The D Word – Diversity at the AAA

Well, the dust has well and truly settled on the The CBCA  Anticipate, Appreciate, Applaud (AAA) shortlist announcement in March this year, and in my mind, the gold has sifted to top to be extracted here in this post. The day started with Freya Blackwood speaking on ‘Escape to the everyday’ and the adventures that […]

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Our Country, Our Stories – Reviews and Activities

It’s that glorious time again where teachers, parents, children, literacy creatives and advocates raid the bookshelves (and craft cupboards) in honour of the annual Book Week celebrations! Hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and running from August 20th to 26th, this year’s theme is inspiring; it’s ‘Australia! Story Country’. Last year I wrote […]

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More Top Picks from 2015  

Last month I ended the year with a Top 15 of ’15 with books carefully selected by my six year old. Choosing only a small number of favourites out of the many, many fabulous children’s books out there is always a tricky task, so we’re making another list! This time, I’m basing these on my […]

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Top 15 of ’15

Last year I enlisted the help of my five year old to come up with a ‘best-of’ list, and I think she did extraordinarily well! So, we’re doing it again for books published in 2015! According to my stats, 2014 saw over 250 picture books borrowed, received, bought, read, and of course, enjoyed! Let’s see […]

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What Makes Picture Book Creators Happy

In the last two posts on picture books, I explored what makes a successful book, and how best to utilise them. Today I’m reflecting on some past interviews with the very writers of those wonderful pieces of art, and more specifically, what creating these literary jewels means to them. Which responses resonate most with you? […]

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Picture Books in the Eye of the Beholder

To begin my journey towards becoming a published picture book author, I became an avid (perhaps compulsive) reader of the genre. Yes, it has definitely helped having two young daughters around as an excuse for my weekly loitering in the kids’ section of the library. Anyway, I also began writing formal reviews around 18 months […]

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