 This edition of KidLitland is bursting with kidlit joy – and much delayed due to some overseas travel and running around after another bundle of joy – a new puppy! More on him later… This Saturday (22nd June) I am celebrating the release of my gorgeous new picture book, Lights Out, Little Dragon! at Dymocks Neutral Bay at 1.30pm. I’d love you come along and say ‘Hi!’ It’s already getting fabulous reviews, and is Readings Bookshop children’s book of the month!! Read about it here. I’ve also been a guest on Joy Lawn’s Paperbark Words blog and a Quick Six interview on Just Write for Kids in which I’m offering a giveaway of a signed book and dragon plush (in picture) – check out Instagram to enter. If you can’t make it on Saturday, never fear… I’m also organising bookshop signings at Penrith Harry Hartog on the 29th June (hopefully), Hornsby Berkelouw on the 6th July and Gleebooks on the 13th July.  As well as my exciting new book news, Anchored is still bringing much joy too! It was reprinted with its shiny new CBCA Notable sticker, it’s a finalist in the SCWBI Crystal Kite Awards, and was published in German with a super-long title that means ‘I Will Always Come Back to You.’! So my little Schleppboot and Containerschiff are chugging along nicely! I’ve been out to launches of wonderful books over the past months. Nat Amoore’s new series Showerland was a hoot, as you’d expect, as was the launch of Kate and Jol Temple’s very clever and fun, Frog Squad complete with giant undies! I missed out on getting to the launch of Nisaluk Chantanakom’s debut picture book with author Peter O’Connor A Teaspoon of Light. It’s a beautiful, luminous book in both words and pictures about loss and hope, connection and love, full of the magic of friends and memories. And it has a little white dog in it - a bit like my new puppy (sneak peek below!).
What I've been reading (or hope to soon): Here are some other wonderful new releases that I couldn’t help but buy. Two Turtles by Kiah Thomas and Jake A Minton is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a while – it made me laugh out loud; Dinosaur in my Pocket is a clever book about taking something that isn’t yours, and is a theme I’ve tried and failed at writing – so kudos to Ashleigh Barton and Blithe Fielden! Little Angler by Zoe Gaetjens and Heidi McKinnon is a bold and bright and wonderful lift-the-flap board book with intrigue and warmth, and Everyone Wants an Octopus Book by Liz Ledden and is a very clever, fun and informative book that subtlety references representation in books. Pet Sitters Club is a series that I love, co-written under the pseudonym Ella Shine, and there’s a new instalment featuring one of my favourite animals – a goat! But as with all the animals in this series, it’s not just an ordinary goat – this one has rhythm in his hooves.
 Other books on my radar that I’ve yet to source are: Allen the Alien by my former writing buddy and good friend, Stephanie Ward, and wonderfully, quirkily illustrated by Alek Morton. I saw this manuscript as it developed and it is super fun! Can’t wait to grab my copy! How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson and evocatively illustrated by Owen Swan. It’s the amazing true story of moving the elephant from the old zoo in Moore Park across the harbour to the zoo’s new home at what is now Taronga. As a regular to the zoo, I was aware of the story and always thought it would make a good picture book – and Kate beat me to it!! It looks amazing! And you can rely on Amelia McInerny for a fun romp, and her latest, Jeff the Giraffe: the Great Escape, with illustrator Alexandra Colombo, looks like no exception. The Dinosaur Did It By RM McGurk and Aleksandra Szmidt: I love the messy look of the pictures and the fun premise of this book – a girl who blames a dinosaur for her mess, and then the dinosaur actually turns up looking for answers! Fun! Emma Quay’s new picture book, Happy All Over – I’ve been a fan of Emma’s since my kids loved Rudie Nudie. Deb Abela’s new mid-grade verse novel The Kindness Project – it’s getting rave reviews and I can’t wait to read it, as is Grace the Amazing by Aleesah Darlison. And a graphic novel series, Ducky the Spy by Sean E Avery, featuring another animal close to my heart – a donkey! Talking about Sean, check out his amazing resources: Story Blocks for kids creating stories and, in conjunction with his occupational Therapist wife, Sensory Monsters, a sensory processing support pack. Follow him on Instagram if you don't already! Other Outings: I have been recently recruited as the regional director for the Northern Sydney region of CBCA NSW, which is a tall ask for someone who likes to embrace her inner loser (that is to say, recognise her leadership limitations - not everyone has to be a leader, you know!) Anyway, I’m giving it a shot! I must admit, our first event for the year was fabulous - a Notable Nonfiction evening with Pip Harry moderating a panel with Pamella Freeman and Isolde Martyn and with guest video presentation by Louise Park – all amazing CBCA notable and shortlisted authors!  I managed to have a wonderful short break in the UK and France in April, and stumbled across an amazing exhibition Write, Cut, Rewrite, at the Bodleian Libraries, with original manuscripts from renowned authors and how they had been edited and rewritten. My favourite was a Tolkien manuscript that he had drawn a scene on to better describe the landscape. Of course, I had to buy the book! I hope to write an article about it soon. With book week speeding up at a rate of knots, I’m pleased to say I’m almost fully booked, but if you would like to try your luck for the spaces I have left, please contact Creative Kids Tales Speaker’s Agency. And now for the puppy I mentioned at the start (although you already had a peek in the photos above)He's a real snuggle bundle…
Casper is a 4 month old Italian Greyhound and a pure delight! He has brought fun and laughter with his hijinks and boundless puppy energy. He has also brought early mornings and constant vigilance to ensure he doesn’t have any ‘accidents’ or accidentally injure himself by fearlessly launching off things or munching on things he shouldn’t.
Things I’m looking forward to: Casper not being so puppy-nippy! All the bookshop visits. 4th July Being a guest on Picture Book Book Club on Twitter – it’s the most fun you’ll have online (I refuse to call it the other name) More here. 7th July Launch of Lara Porter’s picture Book, Running With Wings, written by Sam Squiers. 3rd August Launch of Ramona Davey’s picture book, Tree Rex. August book week author visits – those details again if you want to book me: Creative Kids Tales Speaker’s Agency That’s about the year up to date now. I’d love for you to join me on Saturday, if you’re around. Until next time, Take Care, Debra
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