This is Banjo Paterson launch wrap-up

What a gorgeous event today at the National Library, launching This is Banjo Paterson into the stratosphere!

On a mega high-temps morning, we had a lovely turnout of adults and kids. After an intro by publisher Susan Hall, we enjoyed a rendition of Waltzing Matilda, sung by the amazing Sarah Wallace, accompanied on guitar by Candice from the National Library. They trilled like angels! And of course, everyone sang along.

Next was a book reading followed by a book signing and some Banjo-inspired activities. Kids made their own hobby horses and sheep masks, and hunted around for Banjo-inspired words.

I was astonished to see how much some kids knew about Banjo, and it was so much fun revealing more about his incredible life. The only thing missing was illustrator Christina Booth who is currently stranded on a beautiful island just south of Victoria (known for its apples; you may know it).

And the winner is ...

Thank you to everyone who entered the comp to win a copy of This is Banjo Paterson! Biggest congrats to:

Nella Pickup

The Gee Family

You have won a copy of the book! Please *email me booksATtaniamccartneyDOTcom with your postal address. I am popping into the National Library tomorrow (Thursday) and I can sign each book. If you can be in touch before tomorrow, I can personalise it to someone for you! Just let me know who you'd like it dedicated to.

*Please note, if you are not in touch within 10 days, I will announce another winner.

And if you are in Canberra this weekend, I'd love to see you at the book launch at the National Library Bookshop, details below.

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Book Launch at the National Library

Book Launch
This is Banjo Paterson
11am
Sunday 12 February 2017
National Library of Australia
Canberra
FREE!
...more info / reserve a place...

Also...

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where
she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library,
and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items,
along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

This is Banjo Paterson Day 7 - win a copy of the book!

It's launch day! And to celebrate, here's your chance to win a copy of This is Banjo Paterson! We have two copies to give away.

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment below (or email it to me here if you can't access Blogger), telling me which historical Australian you'd like to see a children's book on.

My two favourite suggestions will win a copy of the book. If you miss out, you can snaffle a copy of the book right here, or come along to my book launch at the National Library on 12 February in Canberra--details below.

COMP DETAILS: The comp runs from today until Tuesday 7 February 2017 at 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time. The winners will be announced the next day, right here on this blog. The comp is open to anyone, world-wide, so long as the book can be sent to an Australian address. This is a game of skill, not chance. The winning decision is final.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 
she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 
and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 
along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 6 - resources for teachers and librarians

Welcome to Day 6!

As part of the National Library's commitment to educational (and entertaining!) books, comprehensive teaching notes for This has Banjo Paterson have been provided for curriculum levels kindergarten through to year 3. Notes include discussion and inquiry questions, and ideas can be adapted for older students, too.

At the end of This is Banjo Paterson, a beautiful full-page spread (broadsheet style) is dedicated to further information on Banjo's life. Ideal for adults and older students.

Click the poster above for the teaching notes relating to This is Banjo Paterson. 

All 162 of his poems can be viewed here at the Australian Poetry Library, and kid-friendly audio on the real story behind Waltzing Matilda, can be found here.

For further resources on Banjo's life, the following websites are recommended:

National Library of Australia Digital Collection

Australian Poetry Library
Trove 

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Australian War Memorial

Banjo Paterson Museum

The Perth Mint

Banjo Paterson Park  

Poetry Writing Lessons for Kids

Poetry Writing Tips on Australian Bush Poetry, Verse and Music

Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival 2017, Orange

Stay tuned for Day 7, where you'll have a chance to win a copy of the book! Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 5 - Banjo's poetry and influences

Welcome to Day 5 where you'll learn more about Banjo's poetry and influences. You may be surprised!

One of Banjo's (or 'Barty' as he was called by his family) earliest poetic influences was a man named Jerry the Rhymer. Christina has depicted him (as the young lad's father) above.

Jerry was a 'shepherd' or bushman who lived near the Paterson property, Buckinbah Station, near Orange, New South Wales. He had a habit of speaking in rhyming slang and young Barty found him fascinating. He loved spending time with him and his son Jim, who was a teenager at the time.

Another major influence was Banjo's maternal grandmother Emily Mary Barton. She lived in Sydney at a house in Gladesville (you can see current images here - it is now a restaurant). Barty went to live with her when he turned 10, so he could attend Sydney Grammar School.

As an accomplished poet (she began writing in the 1840s; you can read more about her here), Emily encouraged her grandson to read and write verse.

Naturally, much of Banjo's work was inspired by the bush, horses and justice; some of Banjo's early poems were influenced by his work as a solicitor. Clancy of the Overflow is said to have been inspired by a lawyer's letter he'd had to write to a man who hadn't paid his debts.

When Banjo first began submitting his work to newspapers and magazines in 1885, he quickly developed a relationship with The Bulletin (this is where he adopted the pseudonym, The Banjo). Here, many of his works were published, and it's also where he and Henry Lawson embarked on their good-natured rhyming 'battle'.

One of his most famous poems was set to music (arranged by Christina Macpherson, who adapted it from an old Scottish song 'Craigeelee'). It was, of course, Waltzing Matilda, another poem inspired by real life events.

During his life, Banjo was compared to Rudyard Kipling in terms of his poetic talent, and by the end of his life, he had become one of Australia's most enduring poets--a legacy that remains today.

Many of Banjo's books are still in print, and he even wrote a book for kids--The Animals Noah Forgot (1933, illustrated by celebrated artist Norman Lindsay)--a copy of which I managed to find online. Alas, it's not a first edition, but a still-perfectly-vintage 1970 edition.

You can view a complete list of Banjo's poems at the Australian Poetry Library. Do note that some of these poems have altered over time, and there are several versions of the most famous. Indeed, Waltzing Matilda has changed over time, and This is Banjo Paterson features the original text, not that which is sung today.

Stay tuned for Day 6, where we reveal fabulous Banjo resources for teachers and librarians. Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 4 - Christina Booth talks about her work

Welcome to Day 4, where illustrator Christina Booth talks about her work in This is Banjo Paterson. 

Take it away, Christina!

I will confess ... the idea of collaborating with another author on a picture book used to send shivers down my spine. Not in a good way, but in one that I wanted to avoid. You see, as creators, most of us are control freaks, we have a vision and we want to hold the reigns tightly as we manoeuvre through the creative process. I had always thought it would stunt the natural evolution of creativity, the spontaneity of having things grow, if someone else was also holding onto the reigns. Which way would that horse go?

some of Christina's amazing roughs for the book

Then Tania contacted me regarding a book idea she had and that she wanted to work with me on it before presenting it to the publisher. I was just getting to know Tania and I was flattered when she said she had always wanted to work with me (I think she had me on a slightly higher pedestal than I deserved and I am afraid of heights!).

I looked at the story in progress and then, when a story is a good one, images and ideas started to grow. I drew up a sample image and we chatted about the direction we could head in and our horse seemed to be going in the same direction. I was relieved, I was in a collaboration and it seemed to be working. This was the beginning of This is Captain Cook.

You might ask, ‘isn’t any work with an author and an illustrator a collaborative work?’ Well, to a certain extent yes, but the communication once commissioned to illustrate a picture book is usually mediated through the publisher. The story is written, edited and ready to go. This is then offered to an illustrator (or two) to see what they can do with the text and bring to the visual story line.

When two creators collaborate, they work together from an initial concept and tease it out together. It works very well when there is a strong trust and when each creator respects the other creators ideas and direction. They then present together to the publisher, or sometimes, the publisher is a part of the collaboration from the early stages.

This is Banjo Paterson is our second collaborative work for the National Library of Australia. This is Captain Cook did so well, Banjo became the second child, and I suddenly did a little private panic. We had set a precedent with the Captain and now, we had to equal that. There can be no hiding in the shadows of an older sibling.

What were we to do? I knew it couldn’t be another play [This is Captain Cook's entire visual narrative is set as a school play]. Though that concept would still work well visually, it would be just a repeat of the last book. I wanted something else to make it shine but remain interactive with the audience. We went back to our childhoods, where playing dress-up and imaginative play happened in the backyard. Where story telling was practiced and role playing was fun. Banjo was an outdoor kind of guy so it seemed to be a natural fit.

Christina's hobby horse

Tania desired horses, I considered horses in a paddock next door but they would have just been observers. I always dreamed of owning a horse as a child, but alas, it was not to be, so we made our own. Along with cubby houses made of boxes and branches, flying on the clothesline, playing under the hose, chatting with our neighbours. It was so Australian and that was the feel we wanted. And the homemade horses were born. Brooms, hobbyhorses, human horses! Tania’s wish was granted.

Recently I have created a lot of my illustration work digitally. I love it but I do miss the smell of paint and the beautiful mistakes that you must keep and adapt on paper, I try to do that with my digital work but the undo button is very convenient, so it was delightful to pull out the watercolour paper and pencils and swim in erasings all over the carpet once again.

I chose to work in the same mediums as I did for Captain Cook because in a series we need a certain amount of consistency. It also lends itself to the airy outdoors, the clouds, the grass, the wind in the clothes on the clothesline. I also enjoyed placing backyard icons into the illustrations: a Hills Hoist (made like they used to), a dog, a neighbour over the fence and the kids jumping fences to play with each other. A paddling pool, the hose, and what a delight to discover when doing my research that what we now call Totem Tennis was first invented and was very popular in Banjo’s time. Perfect!

So, am I now converted regarding collaborations? Yes. Though I’m probably at my happiest steering my own horse, the beautiful thing is, Tania and I can go riding together, side by side as we support and share our careers.

We have just finished working on a third collaboration, this time a stand-alone book (you have to wait and see what it is!) but the best thing that comes out of a successful collaboration is that we are bonded for life as wonderful friends, and journey that creative path knowing we have help and support.

Stay tuned for Day 5, where you'll learn more about Banjo's poetry and his influences. You may be surprised! Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 3 - the unusual visual storyline

Christina Booth rough for This is Banjo Paterson

Welcome to day 3 of our Banjo launch. Today we are talking about This is Banjo Paterson's unusual visual storyline.

Most good picture books have some kind of dual narrative going on--another 'story' that's quite apart from the text. In this way, illustrations should not be simply a direct reflection of the text--they should be much more than that.

The illustrator is (or should be!) equally responsible for carrying the storyline and creating something new and novel from the text. A visual narrative lends depth, scope, emotion, humour, detail and so very much more, but most especially nuance. So much can be gleaned from a picture, and much of it can depend on the viewer and their interpretation.

Illustrator Christina Booth is an expert at this.

When Christina and I created This is Captain Cook, I made mention to Christina that I envisaged the book's characters being played by children. So, basically, kids would take the roles of the real people from Captain Cook's life. She came up with the brilliant idea to set the entire book as a school play, with almost every scene unfurling on a stage.

This worked so very well, not only in terms of allowing lots of extra 'happenings' as the story went along (including a well-meaning rampant chook!) but in terms of allowing modern children to more deeply connect with the story of Cook's life. His world, after all, is achingly removed from how children live today. Children need to relate to the characters in books--it draws them in and keeps them engaged. And the kids playing the roles in a school play certainly did that.

Similarly, Banjo Paterson's life is told in a backyard scene, with kids in full play. Swinging on the washing line, camping outside in a tent, picnicking on a blanket... all things many modern day kids understand and experience at some stage in their lives. These elements allow kids to engage with a storyline that, again, is set back in the age of the dinosaurs (at least, I'm sure that's how they'd see the late 1800s!).

The wonderful thing about working with Christina, is that while (as author) I can suggest or intimate how things might look (this is necessary in terms of accurately conveying the narrative, especially when it comes to historical books like this one), she takes those guidelines and expands on them in ways that surprise and delight me, not to mention our editors and eventual readers!

It's the little things that add visual dimension to a picture book--and help children connect with story. Our optic nerve takes up a whopping 30% of our brain's cortex, meaning 90% of all information we absorb is taken in through the eyes (read my post on visual literacy here).

What children see has an impact on what they enjoy, learn and retain--and picture book images that are clever, entertaining, detailed and beautiful, are the books kids will return to again and again. Kids GET nuance. They really do. Even if they can't outwardly explain what they're getting, and I love that This is Banjo Paterson is resplendent with nuance, thanks to Christina's beautiful illustrations.

I also believe it's important to expose children to the lives of inspiring, uplifting, talented and memorable people. This is Banjo Paterson brings to life the story of a remarkable man in a way that's accessible to even the very young. And a large part of that connection will be found in illustration ... that divine visual narrative picture books rely on.

Stay tuned for Day 4, where illustrator Christina Booth talks about her illustrations. Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 2 - a peek at the pages

Christina Booth's divine watercolour illustrations so beautifully brought Banjo's story to life, in these backyard play scenes (more about the parallel visual storyline on my blog tomorrow).

With children playing key figures in Banjo's life story (even the hobby horses!), we're taken on a journey through the life of an extraordinary man, who was not only a prolific poet, but so very much more.

The aim of these images was to make Banjo's life accessible to the very young (ages 3 - 8) in a way that's not been done before. Even children in early education need to be exposed to inspiring and life-altering stories of real life people that once so deeply affected--and continue to do so--our lives, our history and where we are going.

Enjoy these page peeks. My favourite page of all is the final scene at the end of Banjo's life--it brings a tear to my eye every time I see it, and of course it includes one of Banjo's most famous poems--The Man from Snowy River. You'll have to grab a copy of the book to see it!

Following are some of Christina's roughs for This is Banjo Paterson. Roughs help 'visualise' the storyline and where it's going, ensuring the illustrations perfectly carry the text, and also provide pacing and drama. Roughs are always so fascinating to see! I hope you enjoy them. To me, they are just as beautiful as the end result. Note the changes that were made along the way!

Stay tuned for Day 3, where you'll learn about the inspiration for the book's unusual image storyline. Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson Day 1 - Banjo facts

On Day 1 of our blog launch, I'm revealing some facts you may not know about Banjo's life. It was absolutely fascinating researching this talented man, and learning more about his extraordinary life.

How many of the following facts are new to you?

1. Banjo was born on 17 February 1864 at Narambla, New South Wales, and was the eldest of seven children--Rose Florence, Emily Jessie, Mary Edith, Hamilton Howison, Grace Sterling and Gwendolen Alexa. Children were often called by their second name, and this was the case with many of his sisters.
2. His middle name, Barton, was his mother's maiden name. Banjo's mum, Rose, was born in Australia while his dad, Andrew Bogle Paterson, was a Scottish immigrant.
3. His family called him 'Barty'.
4. Banjo's grandmother, Emily Mary Barton, was an accomplished poet. When he was 10, Banjo went to live with his grandmother in Sydney (where he attended Sydney Grammar), and she was instrumental in encouraging her grandson to read and write verse.
5. Another influence was a local bushman named Jerry the Rhymer. When Barty was a lad, he was fascinated by the way Jerry spoke--in rhyming slang.
6. Banjo's right arm was broken as a toddler and the break went unseen until he was a little older. 
7. Before he left for Sydney, Banjo used to ride a pony to school!
8. Banjo was a keen tennis player and an accomplished oarsman. He rode to hounds at the Sydney Hunt Club and was a fine polo player. He also rode as an amateur jockey at Rosehill and Randwick racecourses in Sydney.
9. Originally, Banjo's writing nickname was The Banjo, but the article was eventually dropped and he became known as Banjo Paterson. The name Banjo came from one of his family's favourite racehorses.
10. Banjo was not just a poet and author. He was also a journalist, editor, war correspondent, radio announcer, bushman, horseman, jockey, clerk, solicitor, speaker, traveller, vet, farmer and a fine sportsman. A true Renaissance man.

Stay tuned for Day 2, where I'll be revealing some internals from the book! Click here for the full list of launch posts.

---

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where 

she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library, 

and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items, 

along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson

11am

Sunday 12 February 2017

National Library of Australia

Canberra

FREE!

...more info and reserve a place...

This is Banjo Paterson review in the West Weekend magazine (The West Australian)

This is Banjo Paterson blog launch

Come and join me to celebrate the launch of This is Banjo Paterson, with 7 days of blog posts in celebration of Banjo's life, and showcasing the book's creation.

From Thursday 26 January to Wednesday 1 February (the book's release date), I will be posting right here on this blog, and will update this post with daily links.

I hope you can come along and help Christina Booth and I celebrate!

Blog Launch Schedule

*Please note--these links won't go live until 5am of each relevant day.

Day 1 - Banjo facts (26 Jan)

Day 2 - a peek at the pages (27 Jan)

Day 3 - the unusual visual storyline (28 Jan)

Day 4 - Christina talks about her work (29 Jan)

Day 5 - Banjo's poetry and influences (30 Jan)

Day 6 - resources for teachers and librarians (31 Jan)

Day 7 - WIN! a copy of the book (1 Feb--launch day!)

#banjolaunch

Join Tania on Periscope on Friday 17 February at 1pm AEDST, where
she will be chatting about the book live from the National Library,
and showing various priceless Banjo Paterson items,
along with original artwork by Christina Booth!

And for those in or near Canberra ...

Book Launch - This is Banjo Paterson
11am
Sunday 12 February 2017
National Library of Australia
Canberra
FREE!
...more info / reserve a place...

a pre-Christmas wrap-up, with news, pretty pictures, plump pillows and other stuff

Week 50: FESTIVE

It's 1.32pm on 21 December and I've just, against all better judgment, eaten two fruit mince pies for lunch and then wandered the halls for nearly an hour, unable to decide on which pile to tackle.

That sentence pretty much sums up my 2016.

It's been a strange, fragmented, bizarro year of major ups and downs, calamity and calm, and the oddest sensation of feeling either upside down, or wanting to abscond to an isolated villa in Tuscany. Granted, the latter is pretty much a permanent sensation! But more so than ever this year.

It's been such a strange and challenging 12 months--for everyone, it seems--that I'm kind of expecting to wake up and realise it was all just an upside down dream.

That truly wouldn't surprise me at all. I'd wake and I'd go 'Wow, that was a marathon dream nightmare hybrid! I'm so happy to be awake now, yes I am!'

So, as I wait to wake, and as the fruit mince pies settle onto my thighs, I'm only making one resolution for 2017... and that's to recalibrate. Earth myself, house, family, world, work. All of it. Take what's needed and chuck the rest. Cleanse. Focus. Streamline. 2016 was the carnival ride sugar rush. 2017 will the rowboat on an expansive, deep and beautiful lake. A lake bustling with Things I Love to Do.

I hope it's like that for you, too.

In the meantime--here is a pre-Chrissie update before I disappear into a Lindt box the size our car (why fight it?).

Announcing... This is Banjo Paterson!

Tomorrow, I'm officially in holiday mode, but before I go, I'm thrilled to share with you my newest books--both will be released in February 2017 (National Library Publishing).

This is Banjo Paterson is the follow-up book to This is Captain Cook, and once again features gorgeous illustrations by my dear friend Christina Booth. I'm so excited about this book--an historical picture book for very young children. There'll be a launch here in Canberra on 12 February at the National Library, so keep an eye on my events page for that.

Learn more about the book by clicking on its cover, and if you want to get in early, you can order a copy of the book right here.

Also publishing 1 February is Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline--a revised edition which includes 2016. This book has become a resource for primary school teachers, so it's wonderful to see the book republished, and with a shiny yellow cover, too.

Learn more by clicking on the cover, and you can order a copy here.

In more exciting news, This is Captain Cook has been shortlisted in the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards! The announcement is tonight at the ACT Writers Centre Christmas Party. Shortlisted with amazing friends and colleagues Stephanie Owen Reeder and Jackie French, I'll be drinking bubbles, whatever happens!

Here's to ending the year bookishly.