In this issue:
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Voices on the Move
We have been working hard at Speakers Ink in response to Covid-19 restrictions as many bookings have been changed or cancelled, while other opportunities have come up.
Deborah Abela and Gus Gordon are each locked in to tour Brisbane in the week commencing 30 August, 2021 to replace their cancelled 2020 tours; Phil Kettle has also replaced his cancelled tour with a confirmed booking in Brisbane in Book Week 2021 - the week commencing Monday 23 August, 2021 and Jess Black has also replaced her cancelled tour with a confirmed booking in Brisbane during the week commencing Monday, 16th August, 2021.
Additionally, we encourage you all to check out the full list of wonderful speakers that we represent, as we have added to our list of speakers substantially over the last year. All have something valuable to offer!
Congratulations - 2020 KOALA shortlisters
Congratulations to all the writers, illustrators and publishers included in this list, voted by children. Success with the target audience is sweet!
About the KOALA awards: KOALA is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers (teacher/librarians, public librarians, teachers, publishers and other supporters of children’s literature). Every year, young readers from all over New South Wales judge their very own literary awards. By voting in the KOALA awards they can reward the Australian children's books that have most inspired, amused, terrified, enlightened and engaged them.
For teachers, librarians and teacher-librarians, the KOALA awards (and the YABBAs, featured last week and the BILBYS) are great ways to inspire children to read for enjoyment, a key contributor to children's literacy.
CBCA Book of the Year Award 2021
CBCA has announced its theme and guest artist for 2021 - (drum roll please). The wonderful Shaun Tan will be producing beautiful artwork on the merchandise, based on the them, Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. Book Week will be held in its usual slot of Saturday, 21st August - Friday, 27th August, 2021 (third week).
 The Spotlight is on...Brian Doyle
 
It is with a sense of gratitude that we announce that cartoonist Brian Doyle and his Imaginary Friend Pencilman are retiring after showing almost a quarter of a million children who thought they "couldn't draw for nuts" how to have fun drawing Cartoon-style. Brian was one of the very first artists to join Speakers Ink and has visited hundreds of schools, galleries and libraries, even cartooning on cctv in major shopping malls.
The children brought hundreds of Crazy Cartoon Critters to life in their workshops so Pencilman insisted they publish some in an Activity and Fun Book for primary students. Littlies will enjoy colouring them while older children learn heaps of Brian's simple drawing tips and professional Cartoon Clues. An activity page opposite each Critter explains the thinking behind its development and provides space for a suggested, creative "Thinking, Writing or Drawing" activity.
However, the truly unique feature of the book is that Brian offers all his Critters COPYRIGHT FREE to school libraries so pages can be photocopied over and over again. (copyright for commercial reproduction is reserved).
The book is titled CREATING CRAZY CARTOON CRITTERS and is available from Amazon. Simply google Amazon and enter the title. Best of all it only costs around $8 plus a few dollars postage.
Congratulations also to Cori Brooke
It is with much pleasure that we advise that Cori Brooke's Book Twelve Days of Kindness has recently been read by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York on her You Tube Channel - Story Time with Fergie and Friends. If you would like to view this recorded reading, please follow the following link: Story Time with Fergie and Friends
Dates for your Diary
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28 November 2020
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Big Kid Lit Quiz at the Bardon Bowls Club, Brisbane
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19 May 2021 |
Narelle Oliver Lecture with Australian Children's Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky
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21-27 August 2021 |
CBCA Book Week - Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds featuring the art work of Shaun Tan. |
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Yours in promoting literacy from all at the Speakers Ink team,
Sandie, Margie, Jan, Lia, Rob, Matt and James
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