hmmm, what came first? My putting the bubbly in the fridge last week in hope we’d make the CBC Shortlist for Simpson and his Donkey or their sober decision? I’ve never made even the CBC Notable List in Australia so this acknowledgment is thrilling beyond words. Woo Hoo!
Sydney
I return to the Pacific shores once again, to serve on the stimulating, challenging and rewarding board of the Australian Society of Authors. Bonus: working and catching up with fellow authors and illustrators who hail from all over Australia. Stop press: The collective noun for a gathering of authors and illustrators is a “blessing”. Here’s everyones mentor, Shaun Tan.
Friday: The Barbara Jefferis Awards 
And the winner is…Helen Gardner for The Spare Room.
The Judges Report:
Like a Dutch interior painter, Helen Garner uses the small domestic scene of two women in one house over three suffocating weeks to illuminate the deep and sustaining nature of friendship between women. As the protagonist — also named Helen — faces the challenge of supporting her dying friend Nicola through a course of painful and patently futile alternative therapy, she is forced to confront herself as well as the death of her friend. Great dignity is afforded to the female body, even as it collapses out of control, and to Nicola, whose courage is unquestionable. The lean, spare prose avoids any hint of sentimentality, while moments of joy and humour shared by the two women are evoked with economy and precision.
Saturday:
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators breakfast at the Hughenden Hotel with Susanne Gervay, Chris Cheng and Hazel Edwards. Elise Hurst, author/illustrator extraordinaire also broke bread with us.
And then onto the ASA AGM where Shaun Tan gave the Colin Simpson Memorial Lecture. Catching up with my friend and hero, the dearest Jeannie Baker. Also in this blessing is Julie Vivas and Nadia Wheatley.
And then last, but not the very least of at all possibly that ever can be. A quiet dinner with my oldest, bestest friend Shona Martyn and Chris, Evangeline and our friends, the Barnums.
Open Day at the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre
A place of significance…comprising of 4 galleries, bookshop and archives. 
Where children’s book authors and illustrators are cherished and celebrated. Once a school term, the Centre is open to the public, where one can view how a book is created, from the original concept to the published work. Lesley Reece and her staff constantly engage and empower young minds, parents, teachers and us, the creators.
I realize that Zachary TOTALLY omitted the illustrator…but I still love him to bits.
Dear Ms. Melmed,
Hello. I’m writing to let you know how much we’ve enjoyed your book
“New York, New York: The Big Apple from A to Z”. Our son, Zachary Maxwell, is in first grade at a New York City public school and he has loved the book since he was very young. In fact, we often find ourselves referring back to it as he grows up here in the city.
We found your website and Zachary wanted to write you a letter, which I’ve
attached as a PDF. Zachary recently made a video about the book and we
thought you might enjoy seeing his book report. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6zDYrM_cqM
Thanks so much for creating such an enjoyable children’s book. Our family
has appreciated it very much.
Very exciting news…of the 42 international books honored on this list, Simpson and His Donkey (The Donkey of Gallipoli) AND We Are All Born Free were selected. 
USBBY’s
Outstanding International Books list offers tales that speak to every student
Talk about an international effort. Some of the world’s best children’s book artists got together to help Amnesty International celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ 60th anniversary in We Are All Born Free, one of the 42 titles recommended by the fourth annual United States Board on Books for Young People’s (USBBY) Outstanding International Books committee. This and other titles on our list offer young people the best of children’s literature from faraway places—books that introduce them to outstanding authors and illustrators from other countries, help them see the world from other points of view, and provide another perspective or address a topic that may be missing from children’s books in the United States.
Our committee is pleased to present this year’s choices with the hope that these books will be used by young people, and those who work with them, to explore our diverse world. Information about the Outstanding International Books project can be found at www.usbby.org.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures. illus. Frances Lincoln. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-84507-650-4. U.K.
Gr 3-5–In this oversize book, published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, each of the 30 articles of the Declaration has been simplified for young readers and illustrated by an internationally renowned artist. Photographs of and brief biographical information about the illustrators are included.
GREENWOOD, Mark. The Donkey of Gallipoli: A True Story of Courage in World War I. illus. by Frané Lessac. Candlewick. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3913-6. Australia.
Gr 3-5–When England declares war on Germany, Jack, who immigrated to Australia in search of adventure, enlists and takes part in the invasion of Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula. In the 24 days before he’s killed, Jack carries more than 300 wounded men off the battlefield on a donkey. Poignant gouache illustrations highlight this story of heroism.
In between speaking at schools, we’re eating our way through Melbourne. Whether Turkish tapas at Gigi Baba, pasta at Tiamo, rice paper rolls at Minh Minhs, or a top-secret juice with Boori Pryor.
Taking trams and trains, eavesdropping on conversations spoken in foreign tongues. Enjoying being in the midst of humanity where piercing and tats abound. With my mind agape, I make sure my mouth is closed.
But most importantly …. time to catch up with my dearest partner in crime, Alison Lester. Her humorous whimsical work is a constant inspiration.
Twenty authors/illustrators under the stars, each allotted with three minutes of mic time, speaking about their latest work. How do we do it?
Well….er…with the help of ‘fruit of the vine’ and lovely Jan Nicholls armed with an egg timer and a bell. I was next to last, felt a bit like the nightwatchman (as in cricket). This Children’s Book Council initiative is a gem of an evening with people attending from all over the state.The venue was packed to capacity, nearly overflowing onto the Hwy. Sitting next to Kate McCaffrey was just asking for trouble.
What I enjoy most-est is catching up with peers and their latest books. Norman Jorgensen’s Jack’s Island is one of my favorites and will be a classic for many years to come. In Norm’s own words: “This is an exciting story of adventure, bravery and courage but most of all it is a story of friendship and loyalty”. A story after my own heart.
Perth Writer’s Festival authors toasted the warm summer evening by breaking bread on our back deck. Hailing from Sydney, Melbourne, Albany and Darwin, all cherishing the opportunity for a good ol’ catch up…
Leigh Hobbs, Barry Jonsberg, Libby Gleason, Jeremy Fisher, Dianne Wolfer all wined and dined and more wined.
Conducting two sessions for children, I was deeply touched by Abby Bachrach-Cox’s “Duffy” that she made allll by herself inspired by our book “Simpson and his Donkey”. Here she’s holding the US edition “The Donkey of Gallipoli”.