June Perkins, author, poet, blogger, photographer and videographer, held a Writing Poetry in Response to Art, workshop which showed how visual art could inspire poetry or some form of writing. Aspiring and emerging writers and poets were given an insight into ‘how to think differently’ about writing poetry. This event was part of the mini Illumine Festival on 6-8th October, 2017 at…
Picture Book author, Kim Toft, a former Prep teacher, had some 120 preps to year 2 following her every move. She uses silk painting to illustrate the preservation of our oceans and coastal habitats. Her vibrant colours reflect her subjects which are incredibly realistic. Toft performed her cautionary tale ‘One Less Fish’ in song and…
Enter darkened room… Sit. Face eerie grass green iridescent set. Does it hint at where dead bunny will lay beneath? For tis below the surface he arises Hence the mayhem begins… Opinionated Review A cast so talented (and multi-charactered) they would be met with success from every school in the country – familiar with My Dead…
Over 800 new books were handed over to Save the Children from the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), Queensland. CBCA Qld, Community Projects Co-ordinator, since 2016, Judith Russell, said Save the Children fitted their criteria to ‘serve children who were disadvantaged in some way’. ‘We go to the organisation or group, look at their Annual…
Deborah Abela’s hands-on writing workshop for WriteLinks on 5th August, 2017 inspired so many writers, that many bussed, trained and carred home to rework their opening paragraphs. Others who attended critique groups shortly after, saw part of their peers’ works anew. Abela, former teacher, Cheez TV writer and author of 25 books was courageous admitting her…
Anita Heiss, author of 16 books – her latest ‘Our Race For Reconciliation’ covered three main topics during her Year 4 students’ workshop. Who did they admire? What made a good friend? What things would you say sorry for? The students shared their heroes and sheroes. That one special person in their life they admired and…
New Zealand author and storyteller, Tanya Batt, had year 1 and 2 students wild with enthusiasm when she took centre-stage. Eyes were glued to her orange-field-of-flowers and trees landscape dress, ebbing beneath a sea of tulle. ‘No matter where you go in the world, everybody has stories to share. Not everybody can read or write,…
Steaming up the Story Arts’ Festival Ipswich’s (SAFI) Saturday Gala Dinner were the Victorian Era Sci-Fi cast. The steam punkers were from either The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wild Wild West, H.G. Wells – War of the Worlds or Jules Verne – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Ipswich’s Metro Hotel guests were privy to the era’s steampunk costumes. The…
By Maria Parenti Author and engineer Andrew King encouraged his young year 1 and 2 audience to dream, draw, design and create. King said engineers liked to draw and design because they were like big kids. He encouraged students to think and imagine. To build planes, bridges, buildings, cars and playgrounds using cardboard boxes. To get…
Author and public servant with a legal background, Cori Brooke wears a cool hat for every story. She was thrilled to be shortlisted for the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year awards in the Early Childhood category. ‘All I Want for Christmas is Rain’ was popular with the little-ones who guessed right. Brooke was to wear……
When Brisbane author Yvonne Mes introduced herself, she had some 100 year 3, 4 and 5 students putting their hands up wanting the glamorous life of a Picture Book author — on the red carpet with Justin Timberlake, a three storey mansion with giant playground, red Ferrari and private jet. One student was so convinced,…
Jack Heath, best selling author of 500 Minutes of Danger. He held his audience captive, until his final word was met with an uproarious applause. When Heath asked who had read his books, he received a resounding thumbs up. He acknowledged his readers and launched into inspiring our future writers. ‘Each story takes about 100…
Big Sister Blogs - Maria Parenti 