A special storytime for Dads, Grandads and kids at Ferntree Gully Library

Come along for some fun stories and songs to celebrate Children's Book Week

When: Monday 23rd August 7pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 9294 8140

Cheers, Maryanne

Magical moments - a very special bookchat

The last week in August is Children's Book Week and to celebrate we are asking you to join us for a trip down memory lane. Did you have a special book you loved as a child that you would like to share with us? Mine was Brer Rabbit. Bring it along and join us for this very special celebration.

Afternoon tea to follow.

When: Thursday 27th August 2pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Cost: Free event
No need to book, just come along.

Cheers, Maryanne

Children's Book Week event change - Welcome Mike Spoor

There been a slight change to one of the events for Children's Book Week. Mark Carthew is unable to make it but are happy to introduce UK artist Mike Spoor who has illustrated over 200 books including the Dinosaur Cove series. See how he creates his characters and brings them to life on the page. I've just been checking out some of his work and it's really cool. Have a look:






When: Saturday 29th August 3pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Recommended for ages 8-12
Bookings essential, phone 92945640

Cheers, Maryanne

Children's Book Week

Children's Book Week (22nd - 28th August) is fast approaching so you'd better be quick to book in for the following events at Croydon Library:

Create Your Own Storybook
When: Saturday 29th August 1:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Bookings essential, phone 92945640

Make our own very special book with artist Joy Serwylo. All ages are welcome at this workshop.


Meet Mark Carthew
When: Saturday 29th August 3pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Bookings essential, phone 92945640

Mark Carthew is both an author and a musician and his talks are loads of fun. He is also the author and creator of numbers of children’s books and CD’s. Come join us for a fun filled session.


Galosh the Gnome Storytime
When: Saturday 29th August 4pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: Free
Bookings essential, phone 92945640

It is very quiet in the library, in the corner sits Galosh the Storytelling Gnome waiting to tell some magical stories...Fairy bread afternoon tea to follow.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 27th Aug 2008 & 3rd Sept 2008

I have been remiss in adding the last two weeks worth of radio show summaries to the blog - many apologies, they were sitting in my inbox.....maryanne.

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday 27th August's show

We have just finished celebrating Children's Book Week in the libraries accross our region, and now is the time to bring to you the winners of the Children's Book of the Year Award. There are five categories in this Award, and today Pia highlighted some delightful and informative books which were shortlisted, some of which won in the section they were nominated for.

There are always many gorgeous, funny and inventive books in the Early Childhood category, which is broadly considered for ages 1 to 7 years. The winner this year was Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey, which simply and delightfully shows how two very different people can support each other to create a lovely friendship. The other books recommended to us by Pia were Cat by Mike Dumbleton and Craig Smith,

Lucy Goosey by Margaret Wild and Ann James and Shhh! little mouse by Pamela Allen.

In the Eve Pownell Award for non-fiction, Pia highly recommends Kododa Track : 101 days by Peter MacInnes as a very interesting and informative read on what the soldiers on the Kokoda track really had to deal with. She said it was a great introduction if you only have a basic knowledge of this campaign. Australia's deadly and dangerous animals by Michael Cermak is a lavishly illustrated book on a perennially popular topic, even the humble (but in springtime, aggressive) magpie gets a mention. Kaz Cooke has written a new, humourous and informative book for girls Stuff : your full-on guide to the teen years. Ned Kelly's fame and fascination is dealt with in a book edited by Carole Wilkinson, which gives young readers an introduction to The Jerilderie letter and finally a great fun book Parsley Rabbit's book about books by David Legge which with humour, great illustrations and gimmicks like flaps describes how books are put together.

Eve Pownall Shortlist 2008
Michael Cermak - Australia's deadly and dangerous animals
Kaz Cooke - Girl stuff: your full-on guide to the teen years
Peter Macinnis - Kokoda Track: 101 days
Mark Norman - The Antarctica Book: living in the freezer
Frances Watts, Illustrated by David Legge - Parsley Rabbit's book about books
Carole Wilkinson (editor), Illustrated by Dean Jones - Ned Kelly's Jerilderie letter

On Wednesday 3rd September's show

You have to admire a wife of Henry VIII's who wasn't banished or executed. Anne of Cleves was remarkable in that she escaped these fates, and also managed to live on good terms with Henry, loved by his children, and outlived 'the Merry Monarch'. In Amenable Women by Mavis Cheek we are given a glimpse into this turbulent period from a different angle. Anne became notorious as the wife who was chosen from a painting by Holbein, and then rejected when she arrived in person and was judged to be too plain to be Henry's wife. According to Lyn, the women in this book might be amenable, but are very strong and capable people.

Another historic character whose beauty has been debated endlessly - was she beautiful, or was she thought to be so because of her relationships with powerful men? - is the subject of two new books. We are talking about Cleopatra Queen of Egypt, and Lyn Baines explained that there is a lot of uncertainty about whether any of the artefacts from the time actually show a true picture of the Cleopatra who became mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. This is only one of the mysteries surrounding her history, and these new titles do a good job of bringing a fresh look at the evidence, and the historical context. The titles are Cleopatra the Great by Joann Fletcher and Cleopatra : the last Queen of Egypt by Joyce A Tyldesly.

---- Lesley

Children's Book Week

Some of the events happening this week:

Kim Wormald and "Ilsa's Journey"

Celebrate Children's Bookweek with local author Kim Wormald , discover her beautiful picture book about guide dog "Ilsa" and learn how the book was published.

When: Thursday 23rd August 4pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction Ph: 5967 1588

School Age children
Gold coin donation ( to Guide Dogs Victoria)


Children's book week bedtime storytime

Wear your Pjs and come along and listen to some of the winning books

When: Thursday August 23rd 6.30-7.30pm
Where: Healesville Library 231 Maroondah Highway Healesville Ph: 5962 4423


Meet Andy Griffiths

The kids can meet Andy and have their favourite Andy Griffiths' book signed.

Books available to purchase.

When: Sunday 26th August 2pm-3:30pm
Where: Ringwood Library, Melbourne Street Mall, Ringwood

Bookings Essential 9870 017

Cheers, Maryanne