticated 1988 signage for the opening of Book Illustrated

For the last two years we've enjoyed our showroom in Mills St Albert Park but have recently been moving. Books Illustrated's new address, is in fact it's oldest - the small cottage in Cobden St, South Melbourne where we opened in 1988 for Children’s Book Week with The Not So Short List Exhibition. This exhibition showcased illustrations from books we considered the best of those published the year before. The Not So Short List exhibition continued to be an August feature in our program for the next 20 years.

Our second exhibition was Bob Graham's, 'A Suitcase Sale'. Bob literally delivered his fabulous treasures in a suit case that had been propping up his bed! It's the backdrop in the photo below. A party of illustrators ( is this a collective noun for us?), including Anthony Browne visiting from the UK with his publisher Julia McRae.

UK illustrator Anthony Brown at Books Illustrated 1988, talking with Elizabeth Honey and David Wong.

In fact we have run the full circle, within the same area of Melbourne, for 30 years: Cobden St ('88 - '91) to Beaconsfield Parade ('91-'93) to Gasworks Park ('93 - 2008) to Beaconsfield Parade (2008 - 2016) to Mills St (2016 to 2018) to Cobden St (now) ... and on we go ...

With this anniversary and move we can't help but be prompted by memories galore - so many launches of so many great books, the birth of the Society of Book Illustrators, all the gatherings and celebrations, associations and partnerships - to be continued.

We are excited to be opening a new chapter with new projects for Book Illustrated, and will celebrate it with you all soon - well, as soon as we can get sorted and setlled again!

During our current move we've considered it to be a little like Brexit - the process being more protrated than we would have imagined! Coincidentally, this UK/Royal theme is continued in this News with Illustration Cupboard's feature exhibition, Felicity Marshall's Hello, Honey Bee Royal connection and UK author /illustrator Anthony Browne visiting - well 30 years ago!

The Melbourne Book Market at Abbotsford Convent - Celebrating Children's Book Week - with Felicity Marshall's new picture book Hello, Honey Bee

Saturday August 25
Time: 10am to 4pm

Felicity will be guest illustrator on our stand from12 noon to 2pm.
She is an Australian painter and author/illustrator of children`s books. Her other picture books include You and Me Murrawee, Sage`s Ark, and The Star.
Felicity will be showing the developmental work for her latest picture book Hello, Honey Bee, published by Propolis Books, which she sent as a gift to the Queen and recently received a precious letter from Her Majesty! And then another followed from Prince Charles who also enjoyed his own copy of this quirky tale.

You can now order your own signed copy from us and select from a range of six prints from Hello, Honey Bee

These sessions offer a rare opportunity to see, at first hand, what goes into the making of picture books for children. And this one offers a chance to find out what you've always wanted to know about bee keeping!

Hardback Book $26.50 Limited Edition print My son the Prince $125

Buy Now

Discover more about the many programs and events at The Abbotsford Convent

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

The Many Story Treehouse Exhibition

Tamworth Regional Gallery in NSW July 27 to September 9

This exhibition celebrates Terry Denton's input into, and illustrations for, the phenomenal Treehouse series.
Details of exhibition including hire fee here.

Hello! from Australia: Indigenous Australian Children’s Books and illustration

Parkes Regional Library, NSW
August 16 to Sept 24
20 picture book illustration prints giving an overview of contemporary publishing
of Indigenous books in Australia.
(Image by Warren Brim from Creatures of the Rainforest published by Magabala Books)
Details of exhibition including hire fee here

Find Your Treasure Exhibition

Marvel at work by Australia’s award-winning illustrators in Find Your Treasure, an exhibition celebrating the art of children’s books
( image by Felicity Marshall from picture book You & me, Murrawee, published by Penguin Books)
Lavington Library, Albury NSW
August 18 to October 6

Illustration Inspiration

At Illustration Cupboard in London, UK
The Garden of Anita Jeram exhibition, on show until September 10, offers an unrivalled opportunity for visitors, enthusiasts and collectors to view and acquire pieces from one of the world’s best-selling picture book illustrators. Also available for purchase is a selection of signed books, including special anniversary copies of the classsic Guess how much I love You, one of the best-selling illustrated picture books of all time.

Closer to home, here are a couple of opportunities for Australian illustrators ...

A New Style File website - Be on it!

The ASA (Australian Society of Authors), the national professional organisation supporting authors and Illustrators, will launch an updated Style File website for illustrators in September.
The ASA’s Style File is a curated site for illustrators to showcase their work. Originally set up more than 10 years ago, it has become a respected source of high quality illustrators for the Australian publishing community, launching the careers of many well-known Australian illustrators. This new site will offer additional exciting new opportunities.

Current financial illustrator members of the ASA who have been paying the annual Style File subscription, are invited to resubmit their portfolio for the new style file site by August 24, wthout going through the assessment process.

New Submissions are welcome and must also be received by August 24, 5pm AEST. Illustrators wishing to be included must submit their work for approval by an expert panel.

A special INTRODUCTORY OFFER is waiving the $20 entry fee and making it FREE to submit work to Style File for assessment. You do not need to be an ASA member to submit, but all successful submitters will join the ASA with an annual Style File subscription fee of $96 (inc GST).

All details are on the ASA website or call on 02 9211 1004.

NAMI Concours 2019
The International Picture Book Illustration Concours, known as NAMI Concours
is now open for submissions - deadline August 31, 2018

The NAMI Consours is biennual and aims to offer the opportunity for illustrators to showcase their creative talents and to raise the quality and standard of picture book illustration. It is sponsored by Nami Island one of South Korea's most popular global destinations. It hosts the Nami Island International Book Festival and is the official sponsor of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards.

Since it's establishment in 2013 there have been three exhibitions. An Australian illustrator has been chosen to be included in each one – Ann James (2013 ); Marc Martin (2015 ) & Maree Coote (2017).

Application details
If you have any questions please contact Ellen Chang na549@naminara.com

Behind the Studio Door

We produce this series to give an insite into illustrators' work - their practice, motivations and influences.

The next illustrator to be featured is award-winning illustrator Anne Spudvilas.
Most recently, Anne created a re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's ballet story, now published as the picture book Swan Lake, published by Allen & Unwin. Her work on the book began after she moved to her home on the Murray River just below the Murray/Darling junction at Wentworth. She has recenty completed rennovating a studio where she runs classes ... we hope you'll enjoy reading about her studio later this month.

The release of this feature coincides with an exhibition of Anne's picture book illustration at the Albury Gallery which runs till September 9. Opening night is August 23, when Anne will share the stories and techniques behind her illustrations.

Archive of the Behind the Studio Door features can be found here

Other August events and awards

The phenomenal Treehouse series!

Last week’s top overall bestseller, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s The 104-Storey Treehouse, continues its reign in the number one spot in the overall top 10 bestsellers!
(Reported July 30 in the Industry news bulletin Books & Publishing )

Order now
• signed limited edition prints
• original illustration
• signed books

Reconciliation Writing Competion 2018 - Don't keep History A Mystery!

Organised by the Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation, this competition is open to Victorians of all ages from Adults to Primary aged children and all styles of writing are encouraged. Judges are writer and academic professor Tony Birch, academic Emeritus Professor Clare Bradford and freelance writer and broadcaster Bryan Andy.
Entries Close Friday August 24.
submissions to writingcomp2018@gmail.com
Further information at www.ppcfr.org or contact Rosemary Rule on 0418675734

CBCA Victorian Branch - Book Week
FAMILY FUN DAY
at the Abbotsford Convent
SUNDAY 26th AUGUST 10am to 3pm
ADULTS FREE / CHILDREN $5

Children's Book Week is will be celebrated around Australia August 17 to 24.
The Victorian Branch has planned a great program for the whole family based around this year's Book Week Theme
Find Your Treasure

Celebrate story with books, music, storytelling, performances and activities
Author & Illustrator Anna Walker, who's illustrations feature on this year's theme Find your Treasue will be running workshops and you can meet Ann James at the Books Illustrated Pop Up print exhibition.

This month marks an epic milestone for Story Box Library
The release of their 200th story!

They will celebrate the occasion with a reading of Narelle Oliver's, I Want To Be In A Book, by 2017 Dromkeen Librarian's Award recipient and children's book blogger-extraordinaire, Megan Daley.
I Want To Be In A Book is the perfect book to share with children in the lead up to Book Week (18-24 August).
Story Box Library are also making this their FREE preview story from
Wednesday 8 - Friday 31 August so everyone can join in the celebrations.

August with the Australian Children's Laureate

Morris Gleitzman's Calendar August theme is Ask The Question

Morris asks ... 'why do we have Ask The Question in August when we should be asking questions every month of the year? Good question. I'll leave it with you' ... read more on the Laureate website and find some great reading suggestions and ideas.

Why a magpie?
The Magpie is the mascot for ACLF (Australia Children's Laureate Foundation)
Magpies are celebrated nationally for their beautiful voices. They are handsome, ferociously protective of their young and very Australian.

Ode to a Suburban Songbird Exhibition

Tinning St Gallery in Melbourne 16th August - 2nd September 2018.

Ode to a Suburban Songbird is a tribute to one of Australia’s favourite birds. Almost everybody has a story about magpies, or someone in their life having to do with magpies. Jess McCaughey loves magpies and set about creating a group exhibition celebrating all things “pie”s, where magpies are explored from different viewpoints and in various mediums. The show includes soft sculpture, illustration, textile, music, painting, jewellery and leatherwork and is an official Craft Cubed festival of the handmade location.