Award-winning children’s author and illustrator Alison Lester will offer an insight into creative world of picture books and stories next week as part of local celebrations to mark the National Year of Reading.
Lester has produced such classics as the Clive Eats Alligators series, Magic Beach, Imagine and My Farm as well as illustrating the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book Award-winning Thing, written by Robin Klein. She recently has also started writing novels, including The Quicksand Pony and the Bonnie and Sam series with Roland Harvey.
Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special.
Lester will spend time with local primary school students in Mildura, inspiring young people to tell their own stories and be part of an active literary culture for enjoyment, wellbeing and success in life.
The public is also invited to hear her speak at the Mildura Library from 7:30pm to 8:30pm on Tuesday 27 March.
Bookings for the evening talk can be made at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/library or by phoning the Mildura Library on 03 5018 8350.
As well as sharing tales from her 21 year career as an author and illustrator, Lester will speak about her involvement in community art projects, which see her travelling to remote Indigenous communities, using her books to help children and adults write and draw about their own lives.
In December 2011 Alison Lester was appointed as one of the two inaugural Australian Children’s Laureates for 2012 to 2013.
This role sees her acting as a national and international ambassador for Australian children’s literature.
The National Year of Reading 2012 is about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration.
It's about supporting reading initiatives while respecting the oral tradition of storytelling. It's about helping people discover and rediscover the magic of books.
And most of all, it's about Australians becoming a nation of readers.
Nearly half the population struggles without the literacy skills to meet the most basic demands of everyday life and work.
There are 46% of Australians who can't read newspapers; follow a recipe; make sense of timetables, or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle.
Australian libraries and library associations are behind a campaign to turn 2012 into the National Year of Reading, linking together all the great things that are already happening around books, reading and literacy, and giving them an extra boost, with inspirational programs and events taking place across the country.
The organisations behind the National Year of Reading have identified three goals which will help us turn Australia into a nation of readers and encourage a reading culture in every home:
For all Australians to understand the benefits of reading as a life skill and a catalyst for well-being; to promote a reading culture in every home; and to establish an aspirational goal for families, of parents and caregivers sharing books with their children every day.
To register to hear Alison Lester speak contact the Mildura Library on 03 5018 8350 or visit www.mildura.vic.gov.au/library