Last week, the Australian National Maritime Museum was invaded by Vikings!
The staff were happily enjoying the launch of their new exhibition Vikings – Beyond the Legend when a horde of real Norsemen arrived at the docks at Darling Harbour, Sydney.
They came in peace though. Only one Anglo-Saxon warrior died.
Read more on the official ANMM blog.
It’s been a long time between posts! Thanks for waiting. I’ve been working on three chapter books, e-books actually, called the Amity Kids Adventures. Book 1 is called Magpie Mischief, Book 2 is called Disturbing the Peace, and Book 3 is called Kidnapped! They’re written by Jon Doust and Ken Spillman and illustrated by me.
Continue reading “The Amity Kids Adventures: A gorilla and a gumnut”
Hello readers! We’ve been away for a bit. But Norm and I have been working on something new. Hopefully I’ll have a cover image to reveal in the next month.
In the meantime, here’s a section from one of my colour roughs. It should give you a little idea of what’s to come.
Onward to glory,
James
My picture book ‘In The Lion‘ was named a Notable Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year category. Thanks to all the judges, and congrats to all my colleagues who had books noted and shortlisted.
Great news- my book In The Lion was selected for the International Youth Library’s 2013 White Ravens list!
250 books were selected from around the world. Congratulations to the other Australian and New Zealand creators featured on the list.
These incredible longships were handcrafted by Year 4 viklings at St Joseph’s Primary School in Murwillumbah.
Their teacher Deborah Walker has put in a huge effort. Thanks for bringing the book to life and encouraging the next generation of marauders!
Thanks also to the school’s library coordinator Melissa Fraser for sending the photos.
Melissa tells us the school is busting to read the sequel to The Last Viking. We’re working as quick as we can Melissa- I’ll get on to the artwork in the middle of next year, fingers crossed.
My studio is in a Leederville complex called The Ward, and on Nov 25th we’re having an open day!
Come see where I work and what I’m working on next. I’ll have prints from ‘The Last Viking’ for sale too.
Plus you’ll get to meet all the other amazing artists here: filmmakers, photographers, illustrators, painters, textile workers… it will be awesome.
Come down and say hi! We’ll be open from 2-5pm.
More info at Artsource’s website.
The Last Viking has won the Hoffman Award in the 2012 West Australian Young Readers’ Awards.
The Hoffman is awarded to the highest-ranked book by a West Australian creator (in this case, 2 creators!).
It sure is an honour to have kids pick and then vote for their favourite book. Thanks to all the WA young readers who voted, we couldn’t be happier.
One of the best parts of school visits is seeing the great ideas that schoolkids come up with. Here’s a bunch of viking god and goddesses, designed by students during children’s book week this year. 
God of Wind, by Tom 
Isabella the Goddess of Patterns, by Maddy 
Bothgolong, God of Fire, by Rohan 
A portrait of Thor that also folds up into a paper plane, by Christian 
This guy looks familiar… The God of Literature, by Catherine 
And finally, Optimus Prime, by Brayden. It’s not a viking god but it looks really cool.
That’s right- junior judges around Australia voted The Last Viking for winner of Early Childhood Book of the Year 2012.
The Junior Judges Project is a free online program offered to schools by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It’s a great way to get your classroom interested in the shortlisted books, so if you’re a teacher, consider it for next year.
James Foley 