Riley and the Jumpy Roo is off to the Palace!

Riley and the Jumpy Roo is off to the Palace!

The ACT Government​ have most kindly chosen Roo as their official gift for the new Royal baby, Princess Charlotte.

What a thrill! Thank you, Chief Minister! and thanks, also, to Vanessa Little, and to Karen who coordinated this surprise.


Happy hopping, Charlotte!

Letters from Children - Holy Trinity Primary School

It's always a pleasure to visit schools and talk to kids about my books. Recently, I visited Holy Trinity Primary School here in Canberra, and had the most amazing time. I did a presentation on Australian Story, but the wonderful librarian, Kate, had also shared my other books with the kids.

The children (in years 3 and 4) sent me a whole pile of letters after my visit. They were so utterly charming and touching--it was very emotional reading them all.

Below are just a handful of the comments made by the kids. 

THIS is why I write books. Truly.

My favourite part of your presentation is when you put the Julia Gillard wig on Cody and when you put the handcuffs on Daniel.

I find most of your books really interesting. Also, I really like your Australian Story and Tottie and Dot is really funny.

I was the boy wearing the Julia Gillard wig. Loved the work we did with your book Australian Story. I learnt a lot about history ... how much fun!

I just want to thank you for writing those books.

I loved the work we did with your book Australian Story. I learnt a lot about history, no - it is so much fun. I love your work.

I was not there but I hear your presentation was awesome and you are awesome.

I learnt a lot about history - how much fun. My favourite book was Tottie and Dot.

How you make history fun!! You spoke so clearly!

I really liked when you said in the book about the Gold Rush and how you really explained how we got here in the first place.

Because of your story, I know more about Australia--more than I usually know, and I liked when you said 'once there was nothing and then there was something'.

I was really interested in how the process of writing a book is. Your Power Point was fantastic. The way we got to hold things was fun.

You have given inspiration to write a book. I've been asking our librarian so much to borrow your books. Love your books.

I really enjoyed learning about Australian history.

I like how we dressed up and I really enjoyed your [Tottie and Dot] book tour!!!!!!

I loved the way you set out Australian Story and did all the swirly curly writing. My favourite book was Riley and the Curious Koala.

My favourite book you made was Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo.

I think your books are amazing.

I like the way you taught us how to write a book. I like the work we did with your book, it was amazing. I now want to buy it.

I liked the fun way it taught us history. History is a bit more amazing.

I loved the work we did with Australian Story--how you taught us about history and how much fun it can be. You did everything in a fun way.

I liked the way we got dressed up to represent the different times and what was happening. I really enjoyed it.

I thought history was boring but it's not.

The story was really interesting and history is not boring!

You taught me that Gondwanaland was once Australia. I loved learning about history.

I was the one who got to put the Captain Cook wig on. I really loved it.

THANK YOU, oh and thank you for visiting our school. It taught me history and how much fun it can be ... with you.

I love your books about Riley and your Power Point was great and you spoke clearly.

I feel sorry for you only getting $1 per book. You should earn more money, like $246 because your books are great.

By the way, make a big world book including Germany and Australia.

I love your work and I see how much you love your son. I loved the work that you put into the Australian Story. Peace out!

You taught me that history is not boring. You can make history fun.

I enjoyed your presentation, especially how you changed my look on history. It's not just discovering land--it's me brushing my teeth or 11 minutes ago.

I LOVED how you made it fun and interesting in the Power Point.

I loved the way you included us and made us dress up.

The book Australian Story sounded amazing and I can't wait to buy it.

Your Power Point blew my mind.

I really liked that you made little jokes on your Power Point on how history is boring!

All thanks to you, I have a completely new excitement for history.

When you got us to dress up and then show the timeline, it made me feel that history could be writing this letter to you--and brushing my teeth! 

I loved the series of Riley. I liked the sounds you used when you were talking.

I thought your Power Point and speech was fantastic.

I thought your speech was brilliant. I loved how the Power Point was funny when it started disagreeing with you.

I liked you when you're funny--when the [Powerpoint Presentation] said 'okay sorry'.

Before I hated history but you have changed my mind and now I can say to people history is not boring.

It is actually really fun. It was great to see lots of people holding the money, flags, bridges and lots of other really cool, awesome stuff.

It must be fun being an author and writing books. You spoke really clearly and you were really funny.

I loved how you explained your Australian book. It was great to see a book that was not too old and not too young!

I loved how you spoke clearly, dressed up people, your [Tottie and Dot] book tour, and your lovely Power Point.

I learnt a lot about history. How wonderful.

You really entertained me. I didn't know history could be so entertaining.

I really liked your book Tottie and Dot.

My favourite book was the Australian Story.

May favourite book of yours is Tottie and Dot.

My favourite thing I learnt was about how Cathy Freeman was the first Aboriginal to have her face on a postage stamp. I got dressed up as Usain Bolt. I brang in his biography. It talks about how he became good at running and what he did as a kid. Usain Bolt. Faster than lightning.

I think your books are amazing! Especially Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo.

I think that you are an inspirational person. Like Albert Namatjira. Your Power Point was awesome. I learnt a lot about history.

Read!

Thank you for visiting our lovely school. I hope you had a great time!!! Thank you very much for teaching me about history. It was much more interesting than other history.

I really like the book that you wrote Australian Story! It was great to see all the students dressed up. They looked amazing and some were hilarious! I also love your books about Riley's adventures.

You inspired me to write books when I am older.

My fave book was Tottie and Dot and An Aussie Year.

I loved the work you did with your book Australian Story. The best thing I learned was that Samantha Harris was the first [Aboriginal] model on Vogue magazine front cover.

Your Power Point was thenomenal and unreal. My favourite book is Tottie and Dot.

I loved history--how I learnt a lot about it and it can be fun.

Can you put me in one of your books? Pleassssse!

Thank you for making history fun!

I especially liked how you made boring old history fun and enjoyable. Yay! I also enjoyed how you interacted with everyone!

It was great how you made me think history was fun. After school, I went running to mum and dad to tell them what I learnt. My favourite book was Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo. I had great fun. Love, your great friend.

You're cool. Old [ie: the author!] is good.

My favourite book you have written is Tottie and Dot and you have taught me that history is fun.

I like your books and how you put Riley in your books.

History rules!

I admire you very much and it's so amazing how you turn BORING info into fabulous kids books. You also seem like a very nice lady.

It was so much fun!!!! Now I love history.

I love the work we did with Riley and the Sleeping Dragon.

I am borrowing your book Australian Story.

Thanks for making history awesome!

I have learned a lot about history like Gillard was the first woman prime minister of Australia--girl power!

It was so much fun.

My favourite book was Tottie and Dot. I love your books.

You are a great inspiration to us all and we had so much fun.

I loved Australian Story with all the different bands of colours and images. It taught me what happened on the timeline in history.

I really loved your books of Riley.

Your Power Point was engaging. I loved it.

I like your book Tottie and Dot.

Your books are amazing.

You made history fun and exciting. The props you used were awesome!

Australian Story fascinated me a lot. It taught me that history is then ... and then ... and then ... ['then' something else happened, then something else happened ...].

It was great to see everyone getting into the true Aussie spirit.

I was the girl who held up the gold.

I really enjoyed learning about history and how much fun and interesting it is!

Your Power Point was fantastic and funny!

What I learnt was, that actually a long time ago, Australia was part of Antarctica!

I learnt that with some images in books, you have to get permission!

I really like your books, and so do all the children at Holy Trinity.

I learnt a lot about history and how much fun it can be!

I loved your [Tottie and Dot] book tour.

You have inspired me to be an author when I grow up.

I think the idea of your Riley books are cool.

I loved the way you set out the timeline in Australian Story.

Please come back!!!

Riley and the Jumpy Roo award for outstanding picture book

I'm just so thrilled to announce that Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo has been awarded Equal Second Placing for Outstanding Picture Book in the University of Canberra's Get Real Canberra awards today. What a joy it was to see my work alongside the talented students who creating some super-stunning picture book creations.

Also a joy to be shortlisted with talented author (and dear friend) Stephanie Owen Reeder, who also received a special mention for Max the Parliamentary Cat.

the shortlist

Above right - Jane Cassidy. Below left - local gal and new friend Grace Bryant wins for her picture book manuscript. Below right - Nick Klomp, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Canberra, presents the winners.

Above - with my equal second place recipient, Batool Razaak. Below - CBCA ACT President Leanne Barrett with Outstanding Picture Book winner Xiang Lei.
 

 A happy me. Below, with Leanne Barrett.

Below - with dear friends Tracey Hawkins and Stephanie Owen Reeder, and organiser Jane Cassidy.

Huge thanks to Jane Cassidy for running this amazing competition, and for encouraging some sensational new talent. I really hope to see some of these student winners achieve published status!

jumpy roo review on read plus - nov 2013

Such a lovely review of Jumpy Roo by Sue Warren, on Read Plus. So very touching!

Goulburn Library Visit

My family and I love to explore new places, and it was so much fun to spend the day in Goulburn this past Saturday, visiting Goulburn Mulwaree Library with two kids' sessions and an adult talk on Beijing Tai Tai.

I started with a presentation on Eco Warriors to the Rescue! There were some self-proclaimed eco warriors in the audience and yet again, I just loved hearing the responses from the kids as we went through the book and explored ways to keep our native flora safe.

Next was a session for littlies--I read Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo, and of course, Roo just happened to be onsite and did A LOT of hopping around, which always gets the kids fired up. Little ones are so hoppy!

After a book signing, I held an adult session for Beijing Tai Tai, and had a wonderful discussion with some local ladies on China and expat life and the contrast of living in Australia. I loved it.

My warmest thanks to the lovely Susan McIlroy for organising these sessions. I had a lot of fun and it's always fantastic to meet people from other towns.

After the library, we had some lunch and then visited the war memorial and museum on the hill overlooking Goulburn. Such beautiful views and such a moving tribute to those we have lost in war.

Event: Goulburn Mulwaree Library Talks

Delighted to be travelling today to Goulburn for some library presentations and talks. It's not too late to book a place! Hope to see you there.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Children's Book Reading and Presentation

10.30am

Goulburn Mulwaree Library, Goulburn, New South Wales

...book a place...

Saturday 9 November 2013

Beijing Tai Tai Author Talk

12pm

Goulburn Mulwaree Library, Goulburn, New South Wales

...book a place...

Meet the Author at Electric Shadows Bookshop

Irma Gold, Jackie French and I had the most gorgeous afternoon at Electric Shadows Bookshop in Braddon today, with a very special author event--book readings and signings, plus delicious afternoon tea goodies and the opportunity to natter and meet wonderful kids and adults.

A young boy brought along an enormous stuffed wombat, which of course, Jackie made a beeline for! It was stunning, and it was fascinating to hear Jackie talk of the biggest wombat she's ever seen--almost a metre high!

Here I am being introduced by the gorgeous Irma, who organised this event.

I started out with a reading of Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo - it was fabulous to see the kids resonate with local landmarks.

Then it was onto An Aussie Year - a tour through the months of the year and the little idiosyncrasies that make our Australian childhood special.

Irma read next - from her gorgeous National Library book Bugs and Beasts.

And then she read from her beautiful book Megumi and the Bear. 

Jackie was next with her sensational wombat book (my favourite yet), Wombat Goes to School. The kids laughed and laughed.

What a joy to read alongside these two immensely talented, beautiful women. After a book signing, we shared a nibble of afternoon tea and chatted with some gorgeous kids and parents, sharing our bookish loves and doing what I love best--enjoying the incredible books available to us all.

Thank you Irma, Jackie and Electric Shadows--and to everyone who came along!