Hope Card from the Writers & Illustrators of Northern California

Thankyou to the talented Kris Aro McLeod for the front cover, design and some of the illustrations.

Tekla White children’s author co ordinated the beautiful HOPE card from Northern California to the Children of Australia and the Victorian Fires with appreciation for the words and illustrations of the Californians -Linda Boyden,Angela Dominguez, Kathie Strother-Scholl, Danna Smith,Zu Vincent, Kris Aro McLeod.       

Books are magic, Carpets that take us to real and, Pretend worlds!  Tekla White

Room to Read with Melina Marchetta, Markus Zusak,Libby Hathorn,Jeni Mawter, Moya Simons, Maggie Hamilton and supporters

Melina Marchetta, Libby Hathorn, Maria Boyd authors supporting Room to Read

Jennie Orchard the head of Room to Read Australia impressed the authors at The Hughenden, with the extraordinary work of Room to Read, bringing literacy to developing nations – from Nepal to India to Vietnam and now Africa.

Room to Read has:-  built over 750 schools; created over 7000 bilingual libraries; donated over 5 million books; 320 local language titles; provided scholarships to over 7000 girls and brought books to over 3 million children.

Pam Cook organiser of Students Helping Students program and ambassador for Room to read author Markus Zusak

The SCBWI Hope Card from Canada East

To the Children of the Victorian Bush fires in Australia from Canada East from the talented authors and illustrators of Canada with love.

SCBWI Canada Cares  with thanks from Australia

The Hope Card from SCBWI Caribbean to the Children of the Victorian Bush Fires

The colour and beauty of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean took my breath away.

These beautiful children send their message to the children of the Victorian Fires -

Holding hands with thoughts to make your hurts feel better

from the children of Trinidad & Tobago.

Joanne Johnson head of SCBWI Caribbean wrote this beautiful poem to reach across the seas to Australian children -   they are not alone.

The illustration and photography by the gifted Carole Anne Ferris captures the power of nature to heal – www.cafemokagallery.com -see more of Carole’s work.

Thankyou to the Caribbean for sharing your creativity and love.

Sharks, Durwin, Sarah Murdoch at Maroubra

Swimming with sharks has new meaning. Durwin is part of a film Sarah Murdoch is making. They ventured into the sea when hammer head sharks suddenly appeared.

Sarah Murdoch and Durwin at Maroubra Beach

See if you can find the fins in the ocean

Good news is that Durwin didn’t go into the waves to pat the shark. Sarah didn’t think it was a great idea.

My JACK loves the ocean since that’s where we live. Maroubra, Bondi, Bronte beaches are our backyard. That’s why the beaches are part of I Am Jack and Super Jack. They’ll be part of my 3rd JACK book which I’m have way through writing.   The sharks are coming in because Sydney waters are so clean – they’re after fish not US.

Room to Read endorses I AM JACK