Welcome to a new year of wonderful opportunities to celebrate Australian books and the talented authors and illustrators who create them.
You are cordially invited to join us on Friday 10 March for A Night with Our Stars – our 20th anniversary event. Booking details HEREand on Tues 28 February look out for the CBCA Notables Announcement. Further in this newsletter you will also find information about the Sun Project Shadow Judging, the Make Your Own Story Book competition and other Branch initiatives.
We welcome our new editor Wendy Rudge and congratulate her on this first edition.
Previously a police officer, TAFE lecturer and PR and Marketing Consultant, Wendy can now add CBCA Newsletter Editor to her CV. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and we look forward to working with her.
As we plan our celebrations for 2023 please note this message from CBCA Board Chair Wendy Rapee: CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK® is a registered trademark owned by the CBCA and has been left under used. The decision was made to revert to this trademark which will refresh our focus and messaging with regard to Book Week; it places children at the heart, and into a prominent position, this is a tangible reinforcement of our purpose. This represents an exciting opportunity to develop a new strong communications strategy and remind organisations we are the home of Children’s Book Week. We thank you in advance for your engagement.
Reflecting on the coming year and the main purpose of CBCA which is To enrich young lives through Australian stories, I was drawn to this quote by Phillip Pullman “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world”.
Thank you for renewing your membership and continuing to support CBCA WA in our endeavours. Kris Williams
WA Branch President
A Night With Our Stars (ANWOS)
This is the 20th Anniversary of A Night With Our Stars (affectionately known as ANWOS) so we’re planning a truly spectacular celestial event.
Twenty presenters, including two supernovas who were part of the very first ANWOS back in 2004, many established favourite stars and eight new and emerging talents are ready to dazzle and entertain you on Friday 10 March.
Westbooks, our official ANWOS bookseller, is kindly offering an attractive discount for pre-purchases which can be collected on the night and we are grateful to Fremantle Press for their generous sponsorship of the event.
Log in to Westbooks then navigate to Recommendations/Writers Festivals to get an ANWOS order form with 20% discount pre-loaded.
Food and drinks are included in the ticket price, there will be the usual book raffle and you are encouraged to read the Frequently Asked Questions document on the WA Branch website if you have any queries.
In special commemoration of this milestone celebration we are offering 33 pieces of magnificent original artwork for silent auction. Support the WA Branch in its fundraising efforts by placing a bid.
This popular event often sells out in advance so book your tickets now!
Do not miss this incredible opportunity to own an original piece of art created by one of our talented WA illustrators.
All pieces are approximately postcard-sized, designed to fit a standard frame and offered unframed.
The auction is open to all Australia-wide. CBCA membership and attendance at the event are not essential to purchase although delivery, postage and freight costs will be at the successful bidder’s expense.
The reserve price for each piece is $50 with bids accepted in $10 increments. Bids open 1 Feb and close at 8.00pm at ANWOS on Friday 10 March.
Sincere thanks to these talented and generous WA illustrators
for donating such stunning pieces: Aśka, Gavin Aung Than, Sean Avery, Jasmine Berry, Wendy Binks, Karen Blair, Kelly Canby, Moira Court, Gabriel Evans, James Foley, Brian Harrison-Lever, Kylie Howarth, Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Irene King, Cindy Lane, Frané Lessac, Sally Morgan, Mel Pearce, Rachael Robertson, Alicia Rogerson, Brian Simmonds, Michael Speechley, Briony Stewart, Katie Stewart, Shaun Tan and Tyrown Waigana.
The pieces may be viewed via the QR code below (intended as a rough guide only). The photos do not do the works full justice.
New WA Branch Website Page
We have been working towards creating a section on the CBCA WA Branch website to promote WA authors and illustrators and it is finally ready. These creators love to visit your school or library all year around, not just in Children’s Book Week. The launch date is planned for Monday 13 February.
We are blessed with a wealth of local talent and we hope members will find this a useful one-stop shop when searching for a visiting author or illustrator, workshop presenter or literary festival guest.
The criteria for inclusion on the page are:
creators are current financial members of the WA Branch
publishers are included in the PAL (Published and Listed) document as provided by SCBWI
If you are a creator who fits both the above criteria for inclusion and you have not already submitted a profile, please use this link for you to do so: WA Creator Profile Submission Form (cbca.org.au)
Sarah Klass
Website Manager
Example website page
Make Your Own Story Book Competition
The 2023 Make Your Own Story Book Competition is up and running for all children in years PP – Year 8. Please encourage your young writers and illustrators to start brainstorming ideas, drafting stories and creating illustrations for their entries.
The entry form, poster, tips, hints and fabulous videos from Sean E Avery are available on the website HERE
Denise Robins
MYOSB Coordinator
CBCA WA Committee Member Denise Robins, Author Cristy Burne
and CBCA WA President Kris Williams with entrants from 2022
Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund
Can You Think of a Worthy Recipient for the
2023 Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund?
The Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund was established by the WA Branch of the CBCA with the purpose of donating books to an organisation that cares for children. The selected organisation will receive $1000 worth of books.
If you know of a worthy recipient, please contact Jenny Botje on jrbotje@gmail.com
2021 recipients - Ngala
ClickHERE for full list of recipients
Book Discussion Group
Join us to discuss titles by Australian authors. Please check the new time and location for this event.
22 February 2023
6:30pm
The Hampden Hotel Nedlands
A Walk in the Dark
by Jane Godwin Hachette
By the author of When Rain Turns to Snow, 2021 CBCA Shortlisted Book for Older Readers.
Book Bites
Tremaine deep inside The Wreckers' Revenge by Norman Jorgensen
If you have a picture of a child, family member, pet or any other interesting reader you'd like to feature in our electronic newsletter, we'd love to see it! Please email it to wa@cbca.org.au.
New Releases from WA Authors, Illustrators and Publishers
Cristy Burne Suzy Urbaniak
Volcano Hunter and STEAM warrior Aussie STEM Stars
Wild Dingo Press
Feb 2023
Kelly Canby Timeless
Fremantle Press
Feb 2023
James Foley Secret Agent Mole
Book1: Goldfish-Finger
Scholastic
March 2023
Ky Garvey
Illustrated by Amy Calautti Easy peasy
EK Books
Feb 2023
Ash Harrier The Eerie Excavation
Panterra Press
Feb 2023
Renae Hayward and Rebecca Mills Say Hooray!
Fremantle Press
March 2023
Julia Lawrinson
Illustrated by Heather Potter and Mark Jackson City of Lights
Wild Dog Books
Feb 2023
Helen Milroy The Cockatoo Wars
Magabala Books
Feb 2023
Carolina Parada The story of Girl and Fish
Red Kite Publishing
Feb 2023
Sian Turner
Illustrated by Rebecca Cool Wake Up Lionel!
Little Steps
Feb 2023
Sian Turner
Illustrated by Rebecca Cool Wake Up Lionel!
Little Steps
Feb 2023
2023 Merchandise and Planner
The CBCA Merchandise for 2023 is now available for viewing. The 2023 CBCA Yearly Planner is available to purchase and contains so much useful information.
Each year CBCA uploads items to the Members Only section of the national website which is password protected. The password for 2023 has been updated and although there is nothing uploaded to date (the website is under construction and being upgraded) please respect the fact that these details are intended as a CBCA Member benefit only and should not be shared.
Username: member
Password: #2023Cbca!
Children's Book Council of Australia
Shadow Judging
Children’s literature is a significant carrier of culture and judging it contributes to an important commentary on how the processes of listening, reading, discussing and responding to books deepens literary and artistic impact.
The 2022 Shadow Judging project became a national coalition of the voices of young people and was a first for Australia.
The project reflected our CBCA purpose of enriching young lives through Australian stories and it acknowledges the value we place on the voices of our young people as literary critics. There were 120 schools, libraries and book groups involved across Australia and we hope to exceed that number in 2023.
2023 Shadow Judging will open for registration in late February through the Shadow Judging tab on the CBCA website.
All groups registering must be CBCA WA members.
The $50:00 registration fee includes:
Shadow Judging website linked resources
downloadable Shadow Judging Journal
a set of five Shadow Judging winner stickers
mentor support through the CBCA WA Branch
More information will follow in the next newsletter and via our CBCA WA social media platforms.
Jen McKay
Call for Nan Chauncy Award nominations
Nominations are now called for the Nan Chauncy Award to honour those individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian Children's Literature.
In recognition of Christobel Mattingley’s contribution to children’s literature, the CBCA aims to raise $5000 so that her name can be listed as a Major Donor, in memoriam, to the CBCA Awards Foundation.
This contributes to funding prizes for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
