TAS e-NEWS
The Children’s Book Council of Australia
(Tasmanian Branch) Inc.
Patron: Mrs Frances Underwood
PO Box 113, Moonah, Tas, 7009 - email: info@cbcatas.org
web: www.cbcatas.org – blog: http://cbcatas.blogspot.com/
Editor: Penny Garnsworthy
From the President
Recently it dawned on me that although as an adult I read a lot of adult nonfiction, I am not exposed to much children’s non-fiction. On the other hand I read
or peruse a fair bit of children’s and young people’s fiction. Apparently children’s
non-fiction is not as fashionable, as many people believe that as facts are all on
the web there is little need for non-fiction. To me the power of the good non–
fiction book is that, unlike eclectic clicking on hypertext, it is in the form of a story.
I was reminded of this power while watching an episode of The Mentalist. Baker
had to remember a long list. He did it by making the list into a story. This took me
back to my Matric years where I bought a memory course advertised in the
Australasian Post (my mum bought AP to do the ‘Mr Wisdom’s Whopper
Crossword’) to help me remember the dates for essays in the exams. It worked on exactly the same
principles. Make up a story with dates as objects easily associated with the concepts.
We find stories easy to remember; better still they makes thing easier to understand. However, until
recently reading Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking: fast and slow Chapter 36 ‘Life as a story’ I had not
understood the central place of story in human psychology. Often we place a lot of importance on
people’s stories compared to their actual lives. As Kahneman states, ‘Caring for people often takes
the form of caring for the quality of their stories rather than their feelings’. Once prompted it is not hard
to think of examples. Wanting people to have good stories seems to help us to be more caring.
So I am paying more attention to children’s non-fiction books as stories. Luckily they probably have a
level of sophistication greater than most adults’ understanding so it will be worth the effort. NB.
Kahneman is a psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics 2003 and reading is an
understatement for this long term project.
Richard Pickup, President
What’s Inside this Issue – April 2013
Topic
Page
Topic
Page
From the President
1
Industry News
11
From the CBCA Tas. Judge
2
Nook Reviews
12
Five Jewels of Wisdom on Children’s Book
2
Literary Days
13
Publishing – Anne Morgan & Gay McKinnon
CBCA Tas. Out and About
4
From the Editor
14
Will you be our next CBCA Tas. Judge?
5
Dates for your Diary
15
Congratulations!
6
CBCA Tas. Membership Form (att.)
10
Reading Time Application (att.)
The Making of a Bookseller
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 1
From the CBCA Tas. Judge
I’ve just packed my bag for Canberra, so by the time you fine folk are
reading this it seems likely that I will be at the national judges’ conference
spending five days talking books. We’ve finally made it to the other side.
385 books later, the reading cycle for the year has finished.
For my part, the judging experience has been a steep learning curve and
a relentless battle with reading that has taught me many things. Chiefly, I
have learnt to be clearer about the way I judge books. When reporting for
a literary award, it is not enough to say that a book is simply good or bad, engaging or boring. These
categories might suffice in conversation, but an award demands evidence, and identifying where and
how a book fails in its endeavours is half the battle of writing a good one.
Over the last eight months I hope that I have come closer to expressing what I regard as quality, and
being able to enunciate that when the time is right. As the conference looms it becomes more and
more certain that not everyone will agree, and a well thought argument might just save a great story
from sliding off the shortlist. How fitting. In the end, really, it all comes down to words. Wish me luck.
Lyndon Riggall
Five Jewels of Wisdom on Children’s Book Publishing
An author/illustrator collaboration on
The Smallest Carbon Footprint In The Land & other eco-tales
by Anne Morgan and Gay McKinnon
Once beside an ornamental frog pond, Princess Priscilla threw a royal hissy fit.
‘Writer!’ she stormed, stomping her expensive sandal into the soggy verge of the
pond, ‘Writers, you should never try to find an illustrator for your children’s book
manuscript!’
The writer, however, printed this tirade on a sheet of unbleached, recycled A4 paper, scrunched it into
a paper ball and tossed it into the pond. Then she turned the princess into a pobblebonk frog and
asked the illustrator she had found herself to draw warts on Priscilla’s face.(1)
JOW No. 1:
Publishers prefer to work with their own stable of illustrators. If your manuscript
is accepted for publication, the publisher will choose an illustrator for your text.
I’m not saying that Princess Priscilla had no idea what she was talking about. As a manuscript
assessor for the Tasmanian Writers Centre, I generally advise aspiring children’s authors against
asking children, grandchildren, spouses, in-laws, or professional or aspiring visual artists to illustrate
their texts. Unless the writer wishes to self-publish and is prepared to offer fair remuneration to the
illustrator.
JOW No. 2:
‘A picture speaks a thousand words’ (Anon)’.
I wrote Chicken Licken Says the Sea is Rising in 2011 after hosting a wacky dinner party where the
topic of climate change was debated ad nauseam. I submitted the manuscript to Dr David Reiter,
Director of IPKidz, who had just published my lovely picture book, The Sky Dreamer. David, quite
wisely, wanted the story to end on an upbeat note, so that child readers might feel empowered by the
knowledge that there are actions they can take to reduce the impacts of climate change. But as a
storyteller, I faced a dilemma. My manuscript was full of quirky characterisations of farmyard animals
and the last thing I wanted was to have its climax weighed down by technical details of the carbon
cycle and methods of greenhouse gas reduction.
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 2
Five Jewels of Wisdom on Children’s Book Publishing
(cont’d)
With the adage that a picture speaks a thousand words firmly in mind, I could see only one way
forward. I had to find an illustrator who could provide a concept illustration of Jowly Owly explaining
the carbon cycle and ways of reducing carbon gas emissions to Chicken Licken and his fine feathered
friends.
JOW No. 3:
‘Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist’ (Pablo Picasso).
I had served my apprenticeship as a children’s author. I knew the rule that authors should never invite
illustrators to work on their manuscript and I broke it. Like an artist.
JOW No. 4:
Art is art, science is science, and never the twain shall meet.
Luck was on my side. And when I say luck, I mean Lady Luck herself in the
incarnation of Dr Gay McKinnon. Gay and I are both members of Book Chooks,
a Hobart-based network of children’s book creators which was set up several
years ago following a CBCA Tas conference. In 2011, when Gay was attempting
an astonishing career change from molecular biologist to children’s book
illustrator, she was struggling to achieve her first publishing contract. Given her
scientific background and artistic talents, Gay seemed the obvious choice to
provide a concept illustration for Chicken Licken.
Gay completed the concept illustration and was duly offered a publishing
contract for my manuscript, which had by then swelled from a 32 page picture book to an 80 page
collection of nine organically-grown, recycled fairy tales. I quickly discovered that her talents extend
far beyond the scientific and artistic – she has also proved to have exceptional contract-reading and
editing skills. Thanks, Gay.
So now that the Ecotales have been published and are ready to make their way in the world, let us
raise a glass of organically-fermented pond water to the merger of art and science!
Anne Morgan
Footnote:
(1)
Dr McKinnon informs me that in the real world, frogs do not have warts. But if we can suspend
disbelief long enough to accept that a diamond slipper could transform into a carbon footprint, or
that a boy could climb a beanstalk and discover an organic garden in the clouds, or that a poor
fisherman might catch a bottle filled with bling dust and a genie, then why not decorate the
faces of Princess Priscilla and her handsome Prince Pobblebonk with a few warts?
I would now like to hand you over to Gay, for her insights into the Ecotales collaboration.
JOW No. 5:
Take your chances.
Like Anne, I broke my own rules to create this book. As an aspiring illustrator, I
divided my time between learning my craft and reading blog posts advising
newbies how to secure that elusive first contract. All of them warned against
wasting time illustrating an author’s uncontracted manuscript, for the reason Anne
has mentioned above: publishers prefer to select their own illustrators. (From a
stable – an alarming thought. Would I be expected to run very fast and live on
oats and mash?)
So when Anne asked me to provide some concept illustrations for her new
Chicken Licken picture book manuscript, I took on the challenge mainly as an
opportunity to develop my skills. After completing two drawings, I went on a sixweek holiday and forgot all about them. I returned to discover that during my idle
ramblings Anne had written eight more stories, all of which required illustration!
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 3
Five Jewels of Wisdom on Children’s Book Publishing
(cont’d)
Anne’s book was a tremendous challenge to me, as all of the stories contained different types of
characters – canny pigs, wolves, a scruffy prince, a clueless space cadet, an angry Scot – and all of
them needed to be funny to match Anne’s imaginative text. Many times I ripped up drawings, thinking
that to be consistently funny was harder than securing a scientific research grant. Anne and I
sometimes conferred on the more complex drawings, but she trusted me to do my job. By the time I
finished, I felt as if my brain had been completely overhauled. It used to be an analytical instrument
geared to detecting logical inconsistencies. Now it’s a far more flexible system, more open to
emotional nuance, better able to find visual similarities between unrelated objects and ways to
combine them into a satisfying whole.
I‘m delighted that as a result of those first concept drawings, I‘ve published my first book as an
illustrator and have been asked to illustrate two picture books on Sudan. I would say to new
illustrators: ‘Take every opportunity to develop your abilities – you never know where it will lead.’ I am
indebted to Anne for helping me kick-start my new career, which is completely satisfying on both an
intellectual and emotional level, and remains a thousand times more challenging than scientific
research. I wonder, though, if I could ever have conquered the difficulties without first having a career
in science. Although this is my first children’s book, I think it’s my 35th publication!
Gay McKinnon
Anne Morgan lives and writes on Bruny Island. She has a PhD in writing and a
Master of Education degree. After early careers in teaching and public service
middle-management, she now has eight published children’s books to her credit,
including the Captain Clawbeak series by Random House Australia. Her books
have been shortlisted in the Environmental Children’s Book of the Year award and
the Speech Pathology Australia award and have been on many State Premiers’
Reading Challenge booklists. She is also a prizewinning poet. Her website is:
www.annemorgan.com.au.
Gay McKinnon has a PhD in molecular biology and has worked previously as a research scientist,
glass artist and lecturer in studio glass. Since leaving scientific research in 2009 she has completed a
Diploma in Children's Book Illustration from the London Art College, won the CYA illustration
competition and the Omnibus Books Illustrated Envelope Competition, been selected for the 2010
ASA Bologna Project, and illustrated The Smallest Carbon Footprint in the Land. As author, she
has published numerous scientific articles, travel articles, and a book chapter on plant evolution.
Gay’s folio website is: http://gaymckinnon.carbonmade.com/.
CBCA Tas. Out and About
Paul Collins, publisher of Ford Street titles, was recently in Hobart for a
writers’ function. Paul is also republishing under his imprint some of
Isobelle Carmody’s books which are now out of print (e.g. Greylands).
CBCA Tas. Vice-President Patsy Jones
organised a get-together on Saturday 16
March with Paul, and Robyn Clark from
Macmillan. CBCA members and others
were also invited and Isobelle Carmody
was also able to join the group for a
wonderful breakfast.
From left: Rosemary Kellaway (CBCA Committee), Robyn Clark (McMillan), Paul Collins, Helen Thomas (CBCA
Committee), Andrea Potter (Illustrator), Lana Young (Writer), Patsy Jones (CBCA Committee) and Isobelle Carmody.
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 4
Will you be our next CBCA Tas. Judge?
Applications are invited for the Tasmanian representative on the interstate
judging panel for the 2015 and 2016 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (Tasmanian Branch) Inc. invites
applications for the honorary position of CBCA Book of the Year Awards
Judge representing Tasmania on the National Awards Judging Panel for the
2015 and 2016 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Reading commences in May 2014.
Selection Criteria:
•
•
•
•
Recognised standing and qualifications in the field of children’s literature
Wide and recent knowledge of children’s literature, especially Australian children’s literature
Awareness of illustration techniques, design, editing, printing and production processes
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Eligibility for serving as a judge:
•
•
Those seeking the position as Tasmanian judge must be current financial members of The
Children’s Book Council of Australia (Tasmanian Branch) Inc.
A person with a current vested interest (i.e. with books issued over this period) in the Awards
may not be a judge. Examples include authors, illustrators, book editors and publishers.
Notes:
•
•
•
Judges are appointed for a two-year term.
The reading period extends from approximately May until February. Reports on
each book are compiled and circulated, and discussed via email and
teleconferences with other members of the panel during this time.
Between the end of February and the Short List announcement, judges prepare
for the five-day Judges’ Conference in late March/early April, by rereading and
refining potential shortlists. All judges attend the Judges’ Conference at which
short lists, honour books and winners of the Awards are decided.
The Tasmanian judge is also expected to promote the Awards in the Tasmanian community, to write
brief reports for the newsletter, and to contribute to the compilation of Notable Australian Children’s
Books.
Detailed information of the process, role and responsibility can be found in the Awards Handbook
section on the CBCA National website http://cbca.org.au/publisherinfo.htm (go to: Judges’ Role and
Responsibilities).
To apply for this position:
•
or
•
send a letter outlining your interest and addressing the selection criteria to The President, The
CBCA (Tasmanian Branch Inc.), PO Box 113, Moonah, Tas, 7009
email your application to: info@cbcatas.org.
And if you would like to speak to a former judge about the role, please feel free to contact Maureen
Mann maureenmann@netspace.net.au or Carol Fuller carol.fuller@bigpond.com.
Applications close on 30 September 2013.
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 5
Congratulations!
Australian Awards:
The winners of the 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes were announced on Friday, 22 March 2013,
This year’s prize winners, and indeed all the shortlisted works, tell remarkable and very different
stories about Tasmania and what it is to be Tasmanian. They are a true reflection of the calibre and
vitality of our literary sector.
Tasmania Book Prize: 1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest
of Australia by James Boyce
Margaret Scott Prize: The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson
University of Tasmania Prize: Kubla by Katherine Johnson
The winners of the People's Choice Awards are:
Tasmania Book Prize: Last Days of the Mill by Pete Hay and Tony Thorne
Margaret Scott Prize: Pedder Dreaming: Olegas Truchanas and A Lost Tasmanian
Wilderness by Natasha Cica
University of Tasmania Prize: Kubla by Katherine Johnson
For more information go to:
www.arts.tas.gov.au/news_articles/2013_tasmania_literary_prizes_winners_annoucement
The Aurealis Awards shortlists:
Children’s Fiction (told primarily through pictures)
Little Elephants by Graeme Base (author and illustrator) (Viking Penguin)
The Boy Who Grew Into a Tree by Gary Crew, illus. Ross Watkins (Penguin Group Australia)
In the Beech Forest by Gary Crew, illus. Den Scheer (Ford Street Publishing)
Inside the World of Tom Roberts by Mark Wilson (author and illustrator) (Lothian Children’s
Books)
Children’s Fiction (told primarily through words)
Brotherband: The Hunters by John Flanagan (Random House Australia)
Princess Betony and the Unicorn by Pamela Freeman (Walker Books)
The Silver Door by Emily Rodda (Scholastic)
Irina the Wolf Queen by Leah Swann (Xoum Publishing)
Young Adult Novel
Dead, Actually by Kaz Delaney (Allen & Unwin)
And All The Stars by Andrea K Host (self-published)
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Walker Books)
Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin)
Into That Forest by Louis Nowra (Allen & Unwin)
Young Adult Short Story
Stilled Lifes x 11 by Justin D’Ath (Trust Me Too, Ford Street Publishing)
The Wisdom of the Ants by Thoraiya Dyer (Clarkesworld)
Rats by Jack Heath (Trust Me Too, Ford Street Publishing)
The Statues of Melbourne by Jack Nicholls (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight
Magazine 56)
The Worry Man by Adrienne Tam (self-published)
The rest of the shortlists can be found at: http://aurealisawards.com/
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 6
Congratulations!
(cont’d)
International Awards:
The 2013 winner of The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is
Isol (born Marisol Misenta), an Argentinian illustrator, cartoonist,
graphic artist, writer, singer and composer. She is the writer and
illustrator of about 10 published titles and has illustrated a similar
number by other authors. Isol takes the child’s clear view of the
world as her starting point, and addresses their questions with
forceful artistic expression, offering open answers.
To read the whole article go to: www.alma.se/en/Award-winners/2013-Isol/
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award has launched free reading guides for 12 works by 10 previous
recipients, including The Ghost’s Child by Sonya Hartnett and The Arrival by Shaun Tan. The
reading guides contain an introduction to the author, a description of the book’s contents, a suggested
interpretation and topics for discussions, and can be downloaded from:
www.alma.se/en/About-the-award/Teachers-Guides/
American Library Association: Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to
Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books for all age levels (birth through age
14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways. For the entire list, visit:
www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults
in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. For the entire list, visit:
www.ala.org/yalsa/bfya/2013list
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading
among teens who dislike to read or whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction. For
the entire list, visit: www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/quickpicks/2013
Each year, the Popular Paperbacks committee creates lists of books to encourage young adults to
read for pleasure. The lists of popular or topical titles are widely available in paperback and represent
a broad variety of accessible themes and genres. For the entire list, visit:
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/poppaper/2013
YALSA's Readers' Choice list seeks to engage a wide audience of librarians, educators, teens and
young adult literature enthusiasts in choosing the most popular teen titles in a given year, as
organized by broad genres. For the entire list, visit: www.ala.org/yalsa/readers-choice
The Rainbow Book List is a joint project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round
Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. The Rainbow
Book List presents an annual bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ
content, which are recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age. For the entire
list, visit: http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1025
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science
Fiction and Fantasy Book Shortlist:
Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill (Little, Brown)
Black Heart by Holly Black (McElderry; Gollancz)
Above by Leah Bobet (Levine)
The Diviners by Libba Bray (Little, Brown; Atom)
Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst (S&S/McElderry)
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (Random House; Doubleday UK)
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 7
Congratulations!
(cont’d)
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (Harcourt)
Every Day by David Levithan (Knopf)
Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
(Tu Books)
Railsea by China Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan)
Fair Coin by E C Myers (Pyr)
Above World by Jenn Reese (Candlewick)
United Kingdom: The Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals (CILIP) Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Awards:
www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/pressdesk/press.php?release=pres_2013_short_combined.html
A number of books by Australian authors have been selected for the 2013 United States
Board of Books for Young People (USBBY) list of Outstanding International Books for
Children and Young Adults (www.usbby.org/list_oibl.html). The titles by Australian authors included
in the list are:
A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham (Walker Books)
Isabella’s Garden by Glenda Millard (Walker Books)
The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers (Allen & Unwin)
Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett (Puffin)
Now by Morris Gleitzman (Viking)
Winners of the Red House Children’s Book Award 2013 have been
announced. The Red House Children’s Book Award is the only UK children’s
book award voted for entirely by children.
Spooky Spooky House by Andrew Weale and Lee Wildish - Younger Children category winner
and Overall Winner.
Gangsta Granny by David Walliams, illust. Tony Ross - Younger Readers category winner
The Medusa Project: Hit Squad by Sophie McKenzie - Older Readers category winner
Shortlists for Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Waterstones is a leading UK book store and more
information is available at: www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/childrens-book-prize/1185/
Picture Books:
Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan Children's Books) (Winner!)
Rabbityness by Jo Empson (Child's Play)
Oh No George! by Chris Haughton (Walker)
The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)
The Journey Home by Frann Preston-Gannon (Pavilion Children's Books)
Can You See Sassoon? by Sam Usher (Little Tiger Press)
Fiction for 5-12 year-olds
The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable (Chicken House)
Atticus Claw Breaks the Law by Jennifer Gray (Faber and Faber)
Wonder by R J Palacio (Random House Children's Books) (Winner!)
The Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters (Nosy Crow)
The Chronicles of Egg: Deadweather and Sunrise by Geoff Rodkey (Puffin)
Barry Loser: I Am Not A Loser by Jim Smith (Egmont)
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 8
Congratulations!
(cont’d)
Fiction for young adults
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (Random House Children's Books)
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt (Egmont)
Insignia by S J Kincaid (Hot Key Books)
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas (Bloomsbury Children's)
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher (Indigo) (Winner of YA and overall)
Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb (Little Tiger Press)
Cybil Awards 2012 – Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards
www.cybils.com/2013/02/the-2012-cybils-awards.html
Note: Four of the winning books have been reviewed in CBCA Tasmania blogs or newsletters – we
know our stuff!!
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) 2013 Outstanding Books
for Young People with Disabilities
Three Australian books have been included:
The Invisible Hero by Elizabeth Fensham (UQP)
Whisper by Chrissie Keighery (HGE)
Two Mates by Melanie Prewett (Magabala Books)
For more information go to www.ibby.org/index.php?id=271
United Kingdom’s Blue Peter Book Awards
Award for Best Story Horrible Science: Tom Gates: Genius Ideas, Mostly
by Liz Pichon
Award for Best Book with Facts: House of Horrors by Nick Arnold and Tony De Saulles
The Making of a Bookseller
On Wednesday 17 March, Clive Tilsley, owner of Fullers Bookstores in Launceston and Hobart, was
guest speaker at the monthly morning coffee lecture organised by the QVMAG Friends. His topic was
The Making of a Bookseller.
Clive enthralled the audience with stories from his past and
delighted them with his humour. In the 1950s Clive and his
family emigrated from Sheffield in England. Upon leaving
school, he took a ‘gap year’ and started work in retail. By the
age of 19 he was running the Mary Fisher Bookshop in
Launceston.
Clive has a good memory for books and can still remember from his primary school days where every
book was placed on the bookshelves. He says the key to a good bookseller is, ‘Knowing a little about
a lot of things’. He started his first bookshop Twelvetrees in Sandy Bay and later moved to Fullers
Bookshop in Hobart. Clive returned to Launceston and set up Fullers in its current location in St John
Street, within the then triangle of booksellers; Birchalls, Petrarchs and Angus & Robertson.
... over
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 9
The Making of a Bookseller
(cont’d)
On the future of books, Clive is positive. He says that when television arrived sales of books declined
for some time and that this is also probably true of the emergence of e-books. He does believe,
however, that only independent booksellers will survive because they enjoy talking to customers
about stories and ideas – something that amazon.com just can’t do.
Clive held up an original copy of The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or the Roly-Poly
Pudding by Beatrix Potter and said, ‘How do you attach fond remembrance to
something that’s digital?’
Highlights of his career as a bookseller include spending a book signing afternoon with
Sir Peter Ustinov and organising a book launch for Margaret Atwood in the 1980s,
which drew the largest group of people ever to attend a book launch in Australia.
Industry News
In June 2013, Text Publishing will release the first selection of Text Classics
Children's and Young Adult novels including works from some of our best-known
authors; wonderful and cherished stories that Australian readers grew up with,
and novels to share with a new generation of young readers.
At $12.95, each book features an introduction by a prominent Australian YA writer and a bright, fresh
design - inspired by the books' original jackets - by award-winning designer Chong Weng Ho. The
Text Classics already include some astonishing novels for younger readers – All the Green Year,
The Getting of Wisdom and Sydney Bridge Upside Down. Text has now decided to add more
extraordinary books to this list, including:
They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy, with introduction by John Marsden
The Watcher in the Garden by Joan Phipson, with introduction by Margo Lanagan
I Own the Racecourse by Patricia Wrightson, with introduction by Kate Constable
Hills End by Ivan Southall, with introduction by James Maloney
And later in 2013 more Australian children's and YA Classics will be published
including works by Nadia Wheatley and Eleanor Spence.
For further information contact Stephanie Stepan on (03) 03 8610 4538
or email: stephanie.stepan@textpublishing.com.au.
Walker Books Australia has launched a new campaign to celebrate its 20-year anniversary.
The We Believe in Picture Books campaign - www.webelieveinpicturebooks.com.au - aims to create
an online space devoted to picture books and the people who love them. The campaign will run until
August and culminate in an official celebration.
Until then the blog will regularly share videos, guest posts and pictures from Walker authors,
illustrators, staff and other picture-book lovers. Booksellers, teachers, librarians and the public are
also encouraged to contribute.
This year Allen & Unwin celebrates 25 years in children’s book publishing! Their list began in 1988
with Dear Robin: Letters to Robin Klein by Robin Klein and two wildlife photography books, Bush
Animals and Baby Animals, by Kathie Atkinson.
Read more at: www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/DetailPage.aspx?type=item&id=26459
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 10
Book Reviews
Picture Books
Tom and Tilly by Jedda Robaard (Walker Books)
Maureen mentioned this in one of her blogs. If that didn’t arouse interest – how about knowing that
the paper-folded boat is made out of a map of Tasmania?
Goldliocks and Just the One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson (Nosy Crow)
Remember Goldilocks – well years after ... little bear gets lost in the big city and
you’ll never guess who he stumbles into...
That’s mine by Michel Van Zeveren (Gecko Press)
Frog finds an egg, but snake wants it and so does eagle T. A lesson in unintended consequences,
greed and responsibility coupled with giggle-inducing hilarity (look at the expressions on the animals’
faces).
Somewhere in Australia by Marcello Pennacchio, illust. Danny Snell (Scholastic)
A counting book which uses the rhyme of Over in the meadow to tell the story of
Australian native animal mothers and their little ones.
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle (Chronicle)
This innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps shows the unlikely friendship between a
girl named Flora and a flamingo through an elaborate synchronized dance.
Younger Readers
Definitely No Ducks by Meg McKinlay & Leila Rudge (Walker Books)
Sequel to Duck for a day (Shortlisted for 2011 CBCA BOTY YR). The Antarctica
display is ruined. The Principal Mr Oswald says Max is to blame. Abby and Noah need
to discover what happened or Max and the wonderful Mrs Melvino will have to leave.
Fire Chronicle: Book 2 of Books of the Beginnings by John Stephens (Random House)
It’s rare that a second book is better than the first and that it can stand alone so well. Kate, Michael
and Emma are back in an orphanage while Dr Pym is unexpectedly away on business, but they know
that the Dire Magnus is still looking for them and that their quest for the Books of Beginning must
continue. While the first book focussed on Kate, the Keeper of the Atlas, it’s Michael’s turn to find his
book. A wonderful fantasy adventure series for anyone aged 10+.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis (Walker Books)
The first book in a hilarious new series. Timmy Failure is the founder, president, and
CEO of the detective agency he had named after himself. His partner, Total, is a polar
bear. The company name Total Failure sets the tone. Instead of seeing the obvious,
clueless and arrogant Timmy has a completely different and unlikely hypothesis.
The series will appeal to children, especially fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books
and younger children (7-9 year olds) who might not be quite ready for Wimpy Kid yet.
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 11
Book Reviews
(cont’d)
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Hyperion Books)
This multi-layered and heart breaking book has been nominated for many awards.
Verity, a female British spy, makes a simple mistake while on assignment in Germanoccupied France and is captured by the Germans. While being tortured for information,
she becomes a Scheherazade and writes (rather than tells) her ‘confession’ and
reveals her friendship with the pilot Maddy.
The prose has allusions to Peter Pan, Admiral Nelson and Rudyard Kipling’s Kim and a twist in the
ending that will make you want to reread the book immediately.
Shadows: Rephaim Book 1 by Paula Weston (Text Publishing)
In the year since the car crash that killed her twin brother Jude, Gaby Winters’ body
has healed, her memories have gone and her grief is raw and constant. Every night in
her dreams, she fights demons and other creatures. Secrets and deceptions, fallen
angels and otherworldly creatures abound.
Shadows has a compelling multi-layered plot and the start of a sizzling romance.
Gaby has a ‘potty mouth’ which some people might find offensive.
Nella Pickup
Resources
www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2013/02/19/teen-perspective-three-reasons-to-read/
Literary Days
This issue we celebrate famous literary days for the months of March and April.
March 2009
Margaret Mahy was commemorated as one of the Twelve Local Heroes in
Christchurch, New Zealand, in honour of her children’s writings.
2 March 1904
Birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, American writer and cartoonist who was most
widely known for his children’s books written under the pen name Dr Seuss.
4 March 1743
Birth of Johann David Wyss, best known for his novel The Swiss Family
Robinson.
Birth of Anna Sewell, most famous for her novel Black Beauty.
30 March 1829
2 April 1805
Birth of Hans Christian Andersen, Danish author and poet most famous for his
fairy tales.
9 April 1768
Death of Sarah Fielding, British author of the first novel in English
for children entitled The Governess, or The Little Female Academy
which was published in 1749.
12 April 1958
Publication of Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr Seuss.
16 April 2002
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opened in the West End at the
London Palladium theatre.
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 12
From the Editor
When I took on the role of Editor, the committee looked at the frequency of our
newsletters and decided bi-monthly would be best. And there were a number of
reasons for this. We wanted to get event information out to our members in
time - quarterly newsletters didn’t allow us to do this. We wanted a more
frequent newsletter so our members had something to look forward to more
often. And we thought a bi-monthly newsletter would mean less work for the
editor because more frequent newsletters require less content.
Well, as it turns out, our bi-monthly newsletters are bigger than ever. I love
editing TAS e-News and we, as a committee, are excited that we can provide you with so much
information in the way of notifications of special events, book launches, awards and industry news;
and that you can read book reviews, hear from authors and illustrators and learn what our CBCA Tas.
Judge is doing – all delivered to your in-box in full colour.
But what we’d really like is some feedback from our members. Is there anything else you would like to
see in TAS e-News? Is it telling you everything you need to know? Is it helping you to choose the right
books for the children with whom you interact? Let me know at: creativepen@bigpond.com.
Penny Garnsworthy
Who’s Who in CBCA Tasmania?
President
Richard Pickup
Vice-President
Patsy Jones
Secretary
Nella Pickup
Treasurer
Brendon Thomas
Merchandise Manager
Helen Thomas
Newsletter Editor
Penny Garnsworthy
Committee Member
Carol Fuller
Committee Member
Rosemary Kellaway
Committee Member
Jessie Mahjouri
2012-13 Judge
Lyndon Riggall
Tas. Representative to
the CBCA National Board
President - CBCA
National Board
Maureen Mann
Angela Briant
CBCA Tasmania Life Members
Kay Allport
Maureen Mann
Angela Briant
Judy Moss
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Jenni Connor
Glenn Pullen
Berenice Eastman
Bonnie Tilley
Page 13
Dates for your Diary
Date
Event
Location/Contact
2013
5-14 April
National Youth Week
www.youthweek.com/
23 April
International Day of the Book
www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryofnsw/s
ets/72157617118074413/detail/
23 April
World Book and Copyright Day
www.un.org/en/events/bookday/
22 May
National Simultaneous Story Time
www.alia.org.au/nss/
Reading Matters Conference
www.slv.vic.gov.au/event/reading-matters
Deadline for TAS e-News No. 3
creativepen@bigpond.com
CBCA Executive Committee
Meeting
Book of the Year Awards
announcement
Ross Bakery Conference Room
at 10.30am
30 May-1 June
5 June
5 August
16 August
17-23 August
Book Week
28 Sept-1 Oct
Australian School Library
Association Biennial Conference
October
19-25 October
Events to be advised
Events to be advised
www.cbcatas.org/bookweek/
Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart
www.asla.org.au/Professionallearning/ASLA-Conference-2013.aspx
CBCA Tasmania AGM
To be advised
Children’s Week
Events to be advised
New Members!
A warm welcome to new members Marion Steinmetz and Natalie Stone, and to Natasha Roberts
who replaces Carol Down at St Patrick’s College. We hope to meet you at events around the State!
CBCA Awards Foundation
Major Donors:
Proudly Funding
Prizes for the
Children’s Book of the
Year Awards
________________
Benefactors:
Scholastic Australia
Allen & Unwin
Laurie Copping OAM
(in memoriam)
Thyne Reid Trust No. 1
Australia Post, Sandy Campbell, Jean Chapman (in memoriam), Era Publications,
Five Mile Press, Libby Gleeson AM, Bob Graham, Hachette Children’s Books
Australia, Hardie Grant Egmont, HarperCollinsPublishers Australia, Ipswich
District Teacher-Librarians’ Network, The James N Kirby Foundation, KinrossWolaroi School, Koala Books, The Library Board of Queensland, Beryl Moncrieff
Matthews (in memoriam), Jill Midolo (in memoriam), Angela Namoi, The Northern
Territory Government, Parents & Boys of Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Prep School,
Penguin Books Australia, Eve Pownall (in memoriam), Random House Australia,
Marion E Robertson (in memoriam), Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe), Gillian
Rubinstein, Maurice Saxby AM, SA Department of the Arts & Cultural
Development, University of Queensland Press, Julie Vivas, Walker Books
Australia, Cassandra Weddell, Qld (in memoriam), Margaret Wild, Maisie
Williams, Garah, NSW (in memoriam), Sue Williams.
Donations to the CBCA Awards Foundation are tax deductible and can be sent to: PO Box 172, Blackheath, NSW, 2785
Phone : (02) 4787 8492 or (02) 9630 2424/ Fax : (02) 9630 2594 or donate on line at: http://cbca.org.au/foundation.htm
CBCA Tasmanian Branch Newsletter No. 2, 2013
Page 14
The Children’s Book Council of Australia
Tasmanian Branch Inc.
PO Box 113
MOONAH TAS 7009
www.cbcatas.org
Membership Form
Tax Invoice 2013
The Children’s Book Council of Australia works to improve the quality of children’s books through the Children’s
Book of the Year Awards which recognise and publicise the best of Australian literature for children. Membership
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Benefits of Membership:
Book Week materials available for purchase at discounted prices
Regular information about author and illustrator tours, speakers and events (preferential bookings)
Quarterly newsletters
Eligibility for schools to participate in the Southern Tasmanian Readers’ Cup
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