Literary Coup For Library

Newcastle Herald

Monday August 21, 2006

WHAT do Aristotle's Nostril, Once, Boy Underground and Misery Guts all have in common?

They are all books penned by one of Australia's best known and loved children's authors, Morris Gleitzman.

He will be in Newcastle today to launch Children's Book Week 2006 at Newcastle Region Library.

Gleitzman will be joined by one of Australia's most sought-after storytellers, Richard Tulloch, a versatile writer of plays, books and television series, and Picture Book of the Year nominee Colin Thompson.

Also visiting the city this week will be authors Colin Thompson and Sofie Laguna and illustrator Di Wu.

They will be making appearances at the city library, Wallsend District Library and New Lambton Library

Newcastle Region Library's education and promotions officer, Carol Edmonds, said Children's Book Week and the Children's Book of the Year Awards were a great celebration of children's authors in Australia.

"Having award-winning authors presenting workshops and activities creates a greater level of interest in books and libraries, and encourages children to get into the habit of reading books for both recreation and learning," she said.

Children's Book Week runs from today until Friday. Sessions with the featured authors costs $3.50, and bookings are essential.

THE following children's book authors, including a Chinese-born illustrator, will be visiting libraries in Newcastle this week as part of Children's Book Week.Morris Gleitzman: Nominated for the 2006 Younger Readers Book of the Year Award for Once, a book inspired by real life stories of young people during the Holocaust.Richard Tulloch: Richard is well known for his books, Stories from Out Street and Danny in the Toybox, as well as television shows including 150 episodes of the popular Bananas in Pyjamas.Colin Thompson: Nominated for the 2006 Picture Book of the Year Award with Amy Lissiat for The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Reily.Sofie Laguna: An author, actor and playwright, her book, Big Ned's Bush Walk, has been nominated as a Notable Book in the 2006 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards. Her other books include On Our Way to the Beach, My Yellow Blanky, Too Loud Lily, Surviving Aunt Marsha and Bad Buster.Di Wu: Born in China, Di Wu is an illustrator. His recent book, Glass Tears, (with Jane Jolly) has been nominated as a Notable Book in the 2006 Children's Book of the Year Awards.

For further information about Children's Book Week phone Carol Edmonds on 4974 5324.