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.
Category: artwork
International honour for In The Lion
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.
Better homes and gardens for those with Alzheimer’s
Earlier this year I worked with Alzheimer’s Australia on an interactive website.
The website shows how to adapt living environments for people with Alzheimer’s.
I did the illustrations for each living environment. The illustrations stretched my perspective skills (and vice versa- I stretched the perspective in quite a few of these!). Here’s some examples.
You can check out the Enabling Environments website here.
There was a Babushka who swallowed a fly
An illustrator friend, Karen Blair, recently had her first bub. So our local illustrator crew made a set of Russian nesting dolls for her, based on The old lady who swallowed a fly.
It was my job to paint the goat.
Here’s the sketch-
Look mate, a bookplate
Here’s a great project I was involved in earlier this year.
The Better Beginnings literacy program asked a bunch of local illustrators to design a bookplate (one of those ‘This Book Belongs To’ labels that goes on the inside cover of a book).
The best part is, they’re all completely free to download and print!
You can download designs by me, Shaun Tan, Moira Court, Rebecca Cool, Karen Blair, Frane Lessac, Tracey Gibbs, Chris Nixon and Ambelin Kwaymullina.
Here’s my design (click to go through to the Better Beginnings bookplate page).
One Word, One Day
Back in April I participated in “One Word One Day”- a fundraiser for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, supported by the Australian Society of Authors and Micador.
We had lots of luscious Micador art supplies, 3 or 4 hours, and a one-word theme (‘nightly’). We made pictures, and they’ll be auctioned some time in July, with all proceeds helping the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Most importantly: please check out the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website and register your interest in the online auction.
It’s a great cause, so get behind it 🙂
Here’s the main piece I made:
You can see rest of the pieces I put together (including my prep sketches) on the Micador website.
Last Viking flying high
My first picture book The Last Viking (written by the great Norman Jorgensen) has won the 2012 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Crystal Kite Award.
This is a members’ choice award. Writers and illustrators from each region voting on their favourite title for the past year.
Congratulations to all the other Crystal Kite winners around the world! And many many thanks to all the Australian and New Zealander SCWBIans for choosing our book; it’s very humbling to have your support.
Janet Shaw is a bit of a superhero
Here’s the cover of Janet Shaw’s new book, ‘Bit of a Super Hero‘. Janet is a Perth-based author, social worker, medal-winning ex-paralympian and motivational speaker. As well as these achievements, she has faced blindness and cancer. She is a definite hero.
I was very happy to get to work on the cover of Janet’s book, and to share the duties with two illustrator friends. I did the linework, Briony Stewart did the colour, then Shannon Melville did the layout and design.
‘Bit of a Super Hero’ is available online now.
[Addendum: Janet lost her battle with cancer in December 2012. It was a privilege to meet her; she was such a lovely person, such a strong character. Read her book to find out more about her extraordinary life, or read her wikipedia page.]
Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2012
Brilliant brilliant news…
My debut book The Last Viking, written by Norman Jorgensen, has been shortlisted in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards 2012!
We scored two mentions:
- Notable Book, Picture Book of the Year category
- Shortlisted Book, Early Childhood category
I’m very surprised and very chuffed. It’s one of those cliches… ever since I was a kid, I dreamed that one day one of my books would have the shiny CBCA sticker on the cover- and now it’s happened, hooray! It’s a great honour and a great affirmation. Congrats Norm! And thanks to the CBCA 🙂
Last Viking shortlisted for 4 awards
Norman Jorgensen and I received great news this year regarding our children’s book, The Last Viking. It has been shortlisted for 4 awards!
- the 2012 Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards
- the 2012 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature
- the 2012 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Crystal Kite Awards
- the 2011 Aurealis Awards for Australian fantasy, science fiction and horror creators
It’s a great buzz to be nominated with Norman, and also to be nominated alongside illustrators that I look up to.
James Foley 