Reading and Live-Drawing Sessions

Freda Chiu offers tailored Reading and Live-Drawing sessions for Good Hair, Last-Place Lin, A Trip to the Hospital, and Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West.

Good Hair Reading and Live-Drawing Session
Good Hair is Freda’s picture book collaboration with author Yvonne Sewankambo. In this session, Freda will talk about what it’s like to collaborate with an author and share “behind the scenes” of illustrating a picture book. She will talk about how our hair (or lack of hair) makes us unique and is a form of expression, and the significance of hair in different cultures. Freda will then read Good Hair, getting the children involved. This will be followed by a guided draw-along session so the children have a drawing to take home.

Topics Covered

• The significance of hair in different cultures
• Our differences are what make us unique
• Picture book illustration process
• Guided draw-along session

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West Reading and Live-Drawing Session
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is Freda’s picture book collaboration with author Jacinta Liu. In this session, Freda will talk about what it’s like to collaborate with an author and give a glimpse “behind the scenes” of illustrating a picture book. She will share her PorPor’s influence on herself and invite students to think about the many ways grandmothers (and grandmother-figures) impact our lives. Freda will then read GFTE,GFTW, getting the children involved. This will be followed by a guided drawing session so the children have a drawing to take home.

Topics Covered

• Our cultural heritage/s shape who we are and makes us unique
• The role of grandmothers and grandmother-figures in our lives
• Picture book illustration process
• Draw-along session

Last-Place Lin Reading and Live-Drawing Session
Last-Place Lin is Freda’s latest picture book collaboration with author and Australian Survivor contestant, Wai Chim. In this session, Freda will talk about what it’s like to collaborate with an author and give a glimpse “behind the scenes” of illustrating a picture book. She will also talk about being nervous about sports days as a child (like Lin, she used to come last in races!), and why it’s important to celebrate finishing things you find difficult, even if you don’t perform well. Freda will then read Last-Place Lin, getting the children involved. This will be followed by a guided drawing session so the children have a drawing to take home.

Topics Covered

• The importance of trying even if you are bad at something
• Drawing and the imagination
• Encouraging empathy and moral support for others
• Draw-along session

A Trip to the Hospital Reading and Live-Drawing Session
A high-energy, fun packed session in which Freda will talk about being an illustrator and author, show “behind the scenes” of writing and illustrating a picture book (including visiting a real children’s hospital!), and do an interactive reading. The children will be encouraged to participate and make LOTS of noise! Freda will then draw in front of the children with suggestions from the audience. This will be followed by a short Q and A if time permits.

Topics Covered

• Imagination and where ideas come from
• What is a hospital and who are some of the people you might meet?
• Hospital procedures
• You are safe and in good hands if you ever need to visit hospital
• Draw-along session