Last week we made a big to-do of the CBCA Book of the Year awards, but now it is time to re-direct the spotlight to another superstar who was  honored on the day, illustrator Michael Camilleri.

The Crichton Award for New Illustrators was awarded to Michael for his extraordinary work on the picture book, One Minute’s Silence, written by David Metzenthen.

One Minute’s Silence is a book about Gallipoli and Remembrance unlike any other. Readers are invited to imagine soldiers’ experiences from both sides of a conflict, to empathize with defenders and invaders in turn. This is bought to life by Michael’s illustrations which use an array of techniques and ideas, from comics, maps, technical illustrations and the use of contemporary year 12 students in place of both turks and diggers.

Please see Michael in action at a school below – thanks to Ange Ritchie for allowing us to share her fantastic photos.

(And don’t worry, Michael isn’t angry, he is just showing his ‘disgust’ face whilst discussing facial expressions)

If you would like to find out more about Michael, and his session on One Minute’s Silence, please click here