Buzz Words Achievements

Pamela Rushby is happy to announce that her novel, Lizzie and Margaret Rose (Omnibus/Scholastic, a 2017 CBCA Notable book) has won the NSW Society of Women Writers award for a children's book for 2018.  

The story is set London in 1940. Bombs are falling, and 10-year-old Margaret Rose survives a deadly raid, but her family home is destroyed. In faraway Townsville in Queensland, her aunt is ready to take her in, although her 11-year-old cousin Lizzie is not so sure. But first there is a long and dangerous voyage to a strange country, also at war. Margaret Rose knows it's not going to be easy, and Lizzie is not about to make it any easier. 

Pamela has had a long and distinguished writing career in the areas of advertising, journalism, screenwriting and children's books. Having worked as a writer and producer of educational television, audio and multimedia for the Queensland Department of Education, Pamela is now a full-time freelance writer.

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Little Book Press is to publish two of Janeen Brian’s picture books: I am this Big and Look Baby! (the latter illustrated by Renee Treml) while Janeen's poem, ‘The Dilemma of a Dachshund’ will be published by the School Magazine. You can read more about Janeen at www.janeenbrian.com

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Dingo by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, and published by Walker Books Australia, has received a certificate of commendation in the Illustrated Children's Book category of the 2018 Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales's Whitley Awards!

The Whitley Awards are presented annually for outstanding publications that contain a significant amount of information relating to the fauna of the Australasian region, and are a tribute to Gilbert Whitley, an eminent Australian ichthyologist.

Claire Saxby is an award-winning and bestselling picture book author. Two of her previous Nature Storybooks, Big Red Kangaroo (2013) and Emu (2014), both illustrated by Graham Byrne, have won numerous awards, including the Royal Zoological Society of NSW’s Whitley Award. Big Red Kangaroo was a 2014 CBCA Notable Book, and won the CBCA Crichton Award for illustration, and Emu was short-listed for 2015 CBCA Eve Pownall Award and won the Environment Award for Children's Literature. Claire lives in Melbourne, where she works part-time in a bookshop. Her latest book is Koala, illustrated by Julie Vivas.

Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants by Kelly Hibbert and Amanda Graham (Raising Literacy Australia Inc) PB   ISBN 9780994385352

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

A picture book for children aged 2 to 6 years, this is a debut book written by a primary school teacher and an illustrator who has produced over 100 books and has been short-listed for the CBCA Book of the Year awards. It is one of a number of books produced by The Big Little Book Club which distributes free books to parents to improve children’s literacy.

In rhyming text, this story tells of dingo who ‘wore his coat with pride/while dancing with delight’ in the northern desert sands. When the Outback Dance is held near Bunyip’s Bluff, Dingo bemoans the fact that he has no pants to wear like the other ‘animals in fancy pants’. These animals -- emu, wombat, kangaroo et al –offer to sew pants for dingo when none will fit him. Finally he is beautifully outfitted in multi-coloured attire with fringe, baubles, and a decorate belt. Finally, dressed appropriately the dingo frolics with ‘his pants so fancy’ under the Southern Cross with a multitude of animals.

This is a simple story, nothing deep and meaningful with bright, cheerful illustrations that is sure to amuse children aged 12 months to three years.