The final post for 2024 is a thought-provoking piece from regular contributor, Lyndon Riggall, highlights the importance of regular sustained reading. Lyndon provides a compelling impetuous to set some goals for personal reading practices and to encourage the youngsters in our lives to build healthy and sustained reading habits.
What’s new and popular in YA and children’s reading this year? This week, Bronwyn, from the Hobart Bookshop, introduces some great titles to hook readers of all ages. There might be something here for the Christmas stocking!
Nella Pickup recently attended the 39th IBBY International Congress in Trieste Italy with its theme to Join the revolution! Giving every child good books. Participating with over 630 delegates from 60 different countries Nela shares some key highlights to capture what she describes as “an awe filled experience.” This global perspective provides inspiration and affirmation for our own commitment to children, books and reading.
Hooking male teenagers into reading can be challenging, and one reason these teen readers from the Hutchins School have identified, is finding books that they can relate to and spark their interest. Read on for some insights and excellent suggestions.
Tasmanian author and illustrator, Fiona Levings, also has a PhD in Geology. Although no longer working in that field Fiona has expertly harnessed her experiences and knowledge to craft an informative and captivating picture book to tell, in lyrical prose and amazingly detailed illustrations, the story of the mountain that embraces Hobart in its foothills. Fiona shares some of the challenges, planning, book design and illustrative techniques undertaken to capture a millennia of geological change in Before the Mountain had a Name.
When was the last time you were so immersed in a book that the world passed you by? Maureen Mann considers some possible criteria to bring on such a state of absorption and shares some titles have engrossed her. Can you think of others?
This week we welcome author Johanna Bell and illustrator Huni Melissa Bollinger to talk about their publication, Digger Digs Down published by University of Queensland Press. Recently settling in Tasmania, this dynamic duo have produced a delightful and exuberant story about how a dog, left alone for the day, entertains himself by … digging!
Perseverance is evident in Blake Nuto’s post as he shares his love of story creation from an early age and his self-doubts about his illustrative abilities. With maturity came purpose – and the joy of expression through art. This passion is beautifully portrayed in his recent title, When You’re a Boy, shortlisted for the New Illustrator award in the 2024 CBCA Book of the year nominations.