Zombie animals terrify at Telling Tales

Last weekend I visited Balingup for their annual Telling Tales Children’s Storytelling Festival.

Balingup is a beautiful town in the South-West Region surrounded by farms, bushland and pine forest. When the sun is out the scenery is stunning – it’s all green hills and winding valleys. But on cold winter mornings a mist descends upon the town, which creates an incredibly spooky atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting for a scary story …

Balingup mist

Balingup mist

Balingup mist

… so in my sessions I read my new book My Dead Bunny ! Then I gave some demonstrations for how to draw zombie animals:

Zombie bunny

zombie platypus

zombie penguin

… then the kids designed their own. Here’s a whole zombie zoo:

zombie ninja chicken

zombie unicorn

zombie glowworm

zombie dragon

zombie giraffe

zombie snail

zombie shark

zombie penguin

zombie rooster

zombie pig

zombutterfly

zombunny

zombie puppy

zombelephant

zombie cat

zombie cat (missing tail)

zombie wolf/alpaca

zombie zombie

The Telling Tales Festival also features a fancy dress parade of children’s characters, always a laugh. The Balingup locals really get involved.

the parade

Magpie, Gandalf and Mouse catching up for coffee

Mouse holds up traffic

Huge thanks to the Balingup ladies who organise the festival year after year – it’s always heaps of fun! Thank you for having me.

Author: James Foley

James Foley makes children’s books for children who read books. If you’re a child and you’re eating his books, you’re doing it wrong. His books include Brobot, Dungzilla, Gastronauts, Chickensaurus, Toffle Towers, My Dead Bunny and There's Something Weird About Lena. James lives in Perth with his wife, 2 kids, and a labrador. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd and comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts. Follow him on FB/twitter/insta/youtube @jamesfoleybooks, or at www.jamesfoley.com.au . View all posts by James Foley