WA Branch of The Children's Book Council of Australia

Every Friday we post a quick link to the website of an Australian author or illustrator.

Today’s spotlight is on … [cue  fanfare] … WENDY BINKS.

Wendy Binks is an artist and author based in Fremantle, WA. Her books (and her artwork and paintings) feature brightly coloured animal designs. Wendy wrote and illustrated the picture books Where’s Stripey?, Scrambled Egg, and Invisible Me.

Visit her website—Stunned Emu Designs—where you’ll find more about Wendy Binks, her artwork, books and author visits.

The CBCA stand ready for the crowds at a previous Perth Writers Festival

The Perth Writers Festival for 2012 has been launched and there’s a fabulous line up of events in the program. If you haven’t got a program, you can search online via the Festival website (and you can request a print copy there too).

The Perth Writers Festival runs from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 February (note: this year it’s not over the long weekend).

Schools Day is Thursday 23 February with morning and afternoon sessions available. Students can interact with authors and illustrators, and all sessions end with a Q&A and book signing.

Family Day will be on the Sunday, and once again the WA Branch will have a stand there (and we have free stuff to give away to keen readers!) so make sure you bring the family—there’ll be authors and illustrators, an animal petting farm, free circus skills workshops, Coco’s Lunch performing, face painting, classic stories for the under 5s and more.

See you there!

Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor have been announced as joint Australian Children’s Laureate(s) for 2012 – 2013!

The Australian Children’s Laureate website states:

Both are talented and award-winning storytellers who bring a wealth of experience and creativity to the role – Alison as a renowned author and illustrator, and Boori as a celebrated author, performer, dancer and poet.

For more information, check out the Australian Children’s Laureate website.

Download the 2011 Annual Report from the CBCA WA website.

and

November 2011 newsletter - now available for downloading

Download the final newsletter for 2011.

Inside issue 5:

• 5 in 5 with author Julia Lawrinson
• Inaugural Louise Schofield award winner
• 2012 events
• President’s XI
• Recent titles by WA authors and illustrators

… and more!

You are invited to the launch of Invisible Me—the third book in the ‘Stripey’ series, written and illustrated by Wendy Binks. The book will be launched by Jan Nicholls, President of CBCA (WA).

When: Saturday 22 October 2011, 6pm to 8pm

Where: Kidogo Arthouse, Bathers Beach, Fremantle (near Fishing Boat Harbour)

Every purchase of Invisible Me includes the chance to win an original Wendy Binks painting and $5.00 from each book sale on the night will be donated to The Friends of the Western Ground Parrot.

No RSVP required.

The WA Premier’s Book Awards were announced on 30 September 2011.

Children’s and YA titles that featured in the awards included:

Premier’s Prize

Kim Scott for That Deadman Dance (Picador Australia)

Fiction

Kim Scott for That Deadman Dance (Picador Australia)

Children’s Books

Sally Murphy (author) and Rhian Nest James (illustrator) for Toppling (Walker Books Australia)

Young Adults (Joint winners)

James Roy for Anonymity Jones (Random House Australia)

AND

Scot Gardner for Happy as Larry (Allen & Unwin)

Visit the State Library of WA website, where you can view the complete list of winners and the judge’s reports.

The WA Branch newsletter for September is now ready to download (free!) from our website.

CBCA WA newsletter, issue 4

Inside you’ll find:

• Penny Hutchens 2011 award recipient
• Recent titles from WA authors and illustrators
• Make Your Own Storybook (MYOSB) prize winners
• Who won this year’s Readers Cup
• The CBCA’s 2011 Book of the Year Awards winners
• Recaps on recent WA book launches and info on upcoming launches
• The President’s XI: Out of the Mouths of Babes …
• and more!

Come along to the exhibition and book launch of Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck by Michelle Gillespie and illustrated by Sonia Martinez.

Presented by Margaret Allen, CEO and State Librarian.

When: Thursday 13 October 2011. 6pm for 6.30pm start.

Where: The Place, Level 1, The State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis St, Perth.

RSVP: by 10 October 2011 to admin[at]fremantlepress.com.au or 9430 6331

Here’s a bit about the picture book—from the publisher, Fremantle Press:

Sixteen-year-old Grace Bussell was hailed a hero for her part in rescuing the passengers and crew of the Georgette from sure drowning. She was called Australia’s own Grace Darling. But the rescue would never have been possible without the guidance and leadership of Sam Isaacs, an Aboriginal stockman.

This beautifully illustrated book is an evocative re-telling of the events surrounding the wreck of the Georgette off the south-west coast of Australia.

On 6 September, the winners of The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards were announced—and we are thrilled to see Kim Scott’s That Deadman Dance take out the Prize for Fiction. Cassandra Golds won the Prize for Literature for Young Adults for The Three Loves of Persimmon.

For a full list of the winners and shortlisted titles, see The Wheeler Centre website.