Cheap and easy DIY Alice in Wonderland costumes for kids

It's Book Week - that week that sends dread into many a non-crafty-parent's heart, and joy for the rest of us. Our school celebrates every second year, and this year the theme was Alice in Wonderland, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the book's publication. My girls were very specific about the their characters - the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit (during the croquet game, which is apparently important to note).

Personalised Brett Curzon kids' book by Hippo Blue

Brett Curzon is a pretty fabulous Australian author and illustrator who has teamed up with Bondville sponsor Hippo Blue to create The Adventures You'll Have - a fun 32-page kids' book about being unique and special, and having the inspiration to Dream Big. Even better - the book is available with either a boy or girl main character and can be personalised with your child's name; and we know how much kids love to see their own name printed! Having your child referenced as the main character puts them front-and-centre in this story of self-belief.

Alphabetical Sydney kids' book

This book is high on my wish list for the kids for Christmas. Alphabetical Sydney was recommended by my friend Amanda who has exquisite taste, and once I delved into the interesting prose and collaged artwork that makes up each page of the book, I was sold. The visual style reminds me of Eric Carle, but with hyper-local content. You only need to read this review by Delia Falconer for the Sydney Morning Herald to know that it's a goodie.

Alphabetical Sydney is a collaboration between architect/illustrator Antonia Pesenti and award-winning playwright Hilary Bell, published by NewSouth Books. An exhibition of prints of the book's original artwork is currently showing at Koskela in Rosebery until 1st December, 2013.

You can find Alphabetical Sydney in good book stores including Amazon and Fishpond. Read more about the book on Antonia and Hilary's tumblr.

Images: Alphabetical Sydney

One Very Tired Wombat children's book by Renee Treml

Renee Treml is both a dear friend of mine and a talented illustrator-turned-author/illustrator. Her first children's book One Very Tired Wombat is a counting book for kids full of her incredible illustrations of Australian animals and... wait for it... is on the 2013 Crichton Award shortlist for new illustrators!

What is the message of your story for kids?

RT: Other than the counting theme, I wanted to show off some of my favourite (and sometimes lesser known) Australian birds. I always hope that after reading my book, a child will recognize a crested pigeon or fairy wren in the wild.

Is the Very Tired Wombat based on a real character?

RT: Wombat is based on a common wombat I saw at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, in 2007 – just a few weeks after I moved to Australia. It was the first time I had ever seen a wombat and all he did was sleep, despite all the noisy children, lorikeets and kookaburras around him. I didn’t realize how impressed I was by his ability to just sleep until the illustrations started popping up in my imagination.

Where did your inspiration for this story come from?

RT: The story came to life after I started illustrating the above mentioned sleeping wombat – first I drew him with one frogmouth, then two galahs, then three kookas and so on. I kept hoping someone else would come along and write me a story featuring the wombat, which I could illustrate.  f course, this didn’t happen, so after my son was born I decided to try to write it myself.  It took well over a year for the story to transform from a straight-up boring counting book (1 frogmouth, 2 galahs…) to the story it is now.

Have you always been interested in illustrating animals, and in particular, Australian animals?

RT: I have always been interested in illustrating animals and I tend to be interested in whatever is in my immediate environment. In the States, it was chickadees and barred owls.  Here in Australia, it’s wombats and frogmouths and boobooks…

How did you decide to make the transition from illustrator to author and illustrator?

RT: Taking on a new title is tough – I didn’t study writing and was very unsure about claiming myself to be an author. But after Wombat was published and the second contract was signed I had to look myself in the mirror and repeat ‘I’m an author-illustrator’ until I believed it.

Are there any more children's books in the works?

RT: Yes! Colour for Curlews is due out in September – in fact it’s at the printers now and I’m anxiously awaiting my preview copy to arrive in a few weeks. Curlews is published by Random House Australia and follows the two curious curlews and a host of other birds as they get into mischief with my paint brushes and paint. (Of course Wombat makes a guest appearance as well.)  I am finishing up two other manuscripts that feature Aussie natives and another pesky one about a cheeky owl that I just can’t seem to whip into shape.

You can find One Very Tired Wombat in good bookstores including Fishpond, and Amazon. Read more about Renee Treml here on Bondville.

Images: One Very Tired Wombat

Lucky Door Prize: Crispin Scales and the Golden Pearl

I adore tales of fairies, gnomes, elves, dragons, princesses, fantasy lands and everything in-between. Crispin Scales is the clumsiest dragon in the Realm, and the star of a brand new book for children 8 to 12 years old by Australian author Ruby Blessing.

Ruby has so kindly offered to give three Bondville monthly newsletter or daily email subscribers a copy of Crispin Scales and the Golden Pearl (the first book in the fantasy series) for the monthly Lucky Door Prize. All you have to do is comment below if you are interested in going onto our giveaway list, and make sure you have subscribed. {And please review the book on Amazon or your preferred online space}.

Look out for the winners in the monthly newsletter, coming your way in the next few days. Thanks Ruby!

Terms and Conditions:
1. Lucky door prize will be allocated to three Bondville monthly newsletter or daily email subscribers that have commented on this post or on the Bondville Facebook page.
2. Entry requirements: comment on this post or the Bondville Facebook page and be an existing or new subscriber to the Bondville monthly newsletter or daily email.
3. This Lucky Door Prize giveaway is open to all Bondville subscribers in Australia or internationally.
5. This Lucky Door Prize giveaway is hosted by Steph Bond-Hutkin via the Bondville blog at blog.stephbond.com.
4. Three prizes consist of (1) x Crispin Scales and the Golden Pearl books, RRP $21.99 each, plus postage within Australia or internationally from Ruby Blessing.
5. Lucky Door Prize winner will be notified in the Bondville monthly newsletter, sent to subscribers the week commencing 7th December 2012.

Images: Crispin Scales and the Golden Pearl

Owl Know How by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles

Thanks to my friends at The Finders Keepers for the heads up - fresh off the press is this fabulous 32-page children's book (and product range) by Aussie collaborators Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles. Owl Know How is illustrated with photos of Cat Rabbit's amazing plush characters in animator Cat and Isobel's built enviroments.

 
Owl Know How started out as an animation project that Cat Rabbit and Isobel worked together on, and an empire was born. It's gorgeous, and I dearly hope there will be more.

In the Owl Know HOw book, prepare to be transported to Cloud Town, where Cornelia Rabbit lives next door to her best friend Orvi, and problems are solved with the help of owls. Lots of owls! The book comes with it's very own owl pattern for you to make your own felt owl (see finished owl top).

Look out also for the Owl Know How shop where you can pick up the book, plush figures, button badges, handkerchiefs, totes, and limited edition packs of all the goodies as well as a signed copy of the book, gocco-printed bookplate and poster.

Read more about Cat Rabbit here on Bondville.

Images: Owl Know How

Australian Artist Spotlight: Meredith Gaston

My friend Renay is one of the most stylish people that I know so when she mentioned some new artwork that she had just had framed for her daughters, I raced over to her car to check it out. There peeking out behind bubble wrap were the gorgeous wide-eyed characters of Sydney/Berlin-based artist Meredith Gaston.

Meredith creates paintings, watercolours and illustrations where rosy-cheeked nymphettes play with swans and love birds amongst a patchwork of colourful dreamworlds. Her artworks are brilliant for little ones with their active imaginations (and big ones too). The hardest part will be choosing just one (I'm sure I couldn't).

Oh - and Meredith has also published a beautifully illustrated book Tucked In: For Everyone Having a Doona Day which aims to help us "discover that our tucked-in time can be as creative as it is restorative, enriching our days and bringing joy to our lives". Sounds lovely to a snoozer like me.

You can find Meredith Gaston artwork on the website (contact Meredith directly) as well as galleries around Australia. Find more amazing Australian artists in the Australian Artist Spotlight category here on Bondville.

Images: Meredith Gaston