The wonder of books stays the same

| August 19, 2012

Book Week is the longest running children’s festival in Australia, and at 67 years old it still celebrates the wonder of books and Australian authors and illustrators. Julie Wells says in 2012 books may be changing, but stories aren’t.

We all know how important it is for children to experience the world of books and how an active imagination will respond to words and pictures.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has promoted the best in Australian books for the young since 1945. Book Week has been celebrated since then too. This is an amazing history and what a great list of children’s books the CBCA has compiled, and honoured, over these years.

As the current National President of this organisation I feel proud to spread the good word about an amazing and dedicated group of volunteers who share a passion for children’s literature and a determination to foster and support Australian writers and illustrators.

Successful fund raising over the last decade has meant that our annual Awards are assured and this means that we can continue to celebrate outstanding contributions to children’s literature. It is heartening to see so much excitement about the Awards and Book Week. Schools and public libraries across Australia continue to embrace this week of celebration with competitions, parades, games, readings, and displays.

I sense there are going to be plenty of Facebook and Twitter discussions as well. If we can continue to promote greater access to reading throughout our schools and communities, we should feel very proud of what we have achieved.

At the end of Book Week the organisers of the National Year of Reading have proclaimed The Reading Hour. Don’t forget to get your book out that night!

Undoubtedly, the CBCA faces new challenges. The ‘book’ is changing, though I don’t think ‘story’ is. Perhaps the power of ‘story’ will be enhanced by many of these changes. I do know that the CBCA needs to address these innovations in storytelling, just as it has done for over 60 years. Hopefully schools will not become too busy or too distracted to celebrate Book Week. Otherwise there is too much to lose.

Curiosity, knowledge and wisdom grow from reading, and here in Australia, we have so many wonderful authors and illustrators to inspire us.

Julie Wells is the National President of The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA). She completed a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education at the University of Adelaide, before embarking on a teaching career in secondary schools in rural and metropolitan Adelaide. She completed library qualifications and worked in public libraries as a Children’s Literature specialist, and now employed as a teacher librarian in schools. Julie joined The CBCA, South Australian Branch, in 1996 and became the SA Branch President in 2006 and National President in 2010. With three children, now grown up but still enthusiastic readers, and one new grandchild, Julie still has scope for plenty of story sharing.

SHARE WITH: