Event: QLD CBCA Judge talk

Invites Teachers, Librarians, Teacher-Librarians, Teacher-Aides
and anyone with an interest in children’s literature
to hear the CBCA Qld judge for
The Book of the Year Awards

Mia Macrossan 

talk about the 2014 short list

Friday 11^th April

Barry Jones Auditorium
 Ipswich Library and Information Centre
cnr South and East Sts Ipswich

9.00am – 3.00pm

Program for the day

9.00am – Early Childhood and Younger Reader categories

10.45 Morning Tea

11.15am – Eve Pownall Award and Picture Books

12.45 Lunch

1.30 Options - 1. Older Reader category for secondary school teachers or
2. Workshop to develop ideas for the shortlisted books for primary school teachers

Register online at http://idtl.net.au
by Tuesday 8^th April

PD Certificates available

Suggested parking in the Ipswich Square Carpark

http://www.ipswichcitysquare.com.au/location.php

More information: jstubbs@exemail.com.au

Event: Lady Cutler Dinner

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (NSW) is holding its annual Lady Cutler Dinner on 19 November at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel to celebrate the achievement of this year's Lady Cutler Award Recipient Vivienne Nicoll-Hatton. The Lady Cutler Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature in NSW has been presented annually since 1981 by the NSW Branch of the CBCA. This year's Award is sponsored by Peribo.

The Charlotte Waring Barton Award for an aspiring children's writer, which comes with a mentorship with Random House, will also be presented on the night.

With a two course meal, tea/coffee, complimentary drink on arrival and After Dinner Speaker Libby Gleeson the night will be one to remember.

Tuesday 19th November at 7pm for 7.30
The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel,
169 Castlereagh St Sydney
$70 for members, $85 for non-members
Includes 2 course meal, tea/coffee plus complimentary drink on arrival

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL PLEASE BOOK BY WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER

Event: The Maurice Saxby Lecture

The NSW Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia have organised a prestigious National Year of Reading Event, at the State Library of NSW on Tuesday 1 May at 6pm. THE MAURICE SAXBY LECTURE, to be presented by Professor Robyn Ewing, will honour the contribution made to Australian children's books by Maurice Saxby over more than sixty years. Bookings essential: http://nsw.cbca.org.au/data/files/SAXBY_LECTURE_3.pdf

2011 CBCA NSW Lady Cutler Award

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. The Children’s Book Council of Australia NSW Branch will be celebrating the 30^th anniversary of The Lady Cutler Award on 15 November. This prestigious award commemorates the contribution to the CBCA NSW Branch by Lady Helen Cutler, wife of Sir Roden Cutler, Governor of NSW. She was Patron for many years and even after Sir Roden’s retirement, she continued until her death in 1990.

The Lady Cutler Award is presented annually for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature in New South Wales and is sponsored by Peribo. The 2011 Award will honour children’s author Margaret Wild – ‘for her dedication to her craft and to her audience and for the important place she has in the history and development of Australian children’s picture books’.

Bookings are open for the dinner at the Menzies Hotel, Sydney: $75 for CBCA members/$85 for non-members. Phone: 02 98183858 or email: cbcansw@bigpond.com

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey (Viking)

PB RRP $29.95

ISBN 978 0 670 07474 7

Reviewed by Gail C Breese

In landscape format the cover illustration sets the scene for this delightful ghost story in mixed media using subdued colours of greys, browns and greens.

The people of the village of Twee had a problem. They feared that the town was haunted by a ghost called Miss Annabel Spoon. She appeared amongst the townspeople at any time of the day or night and they were terrified.

‘Enough is enough,’

Puffed the Mayor in a huff

To a crowd who were equally cranky.

‘Things must be improved,

Yes she must be removed.’

Then he patted his head with a hanky.

Brave young Herbert Kettle had an idea: he’d go to the witch’s house in the woods and ask why she haunted the town. Annabel was so glad to see Herbert and in tears told him that she was tired of being alone. Herbert promised to be her friend and now she no longer haunted the townspeople who were happy again.

The rhyming text has a pleasing rhythm which is fun to read aloud. The illustrations are intriguing and expressive.

Aaron Blabey’s first picture book Pearl Barley and Charley Parsley received a CBCA Award in 2008. Sunday Chutney was shortlisted for CBCA picture book of the year 2009.