Dear Members
Welcome to our second newsletter for the year and to new members who have recently joined CBCA WA Branch. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the celebration of 20 years of ANWOS. I am always blown away by our very talented authors and illustrators.
The CBCA Book of the Year Notables list featured many of our WA creatives, several of whom were there at ANWOS. The shortlist was announced today (see below). Congratulations to all WA creatives on this list!
Notice of the AGM is included in this newsletter together with nomination forms. If you would like to be part of our dynamic team as a committee or executive member, please return your form by the due date.
Shadow Judging 2023 registrations are open and we encourage you to get together a group of children who love to read to help judge the Book of the Year.
With Children’s Book Week®️ fast approaching, make sure you check out the Read Grow Inspire merchandise which is NOW available through the e-Store at https://store.cbca.org.au.
I will leave you with this quote by Neil Gaiman - Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten. Kris Williams
All members are cordially invited to attend the AGM
Date: Wednesday 19 April 2023
Time: Prompt 6.30pm start
Venue: The Literature Centre, Knutsford Street & Hampton Road, Fremantle
COVID-19 Requirements:
The Literature Centre follows government guidelines for COVID-19.
We request that those planning to attend RVSP to wa@cbca.org.au by Wednesday 12 April 2023.
We are seeking nominations for the position of Vice President and Secretary - interested members are encouraged to apply.
Nominations for committee positions are due Wednesday 12 April, 2023
No nominations will be accepted from the floor at the AGM
New members are most welcome and we encourage you to join us
Please forward nominations to either: wa@cbca.org.au or PO Box 473 WEST PERTH 6872
WOW! The 20th Anniversary of A Night with our Stars
was a resounding success!
From the first ANWOS held on the 4 March 2004 at Westbooks in Burswood, the 20th event has surpassed all expectations including that of initiator Jenni Woodroffe, who is delighted that ANWOS has aided in “strengthening the connections between creators in a range of disciplines”.
ANWOS has developed into a much loved annual event which brings together the Western Australian children’s literature community. Writers, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, teachers, librarians and parents celebrate the wonderful creations of our talented local children’s storytellers.
It was wonderful to see many local authors and illustrators in attendance supporting their peers, and CBCA WA supporter Dr Peter Williams, flew over from NSW for the event.
A chance to get up close and personal with our favourite Western Australian creatives, ANWOS has a fun, light-hearted format where presenters have three minutes to talk about a book they have had published in the previous year.
A range of approaches from heart-warming and hilarious, to creative resulted in expressing the passion and love that our creatives have for children’s literature in Western Australia.
All presenters gave spectacular performances, with Rachael Robertson’s awesome rap for My Amazing Animal Alphabet Alliteration Book, Shirley Marr’s heartfelt personal story behind All Four Quarters of the Moon, and Craig Silvey’s rubber glove challenge to the MC being standouts.
To celebrate the twentieth year of ANWOS, an art gallery of original postcard sized artwork from 33 WA illustrators was offered via silent auction prior to the night. A very successful auction resulted in all art works being sold, and along with generous raffle prizes donated by Fremantle Press and Theatre 180, over $4100 was raised.
During the past 20 years of ANWOS there have been three Convenors:
Jenni Woodroffe 2004-2013
Joanna Andrew 2014-2019, and
Jan Nicholls 2020-present
There have been 3 MCs:
Joanna Andrew,
Heather Zubek, and
Jan Nicholls.
Over 3177 people have attended to listen to 182 presenters.
Two presenters were at the first and twentieth events, Julia Lawrinson and Dianne Wolfer, with Julia Lawrinson and Sally Murphy having the most appearances at 12 each.
Thank you to supporters Fremantle Press, Westbooks, Theatre 180, Butterfly Catering and the Bendat Parent and Community Centre for helping to make the night a success.
A big thank you to all CBCA WA Committee members, partners, and family members, past and present, for helping to make A Night with Our Stars a magnificent night full of fun, energy, and excitement.
The CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist was today (March 28). We congratulate all who have been shortlisted with special mention of our Western Australian creators who have been named in the various categories.
Sean E AveryforFrank's Red Hat, published by Walker Books Australia (Picture Book of the Year)
Frane Lessacfor A is for Australian Reefs, published by Walker Books Australia (Eve Pownall Award)
Bren MacDribbleforThe Raven's Song, published by Allen & Unwin(Book of the Year: Younger Readers)
Chris Nixon for Wild Australian Life, published by Allen & Unwin (Eve Pownall Award)
Craig Silveyfor Runt, published by Allen & Unwin (Book of the Year: Younger Readers)
The Sun Project is now under way. WA Branch member groups that have paid their Shadow Judging registration for 2023 may be one of the lucky ones to receive a $50 book voucher, sponsored by CBCA WA Branch, to go towards the purchase of the shortlisted books.
See the CBCA Shortlist that was announced today!
If you are from school, library, book store or club that has a group of young people who love reading, register for Shadow Judging and encourage these young readers to choose their CBCA Book of the Year.
The annual CBCA Judges Conference was held over the first weekend of March and that meant that we finally got to meet our fellow judges in person after two years of texts and Zoom meetings!
It was a very relaxed affair in the State Library of Victoria with the Saturday being the “Day of Sharing” with each of the categories presenting their long-awaited shortlists, honour books and winner. Although these were decided in February, the buzz in the room was palpable as each of the results were revealed and the judges love for their categories was obvious.
As usual, the books on the lists are amazing – probably a few surprises - but it was great to see WA authors and illustrators making it both for the first time and again for others! I know it made me want to check them all out and admire the hard work and talent that makes these books the best of 2022 (I may have been sneakily buying them up before the announcement - shhhh).
Before saying goodbye as many judges had to scurry off and catch flights, day two had us putting together a short video about our lists – without revealing any winners (you’ll have to wait until August) – and a report on each of our categories as a whole. It is always interesting to see what themes and influences wax and wane over time.
It has been an honour judging the Younger Readers category for the past two years and the conference was a great way to finish.
Claire Kierath
CBCA WA Judge
Children's Book Week® Dinner
CBCA WA website 'one stop shop' for WA authors and illustrators
Our WA creators love to visit your school or library all year around, not just in Children’s Book Week® and we have created a section on the CBCA WA Branch website to promote them.
We are blessed with a wealth of local talent and we hope members will use this one-stop shop when searching for a visiting author or illustrator, workshop presenter or literary festival guest.
Please visit the Resources tab on the home page and select WA Authors and Illustrators from the menu.
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 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
Make Your Own Story Book entrants from 2022
Book Discussion Group
Wednesday 26 April 2023
6:30pm
*Staff Room, 6th Floor
Albeus Fahey Building
Iona Presentation College
33 Palmerston St
Mosman Park
The 2023 CBCA Book of the Year Award Short List Review
Join us to find out about the shortlisted books in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. WA CBCA Judge, Claire Kierath, will be talking about the six books on the Younger Readers Short List. Light refreshments served.
*Note: As Oasis Lotteries House is undergoing renovations, this event will be held at Iona Presentation College in the new Albeus Fahey Building. Julie Muir has issued an invitation to view the Senior Library after the Short List Reviews.
Wednesday 24 May 2023
7.00pm
Oasis House
Hampden Rd, Nedlands
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox (Penguin Random House)
A heartbreaking, hopeful, and timely novel about holding too tight to family secrets, healing from trauma, and falling in love, from the award-winning author of How It Feels to Float.
Book Bites
Coco reading 'Franks Red Hat' by Sean E Avery. Sean is Coco's favourite author and her other favourite book is his 'All Monkey's love Bananas' - so cute!
If you have a picture of a child, family member, pet or any other interesting reader you'd like to feature in our newsletter, we'd love to see it! Please email it to wa@cbca.org.au.
New Releases from WA Authors, Illustrators and Publishers
Karen Blair When I'm Big
Puffin
April 2023
Sean E Avery Friendly Bee and Friends
Walker Books
April 2023
Gabriel Evans A friend for George
Puffin
May 2023
**CBCA e-Store NOW OPEN**
The CBCA merchandise for 2023 is now available.
Along with 2023 CBCA Yearly Planner, you'll find all your favourite Children's Book Week® products, whimsically brought to life by the talented Matt Ottley. This includes posters, badges, pins, lanyards, bookmarks, and everything you need to create a stunning annual display.
Note: 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.
A new PD opportunity is available to members and non-members through University of Sydney and Alyson Simpson. Alyson is Associate Professor of English and Literacy Education at the University of Sydney.
The program is designed to develop teachers/librarians and any interested parties to improve their skills in supporting student discussion and conversation around Australian Children’s Literature.
Consisting of four live webinars of 1 hour each across 4 weeks and 4 lectures, the PD program is launching on 21 April 2023. Registration for the program is $50 and participants must be able to attend the four live zoom webinars starting at 4 p.m. AWST.
For more information please email the WA Branch at wa@cbca.org.au and watch our social media sites.
Kris Williams
WA Branch President
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.
