If you’re looking for something wonderfully bookish to do with your family on the 31st August and you can get to Rozelle in Sydney, you need to add a visit to the Big Book Day Out to your calendar right now! We can guarantee that you’ll find some of your favourite authors and meet some new favourites at the day with over 30 children’s authors and illustrators attending the event, which is hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s NSW Branch.
‘Meeting an author can be a magical experience for a child. Not only does it inspire them to read, but it becomes a treasured memory,’ says Gail Erskine, the President of the CBCA NSW. ‘The Big Book Day Out also makes books accessible to non-readers. They can enjoy seeing illustrators in action, or relax in the story tent, while a picture book is being expertly read aloud.’
The event, which is 10am -2.30pm Sunday 31st August at NSW Writers’ Centre in Callan Park, Rozelle, has many other ways that will activate the reading bug and keep kids aged 3-14 entertained. There are Make and Do tables, where they can try their hand at unusual illustration techniques, make a character mask or create their own story. There will be a costume parade for everyone who comes dressed up as a character and there will be authors and illustrators everywhere, happy to talk to kids of every age about their stories and what it takes to be a writer.
Plus, the event will be a feast for the eyes. All the entries to the CBCA’s Design a Poster competition, in which kids have to create a poster around the Book Week theme: Connect to Reading will be on display, as will professional artists’ illustrations. At the end of the day, the 5 winners of the competition will be announced and the professional artworks will be auctioned off.
To top it off, there will be a jumping castle for the littlies, a sausage sizzle, face painting and good coffee on hand. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic basket and blanket and make the most of the day, which is free to everyone.
Better Read Than Dead bookstore from Newtown will sell books and the following authors will be officially launching their titles and signing books afterwards:
1) JACQUELINE HARVEY – will launch Alice-Miranda at Camp at 10.15am
2) DEBORAH ABELA – will launch New City at 11.45am
3) LIBBY GLEESON and THE CANCER COUNCIL – will launch A Simply Spectacular Hat at 12.30pm
Other highlights of the event include talks by Oliver Phommavanh, Belinda Murrell, Kate Forsyth and Tony Flowers.
Still not convinced? Maybe this list of Big Book Day Out attendees will inspire you:
Jacqueline Harvey – Tony Flowers – Libby Gleeson – Margaret Roc – Oliver Phommavanh – Sue Whiting – Aleesah Darlison – Deborah Kelly – Deborah Abela – Susanne Gervay – Lynn Jenkins – Kirrili Lonergan – Toni Brisland – Belinda Murrell – Jill Carter Hansen – Alison Jane Rice – Nathan Luff – Bill Condon – Marjorie Crosby-Fairall – Stephen Measday – Sandy Fussell – Michelle Morgan – Di Bates – Liz Anelli – Tonya Alexandra – Lesley Gibbes – Amanda Niland – Dawn Meredith – Frances Watts – Monica Lizama – Kate Forsyth and more!
Jacqueline Harvey – Tony Flowers – Libby Gleeson – Margaret Roc – Oliver Phommavanh – Sue Whiting – Aleesah Darlison – Deborah Kelly – Deborah Abela – Susanne Gervay – Lynn Jenkins – Kirrili Lonergan – Toni Brisland – Belinda Murrell – Jill Carter Hansen – Alison Jane Rice – Nathan Luff – Bill Condon – Marjorie Crosby-Fairall – Stephen Measday – Sandy Fussell – Michelle Morgan – Di Bates – Liz Anelli – Tonya Alexandra – Lesley Gibbes – Amanda Niland – Dawn Meredith – Frances Watts – Monica Lizama – Kate Forsyth and more!
Make sure you don’t miss this great FREE family event.
For more information, including RSVP contact details, visit the CBCA (NSW) website.
