Book Week 2018- Wrap Up!

5 Days, 8 Schools, 20 Sessions, 1,000kms, 2,000 students....and all in 1 fabulous week of championing and celebrating children's literature!

From Coburg to Croydon, Kyabram to Kew, Essendon to Eltham! I had a wonderful week of sharing books, facilitating writing workshops, watching book parades and re-enacting stories with dress-up shenanigans in many schools across Victoria.

Books are for living, lessons and truths. Books can feed us for a lifetime and fill our souls. Books can make us want to live. They are passed between generations. They never get old.

But in a world dazzled by the latest gadgets and mesmerized by the internet and video games, the humble book seems like the most ordinary thing that could be—until you learn to look closer … and closer … and closer … and all of a sudden.... you FIND YOUR TREASURE.

School Visits, Book Launch & National Sorry Day Celebrated in our Nation's Capital

Visiting Canberra in the autumn promised to be stunning, and this year it did not disappoint. A magnificent display of yellows and reds lined each street, with warm sun-filled afternoons to delight. Having arrived in Canberra on Thursday afternoon, my dear friend (and amazing author/illustrator) Nicky Johnston and I headed straight to Dymocks Canberra to meet up with the incredibly talented Dub Leffler, and illustrator of SORRY DAY, for a book signing. We then popped into the National Library of Australia, where planning was well underway for the official launch of SORRY DAY on Saturday. 

Dub and I had the privilege of visiting two Primary schools in Canberra on Friday; Holy Trinity Curtin and Forrest Primary Schools, and shared SORRY DAY with hundred of receptive students.

On Saturday, Australia stopped to celebrate National Sorry Day, and we began our day at the Woden Library. Dub and I shared stories with the Us Mob Writers at a Meet the Creators Event, before heading to the National Library of Australia for the official launch of SORRY DAY. We were only a kilometre away from where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave the National Apology a decade earlier.

Director-General of the National Library, Dr Marie-Louise Ayres, chaired the proceedings with Brother Tyrone giving a wonderful Welcome Country. The National Library's first Indigenous Curator, Sister Rebecca, shared a very emotional testimony of her connection to the Stolen Generations and what the book meant to her and her family.

Dr Anita Heiss officially launched and OPENED the book, before Dub and I took the podium to speak. To conclude the ceremony, Dub and I read the book to the huge crowd gathered; reading each paralleled story; I read the story of Maggie and her mother gathering on the lawns of Parliament House to watch the National Apology, while Dub read the story of the group of Aboriginal children who were taken from their families on that fateful day. 

We finished the event, and the celebration of National Sorry Day, with a book signing and a delicious afternoon tea together. I am incredibly grateful to the National Library of Australia, and in particular Susan Hall, my publisher, for believing in this important book and for organising the momentous launch of this book. It was also wonderful to catch up with creative friends at the launch, and during our time in Canberra, including the exceptionally talented author/illustrator Tania McCartney. And I even had the wonderful privilege of meeting Christina Huynh, the illustrator of a new book I've written, coming out in 2019.

Launching SORRY DAY in our nation's capital was a thrill. It is my hope that SORRY DAY helps children understand our history and the damaging injustice done, in a way that is sensitive and appropriate, but also to remind us all, that in that one powerful word – SORRY- there is hope for a way forward for every Australian- that what had been, would never be again.

SORRY DAY official book launch on National Sorry Day 2018

Join Dub Leffler and I, together with Dr Anita Heiss, in Canberra on National Sorry Day, Saturday 26th May 2018, for the official book launch of SORRY DAY at the National Library of Australia at 2pm. 

National Sorry Day- new book release

On February 13, a decade ago, the nation paused to listen to one of the most powerful speeches in Australia's history, given by the then #PrimeMinisterofAustralia @kevinrudd on behalf of past governments. We paused together, to hear one word resonate across this country #SORRY
#ReconciliationAustralia CEO @karenmundine says, 'The Apology was a significant step towards healing the wounds of the past by acknowledging the suffering and loss experienced by the Stolen Generations and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.'
This year, the amazingly talented Dub Leffler and I are releasing a new children's book- SORRY DAY- which will be launched in Canberra on #nationalsorryday in May.
Today, we reflect on how far we have come as a nation, towards true reconciliation, but we are also reminded that more needs to be done #sorry #nationalapology #sharedhistory #truthtelling #allaustralians #sorryday #nla

A Perfectly Posh Pink Afternoon Tea -Launch Wrap Up

A crowd of pink gathered at The Little Bookroom in Carlton for the Melbourne launch of  

A Perfectly Posh Pink Afternoon Tea.

There was sweet lemonade and ruby balloons, pink jelly-cakes, tea cups and spoons!

There were white lacy gloves and long strings of pearls, oversized hats with ribbons and curls!

CLINK went the tea cups! SWISH went the pearls! TWIRL went the dresses!

SQUEAL went the girls and boys as the lovely Leesa Lambert officially launched the book

with her traditional three cheers...hip hip hooray!

....And finally copies were signed as the Perfectly Posh Pink Book Launch came to an end!

A Perfectly Posh Pink Book Launch

Join me for some perfectly posh pinkFUN at the Melbourne Book Launch of -A Perfectly Posh Pink Afternoon Tea On Saturday 29th July @ 3pm

The Little Bookroom

759 Nicholson St, Carlton

The Meet...Don Bradman Book Launch Wrap-up

A large crowd of young cricketing fans gathered in the MCC Library at the mighty MCG on a classic rainy Melbourne’s day, being the perfect backdrop for the official launch of the new children’s picture book, Meet…Don Bradman.

Channel Nine’s Livinia Nixon warmly welcomed everyone, giving a brief history of Don’s sporting achievements and his relationship to this great stadium; where he scored more Test centuries than anywhere else in the world.

I donned a Baggy Green and gave everyone a first look at Meet…Don Bradman, with a cricket stump and golf ball in hand (you’ve got to read the story to know why).

The children had a sporting time creating their own ‘paper’ cricket balls, ‘balloon’ Baggy Greens and cricket bats.

And as we sat, surrounded by such amazing cricket history, everyone cheered as Meet…Don Bradman scored a six and was officially launched.

Meet…Don Bradman is available in stores from 18 April 2016.

Meet...Don Bradman Official Book Launch

Join us this Wednesday in the MCC Library at the MCG @ 10:30am for the official launch of Meet...Don Bradman. Meet author Coral Vass and Channel 9's Livinia Nixon, with a reading, book signings, balloons, kids activities and more...

Meet...Don Bradman to be released April 2016

I'm very excited to announce my new book, Meet...Don Bradman, will be available in stores from April 2016. A part of the Random House Meet Series about the extraordinary men and women who have shaped Australia's history, Meet...Don Bradman is a children's picture book about cricket's greatest ever batsman, Sir Donald Bradman. Meet...Don Bradman is the story of how he first came to play for Australia, and how his record-breaking feats in the Ashes series became a source of pride and hope during the hard years of the Great Depression.

For more info- http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/coral-vass/meet-donald-bradman-9781925324891.aspx

The Hairy Maclary & Friends Waterfront Sculpture Project

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I was thrilled to visit the new Hairy Maclary & Friends Waterfront Sculpture Project in Tauranga.  The Sculpture Park is a tribute to local Tauranga resident of over 20 years and author to the world renowned Hairy Maclary series, Lynley Dodd.

The project is a "storybook scene" of permanent bronze sculptures of Hairy Maclary and some of his friends – Scarface Claw, Slinky Malinki, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm, Bitzer Maloney and Zachary Quack.

It was a joy to watch as children recognised the characters, called them each by name (as a beloved family pet), touched, hugged and climbed them with delight. Against a stunning waterfront setting and adjacent to the children’s playground, the larger-than-life public art truly brings the loved children's book characters to life and leaves a legacy for generations to come.

If you are a Lynley Dodd fan (like me), Tauranga Waterfront NZ is a must see!

Launch Day Wrap Up

Our Two Birds took flight today, as illustrator, Heidi Cooper Smith and I celebrated the national launch of our latest children's picture book- Two Birds on a Wire, in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Celebrated author illustrator Nicky Johnston officiated the Melbourne launch, while award winning author Aleesah Darlison ran the proceedings in Brisbane with Heidi.

Fun was had by all with readings, craft, signing and goodie bags galore.

Heidi whipped out her pencils, showing some sketches and finished illustrations from the book, while I had two very special helpers (Little Bird Black and Little Bird Blue) tell the story with me in Melbourne.

Feathers went flying and balloons were soaring as Two Birds On A Wire officially left the nest.

             Aleesah Darlison with Heidi Cooper Smith at the Brisbane launch

Two Birds on a Wire - Book Launch

Come along and join Little Bird Black and Little Bird Blue for the Melbourne book launch of Two Birds on a Wire at Farrells Bookshop- 143 Main St Mornington on Saturday 12th September at 11:30am. There'll be a reading, signings, fun activities, balloons, goodie bags and more......

Review -Two Birds on a Wire

Check out what Kids' Book Review had to say about Two Birds on a Wire

Two Birds on a Wire

First look at my new book- Two Birds on a Wire- in stores 1st September 2015

YABBA 2014

I had a great day at this year's YABBA ceremony hosted so superbly by Hillcrest Christian College; celebrated with 25 other authors and illustrators and with over 400 students from 17 different schools. Congratulations to all the winners!

With the wonderfully talented Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, Bob Graham, Nicky Johnston, Serena Geddes and Kayleen West!

Kids Book Review

I've recently joined the wonderful team at Kids Book Review. If you haven't already, check out this amazing website for fabulous children's book reviews, competitions, author/illustrator interviews, giveaways and all things new in the world of children's books

Book Week 2014

Having the most wonderful Book Week; visiting schools, story-telling, dress ups, meeting students, writing workshops, hearing their stories and encouraging everyone to connect 2 reading! #bookweek2014 A big shout out to - Our Lady of Lourdes School, Karoo Primary School, Bayside Christian College, Christian College Drysdale, Strathaird Primary School, Kardinia International School and Wandin Yallock Primary School and many more!

SCBWI Conference 2014

I'm very excited to be attending the SCBWI Australia/NZ conference this weekend; meeting many of the wonderfully creative authors and illustrators of Australian and NZ children's literature