August is such a wonderful time for celebrating books in Australia. This month hosts National Bookshop Day, Book Week and The Reading Hour. These events will see MANY children’s book authors and illustrators visiting local bookstores and libraries around Australia for special storytimes, workshops and book signings. It is a perfect month to meet some of your favourite book creators face to face.
THE PROJECT:
This month’s project is a really easy one, but it will most certainly leave a STRONG impression on your children.
There’s very little preparation required by you for this project; all you need to do is set aside a morning or afternoon to take your child/ren to one of the special events being held in libraries and bookshops this month- and there are plenty to choose from (most of them FREE). Scroll to the bottom of this post to find an event near you.
HOW TO GET ALL KIDS INVOLVED/GOING FURTHER:
- Make an effort to introduce your child to the author/illustrator and have a chat
- Take a photo of your child with the author/illustrator
- Ask the author/illustrator to write a message in your child’s book
It is highly likely for your child that undertaking these small acts will incite a life-long interest in that author. It is an empowering way to ensure your child stays connected to books.
Cam gets ‘dragged’ along to many bookish events. Thankfully she loves them as much as I do. In three short years, she’s been quite lucky to meet a number of authors and illustrators.
Katherine Battersby certainly left an impression on her (I think because she made reference to Cam’s pink dress in a message). Every time we read Squish Rabbit, Cam asks, “When are we going to see Katherine again?” I love the way she speaks about Katherine as if she’s a long-lost friend.
ALTERNATIVES:
If you can’t make it to an event, you could:
- Write a letter or email to your favourite author/illustrator: We’ve got some tips for you here.
- Attend a book exhibition: Visit the Books Illustrated website for some exhibitions
CHALLENGE COMPLETION:
This challenge will officially end on August 31, 2012
Once you have finished the project:
a) Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience
OR
b) Upload a photo to our Facebook page (It might be a photo taken with an author/illustrator or a photo of the personal message written by that author)
BLOGGERS:
You might have your own blog and wish to write about how you and your family approached this challenge. Feel free to write about it in a post, publish it on your blog and link up here for our readers.
PRIZES:
There aren’t any sponsors or prizes for this project. My Little Bookcase would like to promote as many Australian authors, illustrators, libraries and bookstores as possible this month.
Plus, we think meeting a much-loved author or illustrator is one of the best prizes going around.
FIND AN EVENT NEAR YOU:
I realise the list below is far from being complete, but it’s a starting point for you. If you hear of any other events please let me know and I’ll happily add them to the list.
- Check with your child’s teacher. The school may have organised a guest speaker or special event.
- The National Year of Reading Event Calendar ( You can search for events by state here )
- National Bookshop Day, 11 August: Like the facebook page and keep updated with events taking place around Australia:
- The Reading Hour, 25 August: Visit the website for events.
- Get Reading: Visit the website for events.
ACT
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- The National Library Bookshop:– National Bookshop Day 11 August, 2012. Visit facebook page
- Paperchain Bookstore (Meet Sandra Bennett on National Bookshop Day): Visit website for details
NSW
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- Dymocks Bookstores (Meet Libby Gleeson): Visit website for dates and details
- The Children’s Bookshop (Meet Margaret Piper, Anna Fienberg, Ursula Dubosarsky, Duncan Ball, Deborah Abela, Frances Watts, Belinda Murrell, Lisa Stewart): Visit website for dates and details
- Pages & Pages (Meet Kate Forsyth, Duncan Ball, Sandy Fussell, Libby Hathorn, Frances Watts, Derek Landy, Geoffrey McSwimming) Visit website for dates and details
- Shearer’s Bookshop (Meet Frances Watts and Chris Morphew): Visit website for dates and details.
- Byron Bay Writer’s Festival (Meet Leigh Hobbs, Andy Griffiths, Isobelle Carmody, Morris Gleitzman): Visit website for dates and details.
NT
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
QLD
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- Mary Ryan (Meet Morris Gleitzman): Visit website for dates and details
- Dymocks Bookstores (Meet Morris Gleitzman): Visit website for dates and details
- TLC (Meet Michelle Worthington and others): Visit website for dates and details
- Riverbend Books and Teahouse (Meet Katherine Battersby on National Bookshop Day): Visit website for details
- Black Cat Books (Meet Katherine Battersby and David Stavanger on National Bookshop Day): Visit website for details.
- Voices on the Range Literary Festival (Meet Katherine Battersby, Cath Crowley and others): See website for dates and details.
SA
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- Collins Booksellers Edwardstown (Meet Ben Chandler): Visit website for dates and details
- Dymocks Bookstores (Meet Derek Landy): Visit website for dates and details
TAS
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- Fullers- Hobart: Visit website for dates and details
VIC
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- Artplay (Meet Elizabeth Honey, Jackie French, Anna Walker, HJ Harper, Sue De Gennaro, Tohby Riddle, Michael Pryor, Asphyxia): Visit website for dates and details
- Dymocks Bookstores (Meet Maisy, Derek Landy, Olivia, Andy Griffiths, : Visit website for dates and details
- The Little Bookroom (Meet Kim Kane, Geoffrey McSwimming, Danny Katz, : Visit website for dates and details
- Fairfield Bookstore (Meet Tony Wilson, Michael Pryor, Geoffrey McSwimming): Visit website for dates and details
- Book Bonding (Meet Oliver Phommavanh): Contact Book Bonding for dates and details
- Readings (Meet Danny Katz): Visit website for dates and details
- Hill of Content (Meet Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles ): Visit website for date and details
- Enchanted by Books (Meet Kylie Dunstan): Visit website for date and details
- Matilda’s Books (Meet Catriona Hoy and Claire Saxby): Contact bookstore for details on 9888 1433 (website)
- The Younger Sun Bookshop (Meet Andy Griffiths, Claire Saxby, Danny Katz, Cath Crowley and Stephen Lochran): Visit website for dates and details.
- Eltham Bookshop (Meet Karen Andrews on National Bookshop Day): Visit Facebook Page for details
- Melbourne Writer’s Festival: (Meet Leigh Hobbs, Jackie French, Andy Griffiths, Judy Horacek, Carole Wilkinson, Tohby Riddle, Melina Marchetta, Morris Gleitzman, Michael Pryor, Lili Wilkinson, Sonya Harnett, Terry Denton, Emily Rodda, Lorraine Marwood, Archie Fusillo, Heath MacKenzie, Graeme Base, Gabrielle Wang and Others) : Visit the website for details and dates.
- Bendigo Writer’s Festival (Meet Craig Smith and Chris Kennet): Visit website for details or visit Chris Kennett’s facebook page for details.
WA
- Find your local library and check the Event Calendar
- The Literature Centre (Meet Leigh Hobbs and Coral Tulloch): Visit website for date and details
- Beaufort Street Books (Meet James Foley): Visit website for date and details
- Dymocks Bookstores (Meet Derek Landy): Visit website for dates and details
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