This is an art work that was shared with me by an excited teacher and student during one of my Book Week talks 2012. I love book week. It drags me out of my solitude as a writer and takes me to where my stories exist in the big real world. It is a wonderful celebration of reading and where books can take you but it is especially wonderful for creators when we come face to face with the results of our labours. Our labours of love.
This picture is of Potato Music, the artist was a grade two student who fell in love with the story. It was a treat to share the story with her class mates and her teachers and to share with them the beginnings of the story.
This picture is of Potato Music, the artist was a grade two student who fell in love with the story. It was a treat to share the story with her class mates and her teachers and to share with them the beginnings of the story.
This photo, which was taken in 1944 (we think), is one I have been sharing with students during the week. I doubt that when my Opa (Grandfather) took this shot of my Oma and my Tante (Aunt) that it would be shown to over one thousand students in Australian schools for book Week nearly 70 years later. But more importantly, little did he know how important this piano would be, how it would ultimately help to save the lives of his young family and result in a family story now shared across the world in a picture book that touches the hearts of many. Sadly, we farewelled my Opa earlier this year but I had the joy of sharing this book with him on his ninetieth birthday a few years ago. Life turns some amazing circles.
Where do our stories come from, the ones that sit on our shelves, the ones we read to our children, the stories that we carry in our hearts ever after? They come from life. This is what I have the honour of sharing with our young writers in schools across our country, my stories, their stories and how they can teach us, change us and reveal the world to us in the most amazing of ways.
I believe that stories are as important as breathing. They carry us through life, build communities and allow us to grow. They carry our heritage, our mistakes and our successes so that we can guide each other through life in the best way we can.
Don't lose your stories. This last two weeks I have been encouraging kids to speak to their grandparents and families, to discover their stories before they are lost and all we have to fill the gaps are regrets.
What wonderful stories does your family have to share with you? Seek them out before it's too late.
Happy reading, make sure you do.
Christina
Where do our stories come from, the ones that sit on our shelves, the ones we read to our children, the stories that we carry in our hearts ever after? They come from life. This is what I have the honour of sharing with our young writers in schools across our country, my stories, their stories and how they can teach us, change us and reveal the world to us in the most amazing of ways.
I believe that stories are as important as breathing. They carry us through life, build communities and allow us to grow. They carry our heritage, our mistakes and our successes so that we can guide each other through life in the best way we can.
Don't lose your stories. This last two weeks I have been encouraging kids to speak to their grandparents and families, to discover their stories before they are lost and all we have to fill the gaps are regrets.
What wonderful stories does your family have to share with you? Seek them out before it's too late.
Happy reading, make sure you do.
Christina