I love working with StoryBox Library – they’re a wonderful company that creates video read-aloud of Australian children’s books, often read out by the creators themselves. I’ve recorded a few videos with them in the past! I also helped out with their fantastic classroom lesson program, Story Tools.
So when StoryBox Library asked me if I wanted to be part of a competition for Australian schools, how could I say no?
Continue reading “You could win a school visit from me!”They’re the internet’s favourite animal! Have you ever wanted to know how to draw a capybara?
Here’s a free step-by-step drawing tutorial showing you how to draw Barry from my picture book Happy Barry Capybara.
I’ve got a couple of workshops and book launches coming up – details below!
Join me for a digital event on Feb 10. I’ll read Stellarphant and Happy Barry Capybara, as well as lead a quick draw session and engage in a live Q&A.
DATE: Monday February 10th
WHEN: 10:00 – 10:45am AEDT
WHERE: online
AGES: early stage 1, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3
COST: free
BOOKING: log in to book your place
Get ready for a fun-filled celebration of imagination, rivalry and unexpected friendship! Join us on Saturday 15 March at The Literature Centre for the highly anticipated launch of Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story.
From participating in a fun tug-of-war or ‘snowball’ fight (no risk, all fun!), this event is packed with exciting, hands-on activities for all ages.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of James’s work or new to his world, this event is a perfect opportunity to dive into the adventure and joy of Bigfoot vs Yeti. Bring your family, friends and love for reading – there’s something for everyone!
DATE: Saturday March 15
TIME: 11am-1pm AWST
WHERE: The Literature Centre, Cnr Knutsford St & Hampton Rd, Fremantle WA
REGISTRATION: essential, via Humanitix
I’ve got a FREE virtual primary schools session coming up in March!
It’s available to schools across Australia.
I’ll read my new picture book Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story, plus we’ll do some drawing and a Q&A.
DATE: Monday March 17th
WHEN: 10:00 – 10:45am AEDT
WHERE: online
AGES: primary (early stage 1, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3)
COST: free
BOOKING: essential
NB: If you can’t make it to the live session, you can still register and get access to a recording for two weeks afterwards.
I’ll be in Sydney at the end of March to celebrate the release of Bigfoot vs Yeti and the new colour edition of Dungzilla! Join me at Gleebooks in Glebe for a ridiculously fun double book launch.
DATE: Saturday March 29
TIME: 10:30am
WHERE: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, NSW
REGISTRATION: rachel@gleebooks.com.au
Learn how to break into the arts as an illustrator with some practical advice from a professional writer, illustrator and cartoonist – me! Join me for this evening workshop.
DATE: Wednesday April 9th
WHEN: 6 – 7:30pm
WHERE: Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo
TICKETS: essential. $10 per person
For my picture book Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story, I used a digital linocut technique for the illustrations.
Linocut is normally a printmaking technique – so how do you do it digitally?
I’m using a 2017 iPad pro, with a 1st gen apple pencil and the Procreate app.
The digital linocut brushes came from Patternologie and Seamless Team.
Here’s three colouring pages for your home, school or library – free for non-commercial use – featuring Happy Barry Capybara.
Continue reading “Free capybara colouring pages”Hello teachers!
Would you like some FREE P.D.?
Check out this 15min video I made, commissioned by the good people at Awesome Arts Festival! It’s full of tips and tricks for teaching Comics in the Classroom.
No drawing skill is required, because comics aren’t about being the best at drawing; they’re about effectively communicating ideas, and you can do that with stick figures if need be!
Check out the video for more.
If the video doesn’t show up for you, you can view it on youtube here.
This is fantastic news … Barking Gecko Arts is adapting my picture book Stellarphant for theatre!
Having seen their incredible show House, I’m beyond excited to see how Barking Gecko Arts brings Stella’s story to the stage.
Artistic Director Sam Longley will lead the Barking Gecko team in bringing the production to life. It’s currently scheduled for January 2026.
Continue reading “Stellarphant headed to the stage”
It’s never not a thrill to see one of my books travelling overseas! I love seeing how the translators and graphic designers adapt the titles and covers.
Here’s some of the international covers Stellarphant has collected so far.
Continue reading “Stellarphant around the world”Stuck for a CBCA Book Week costume idea? Here’s how to dress up as Max Mole, Helena Hippo or Bug from my series, Secret Agent Mole.
And scroll down for free printable masks of Max, Helena and Bug!
You can download all three of these masks in one handy pdf.
Tips:
It’s a writing program and a writers festival all-in-one, and it’s back for another year!
The 2023 Littlescribe Mini-Writing Festival features Australian Children’s Laureate Gabrielle Wang, past laureate Jackie French, CBCA picture book of the year winner Claire Saxby, best-sellers Jacqueline Harvey and Louise Park, and festival favourites Deb Abela and Oliver Phommavanh. Oh, and me too.
It’s on from Monday 31st July to Friday 4th August and is fully online, so no matter where your school is (or whether you’re homeschooling), you can join in. There’s sessions for students aged 5-14, covering everything from poetry to picture books, and sports writing to slam poetry.
I’ll be chatting with Tim Harris (we made Toffle Towers together!) about creating and illustrating unique characters, plus joining all the other sessions as an illustrator-in-residence.
Program below. Full details on the LittleScribe website.
Continue reading “Littlescribe Mini Writing Festival”
James Foley 