The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organisation which represents an international network of people from all over the world committed to bringing books and children together. NEWSLETTER No 33 May, 2017 President’s Letter Dear members and supporters of IBBY Australia With pride and joy we announced in March that Australia has two nominees for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award: David Metzenthen for writing and Jeannie Baker for illustration. The awards are for those whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature, so being selecting to represent Australia is a high honour. Previous nominees can be found at https://ibbyaustralia.wordpress.com/hans-christian-andersen-awards/ The list of nominees from all the world was announced in Bologna recently. Not all the news from Bologna was happy, however, as Wally De Doncker, IBBY President sadly announced that the 2018 Congress planned to be held in Istanbul had been cancelled, as ‘Our colleagues in Turkey are dealing with a situation in their country that is beyond their control’. Now we have received the heartening news that IBBY Greece will host the Congress in Athens from 30 Aug to 1 Sept 2018 (see p 6). Those who attended the Auckland Congress in 2016—and others who heard how inspiring it was—will want to start planning for Athens. Times are challenging in Europe, as elsewhere in the world, but I am sure IBBY will demonstrate the Jella Lepman spirit in a wonderful Congress. Here in Australia we welcome back Life Member and newsletter editor Jenni Woodroffe from Bangkok, where she represented our country at the Regional Congress (see p 3). Thank you to all who join IBBY or renew their membership. I know any one of us would be thrilled to win the beautiful print, kindly donated by Julie Vivas (see final page). On the subject of artworks, Peter Williams has recently given a donation of $1,000 in memory of his dear friend Yve Frank, ‘who knew well his weakness for purchasing the occasional illustration from a lovely children's book,’ and was a collector herself. Thank you, Peter, for your continuing and appreciated generosity to IBBY. And thank you, WA committee and members for the wonderful fundraising at the successful Quiz Night. Best wishes to you all, as we work together, continuing to advocate for the right of every child to be a reader. Robin Morrow, AM Congratulations to our Australian nominees for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award David Metzenthen for Writing David’s carefully honed writing style is combined with an ability to capture moments of his characters’ lives with deeply-felt and evocative insight. He is a masterful writer of fiction for older readers and has published eighteen novels, one award-winning picture book, and numerous works for younger readers including titles in Penguin’s Nibbles, Bites and Chomps series. His work often deals with sport, and he is particularly finely attuned to exploring young male emotions. His award-winning titles include Stony Heart Country, One Minute’s Silence, Dreaming the Enemy, Jarvi 24, Boys of Blood and Bone, Finn and the Big Guy and Johnny Hart’s Heroes. And Jeannie Baker for Illustration Jeannie is the author and illustrator of thirteen critically acclaimed picture books. Her inventive intricate tactile collages utilise found objects and employ a complex process for preparing, colouring, mounting and preserving them. Jeannie’s themes include urban sprawl, land degradation, introduced pests and destruction of natural habitats via development; they promote global cooperation and understanding. Her award-winning titles include Where the Forest Meets the Sea, Home in the Sky, The Story of Rosy Dock, Window, Belonging, Mirror and Circle. th See IBBY Australia’s Media Press Release 24 March, 2017 for further details. NEWS FROM BANGKOK – CITY OF ANGELS There was an excited buzz in the air as about 370 participants gathered to share their passion for connecting children and books at the 3rd AORIC Congress, Bangkok from the 9th – 12th May, 2017. 130 made the long journey from overseas and we represented 25 countries. Big smiles, hugs, bows and cries of joy resounded throughout the Congress as we recognised faces last seen in Auckland, Putrajaya and even Cambridge in 1982. The opening keynote speech by President of The Cultural Night was a time of joyful celebration and the dancers here soon invited ThaIBBY, Khunying Kasama Varavarn showed the audience to join in a vibrant, colourful whirl of dancing and festivity. the famous image from Aesop of a mouse nibbling at a net enclosing a trapped lion, and spoke of the many Roaring Mice who contributed in the many diverse and varied ways of bringing books and children together. TK Park, a major sponsor, contributed as a new playground for learning. IBBY President, Wally de Doncker, spoke of the strength of the growing regional congresses with their warm and friendly opportunities for interaction. He mentioned that in every continent children are on the move and are seeking ways to survive and their need to become global and critical citizens. He stressed IBBY’s Call for Action and for every child to have the right to read. Somboon Singkamanan, IBBY Honorary Member, spoke of the promise she made to herself to return to her roots after the Tokyo Congress where she had spoken of the projects for library provision in Thailand and told the story Somboon Singkamanan reading One Grain of Rice at Darun Bannaiai of Only One Grain of Rice. Rice is Thailand’s main export, and Sangyod traditional rice has been developed and grown at her farm, Narnia,in Phatthalung since 1992. Other highlights included hearing Zak Waipara from New Zealand speaking of myths and legends being powerful touchstones; Sierra Paraan of the Phillipines stressing the importance of Mother Tongue multilingual picture books in their many islands; Freya Schwachenwald relating the imaginative and creative work of the Book Pirates bilingual picture book programme; the contribution of Sydney’s Trish Amichi, and meeting new and old friends. At Darun Bannaiai, ThaIBBY’s children Library: Dhruva Kumar Ghimire, Ram Kumar Panday (Nepal), Mohana Gill, Alimah Salam, Maizurah Omar (Malaysia) Suthathib Thajchayapong Vice President ThaIBBY, Jamilah Mustafa (Malaysia) Jenni Woodroffe (Australia) and Murti Bunanta (Indonesia) .from around the world. With thanks to IBBY Australia and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund for their support. Jenni Woodroffe, WA and IBBY Life Member. ICBD Celebration in Sydney Undaunted by traffic and weather challenges, thirty Sydneysiders drove, swam, paddled and otherwise made their way to a damp but extremely enjoyable celebration of International Children’s Book Day at Minh Vietnamese Restaurant in Dulwich Hill. (EC stalwart Claire Stuckey won the dedication award for her three-hour travel ordeal from the Central Coast.) The decibel levels in the function room rose quickly, with old friends greeting one another and new participants quickly joining in the spirit of the night. IBBY National President, Dr Robin Morrow, welcomed attendees and introduced various guests, including Linsay Knight, Steve Spargo and Mary Verney from Walker Books; illustrator Julie Vivas; and writers Ursula Dubosarsky, Nadia Wheatley, Libby Hathorn and Wendy Blaxland. Robin also spoke about IBBY’s role and aspirations and then shared the exciting news of IBBY’s 2018 candidates for the Hans Christian Andersen Award: David Metzenthen for Writing and Jeannie Baker for Illustration (see page 2). A highlight of the night was the presence of Jeannie herself, Jeannie Baker and Robin Morrow (centre) surrounded by our creators. just back from an overseas trip, who delivered a gracious and moving thanks to IBBY for the honour. Paul and Beth Macdonald’s small portable book stall enabled interested parties to get copies of Jeannie’s books signed. On the menu? Certainly the word ‘sumptuous’ springs to mind. Happy consumers enjoyed a full Vietnamese banquet, followed by a traditional Danish Kransekage dessert, in honour of HCA himself, which was created by that inimitable chef Anna Donato especially for this occasion. Jeannie Baker cutting the Kransekage with Libby Hathorn & Victoria Roberts RobertsRobertsRoberts RobeRpbertsRobertst Inspired by the success of the WA Quiz Nights, EC member Margot Lindgren masterminded a Sydney IBBY quiz, parts of which stumped the merry-makers. But it also encouraged plenty of brain-whirring and bibliophilistic laughs as teams battled it out for first place. The winning team consisted of Trish Amichi, Ursula D and Karen J. A raffle resulted in more winners, so that seven happy participants left with umbrellas over their heads and clutches of books under their arms. Although the room was on the cosy side, the mood was certainly lively. As member Elizabeth Hughes remarked: My mother used to say, smaller the room, better the party. And a fine party it was indeed, with thanks to Stephen Spargo for the photos. Trish Amichi and her table enjoying the evening. Karen Jameyson EC and NSW IBBY member Thinking Caps On! IBBY Australia International Children’s Book Day Quiz Night, Perth Western Australia Tuesday 4th April 2017 There was scribbling at the table For the word had passed around That the IBBY Quiz Night was about to start…* Since 2010 IBBY Australia WA has marked International Children’s Book Day, and this was the 4th Quiz Night enjoyed by children’s literature fans, supportive friends and family. This well-organised event is an opportunity for children’s writers and illustrators, publishers and booksellers, teachers and librarians, storytellers and story-readers to test their knowledge, memory and luck and to support the invaluable work of IBBY Australia. The questions had everyone on their toes – literally. “Shoes” was the theme of a string of questions about footwear in children’s literature and popular culture from Grimms’ Cinderella and The Twelve Dancing Princesses to Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made For Walking! During one round of answer checking, the well-read crowd spontaneously joined MC Glenn Swift in reciting a verse or three from Banjo Paterson’s The Man from Snowy River.