At Booked Out, we are often speaking with teachers about programs they are just starting to run, or wanting to run, with their students. Many of these programs are focused on the use of Information & Computer Technology in the classroom—new online tools, interactive programs, and so on.

In addition, in a media-saturated world, reluctant writers need an extra level of encouragement to drop the game controller and pick up a pen. So how do we help to make writing a fun adventure, rather than a stressful challenge for these kids?

Tristan Bancks has devised a program that he is calling Story Scrapbook:

This free app for Mac and PC lets you bring together images, video, music, text and web grabs on virtual pages, making creative writing interactive and fun. It is based on my own multimedia-fuelled writing process, bringing the writing process alive for people who think visually, interactively and aurally, as well as textually. Story Scrapbooklets you tell stories your way. A contemporary story tool for contemporary learners / creators.

Check out the introduction video, and try the software for yourself by downloading it here.

Tristan is touring Melbourne schools from 6–10 August with Booked Out. Why not have him come and introduce this new set of tools to your students and staff?

Last weekend’s Herald Sun featured prominent Booked Outer Declan Fay in an article charting the rise of the podcast as a popular medium, and Fay’s The Sweetest Plum podcast in particular.

“We just needed to have an outlet, but it had this remarkable surge in popularity. iTunes put us as the podcast of the week and, it was amazing, people were kicking down the door to talk to us.”

Read the full article here.

From entertainment to education and environment, Ellen Sandell was published in The Age last week with her article Sustainable Australia Can Start in Schools.

“Rio+20 can be a success, but only if countries use the summit as a way to increase domestic action on environmental issues… Over the past few weeks I have been dismayed to receive emails from teachers across the country, as one environmental education program after another bites the dust.”

Read the full article here.

I don’t know about you, but these cold winter months always make me want to head for the nearest couch with a cup of tea and a book, losing myself somewhere warmer and more exciting.

If that’s not an option, and you have to go to work (or school) then surely the next best thing is to brighten up the drudgery of winter by creating something special and a little bit unusual. An artist in residence can be a great way to extend lessons beyond the classroom, and offer students that chance to work with a writer or illustrator over the course of a week to actually create something for the whole school to enjoy.

Recently illustrator Kevin Burgemeestre was invited to participate in a project just like this. Over the course of four and a half days Kevin worked with students to transform their work on iconic Australian author Miles Franklin into a permanent piece of artwork to be displayed on a new school building.

Staff and students give great feedback from these projects because the rewards are so long lasting, and from the wintery Booked Out office, we love seeing the pictures of the end result!

On World Environment Day, the winners of the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature were announced.

The Wilderness Society’s annual Environment Award for Children’s Literature is designed to encourage children to take an interest in nature and to feel a sense of responsibility for our wild places and unique wildlife.

Winner’s of the non-fiction category, Lester and Tulloch’s One Small Island tells the story of Macquarie Island – a remote and precious World Heritage site. The book explores the island’s unique geological beginnings, its discovery and degradation at the hands of humans, and attempts to protect and restore it today.

Ah it’s a cold rainy Monday in Melbourne Town, and the only thing that’s keeping the Booked Out Office running like the well oiled machine it is, is a bag of mixed lollies.

Well that, and there are some other exciting things that have sparked a few conversations over steaming cups of tea.

1. Festival season is upon us! The Emerging Writers Festival is in its last days. I hear the discussions are enough to warm the cockles, so if you’re looking for something bookish to do this week, check out the program on the EWF website.

We’re sad to be missing this tonight, but fear not! There are more storytelling sessions coming up at the Moat over coming months. If you’re house is cold and you want a hot toddy and a warm story, I recommend heading into the Moat after work to listed to Booked Outer Meg Mundell, who always delights.

And for anyone busting to find out what wintery delights await us on the MWF program this year, don’t forget that the schools program is already out! Did you know that the majority of readers of YA books are actually adults? So don’t be shy, head down there and see the numerous Booked Outers (too many to mention really) on the bill and share in some YA lit love.

2. The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards…

Awards make us happy and proud of the people receiving them, giving them, and nominated for them. Who doesn’t feel warmth for being told that they’re doing something so well??

So a special shout out to this year’s Booked Outer’s on the Julia’s awards list.

For YA Fiction “Pan’s Whisper” by Sue Lawson “When We Were Two” by Robert Newton “Alaska” by Sue Saliba

and for Children’s Fiction “Come Down, Cat!” written by Sonya Hartnett and illustrated by Lucia Masciullo

3.New things… We also love shiny new things, like a new scarf, a new piece of cake, a new toaster for our cheese toasties. Last week we had a visit from the lovely Sue deGennaro whose recent book “The Pro’s and Con’s of Being a Frog” is so beautiful that if it doesn’t warm every bit of you then you’re destined for a lifetime of chillblains and who also recently celebrated the launch of “The Emperor’s New Clotheshorse” that she illustrated for Tony Wilson.

Great for snuggling and quiet winter reading.

Hopefully this will keep you toasty until next time, and we hope you’ve got enough marshmallows to keep the hot chocolates sweet. See you at the festivals!

David Miller is one of a number of authors & illustrators visiting Tasmania this year for The National Year of Reading, organised through Catherine Woodberry and Marist Regional College in Burnie. The others traveling there are Catherine Bateson, Marc McBride, James Moloney, Archie Fusillo, Catherine Jinks and David Metzenthen. Many of these speakers are touring further around Tasmania whilst they are there.

On May 14th ABC Local Radio Northern Tasmania interviewed David Miller, and the short interview provides a great outline of David’s sessions. He also discusses the way he tackles complex themes in ways children can relate to. You can listen to it online here.

The first thing I discovered when I opened my computer yesterday was that Maurice Sendak had passed away at 83. He was immediately and deeply mourned by readers, writers and members of the literary community, and also by every child (even grown up ones) who ever imagined themselves as Max, who ever let loose with a wild rumpus of their own, or who gathered all the sheets that they could to build the most extraordinary fort known to man (or mum).

Yesterday my facebook was awash with posts, tributes and links by people who had experienced that magic of Maurice Sendak’s books. People everywhere shared articles and quotes or pictures of themselves hosting celebratory readings of Where the Wild Things Are Felice Arena drew his own wild thing (left). Leanne Hall wrote the beautiful Maurice Sendak: a bookseller’s tribute here.

One of my favourite quotes, now rapidly making the rounds was this, in an interview with Terry Gross, host of National Public Radio‘s “Fresh Air”. When asked what his favourite piece of fan mail had been Maurice replied

“Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters, sometimes very hastily, but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, ‘Dear Jim: I loved your card.’ Then I got a letter back from his mother, and she said, ‘Jim loved your card so much he ate it.’ That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.”

Finally, and so fittingly, many farewelled Maurice by echoing his own wild things. “Oh please don’t go. We’ll eat you up. We love you so!”

You might imagine that Maurice had this in mind when he spoke of his own feelings about death and loss. “I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can’t stop them. They leave me and I love them more.” – Maurice Sendak. Let the wild rumpus begin!

Next week we take the What’s Happening to Our Girls/Boys show on the road to Queensland.

In the lead up to the event, ABC Local Radio Qld will be running a series of interviews over the next few nights. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg leads the charge tomorrow night (Tuesday 17th) at 8pm, followed by Steve Biddulph at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th and finally Maggie Hamilton at 7.30pm on Thursday 19th.

Tune in! And don’t forget to book in via our events page.

Update: You can listen to the audio files of Michael’s interview here and Steve’s interview here.

Let’s face it, we’re all pretty happy to be heading into the easter long weekend. Don’t even bother trying to deny it, because we all know it’s true.

But some of our speakers are especially happy because they’re hopping off with more than just chocolate! An astounding number of our speakers have been shortlisted for this years CBCA Book of the year. You can read the full list here, but in the meantime a huge shout out to the following Booked Out speakers.

Our booking agents will be hard at work throughout the holidays so get your requests in if you would like to make a booking with any of these talented writers.

Older Readers

Michael Gerard Bauer – Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel

Scot Gardner – The Dead I Know

Robert Newton – When We Were Two

Younger Readers

Kate Constable – Crow Country

Jackie French – Nanberry: Black Brother White

Early Childhood

Ill. Lucia Masciullo – Come Down, Cat!

Elizabeth Honey – That’s Not a Daffodil!

Picture Book

Text. Glenda Millard – For All Creatures

Text. Jackie French – Flood

But wait! They’re not the only talents who have been in the awards lists lately. The lovely Meg Mundell and Max Barry appeared in the list of finalists for the recent Aurealis Awards. The winners will be announced later this year.

So congratulations to all of these talented writers and what a great list of books to choose from for Easter reading. We look forward to reading them all, and toasting the winners later this year!

Last week, we held our first 2 day event looking at girls and boys issues separately. The Sydney event was a shining success and we’re looking forward to running the days next in Brisbane (26/27 April) and Melbourne (21/22 June). Take a look at some of the brilliant feedback we’ve received so far.

Best two days of professional development in a long time!!!

It was fantastic. I spoke about it all weekend. The best inservice I have been to in years! Each speaker was relevant and interesting and I felt like I learnt so much.

I felt that I left with so much knoweldge and I have already started using with as I an a Year Coordinator.

My head is flooded with ideas and avenues for further research. I learned facts but more than that I learned some principles and themes.

Crucial to the education of our children – sobering and thought provoking. I found myself moved both as a teacher and a parent.

It is rare to get such a high calibre of guest speakers in one event. THANK YOU!

Honestly I have been to heaps of workshops seminars etc, but that one was by far the best I have been to. Quality speakers who make sense, do not speak in jargon and offer solutions.