Australian Children's Laureate Thank You Event for Jackie French

The illustrious, impassioned, utterly bookish Jackie French is ending her term as Australian Children's Laureate--and what a fabulous two years it's been. Jackie has spoken directly to over 120,000 kids, both locally and internationally, during her tenure, and although, as she says, one can never be sure the impact they have upon anyone, we are absolutely certain her impact on book love and literacy has, and will continue to be, phenomenally deep.

Jackie visited Canberra yesterday at an afternoon celebration and Thank You event. She told us she began her Laureateship because of story. And what a storyteller she is. Jackie had us both laughing and in silent tears with her tales, and humbled by her gratitude as Laureate. She also told us, after meeting a fellow Laureate in Bologna, that her Laureateship will never end--not to her. To whomever the official baton soon is passed, Jackie's impact and deep love for the work she lives by--will never fade. And nor should it.

Jackie also told us that the past two years have changed her. There's no doubt . . . she's not alone. I'm absolutely certain many lives have been changed by her dedication and love of story, too--and this is why a Children's Laureate is so vital.

'Blessed are the book creators and givers, 

because they create the future.' - Jackie French

Please give someone a book this week, if you can. And do consider donating to the Australian Children's Laureate, even if it's a few dollars. The work they have done, and continue to do, truly changes children's lives. There are few gifts more precious than the gift of full literacy, and of course--there's also the power and sheer joy of story.

Thank you, Jackie. Thank you.

Guest Post: Do You Support the Australian Children's Laureate?

Kids' Book Review is delighted to welcome Lindy Batchelor - author, NSW ACLA committee Member and Vice President of Northern Sydney CBCA sub branch - to discuss the ACLA and the role of the Australian Children's Laureate.

The Australian Children’s Literature Alliance [ACLA] was founded in 2008, after wide consultation with a range of people in the Australian children’s book industry. It is a national, independent not for profit organisation and its overall aim is “to enrich the lives of young Australians through the power of reading”.

ACLA is managed by a Board with representatives from all aspects of the children’s and YA book industry – publishers, booksellers, authors, teachers, librarians, illustrators and literacy specialists. Until recently it employed two part time project managers in the head office in Victoria. Noni Hazelhurst is the patron and there is also a network of committees in each state.

Jackie French - Australian Children's Laureate 2014/15

What are the major activities of ACLA?
ACLA aims to be the umbrella organisation for children’s literature in Australia. One of the major activities of ACLA is to appoint and support an Australian Children’s Laureate. The Laureate is a national and international ambassador for reading, an Australian spokesperson for children’s literature.

The Laureate is appointed for two years, based on the longstanding UK model that has seen talented creators such as Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Browne and Julia Donaldson promote children’s books and reading in their own unique ways. The recently appointed UK Laureate Chris Riddell said: “I am humbled to take on this role after the giants that have come before me.” There are also Laureates in the USA, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Holland, Mexico and Wales.

Our inaugural dual Australian Laureates appointed for 2012-13 were Alison Lester and Boori Monty Prior. The current hardworking 2014-15 children’s Laureate, and also Senior Australian of the Year 2015, is Jackie French whose theme for her Laureate term is ‘Reading Changes Lives’. Our next Laureate will be announced in February 2016.

Sing a story! Draw a story! Swap a story! Celebrate a story!

Today Jackie French, Australian Children’s Laureate and Senior Australian of the Year, launches the 2015 Share a Story Calendar. The best-selling author has published over 140 books and in her role as Laureate strives to enrich the lives of young Australians through the power of story and develop a culture of reading.

‘Stories tell us who we are. They teach us empathy so we understand who others are. They give us the power to imagine and create the future.’ – Jackie French

This fun calendar, with a different theme each month, encourages children to share, enjoy and create stories together. Children, parents, avid readers, booksellers, teachers and librarians can interpret each theme in many different ways:

Readings, projects, murals, book swaps, book trailers, snap chats … other ideas can be found on our website, along with monthly newsletters and blog posts from Jackie. The first Share a Story newsletter will be released on Monday 2nd February with the theme ‘Hunt a Story’ to tie in with Library Lovers’ Day on the 14th of February. March’s theme ‘Navigate a Story’ invites children to seek out adventure stories and will follow Jackie’s trip to the 2015 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy where she will participate in the second International Children’s Laureate Summit.

The Share a Story Calendar can be downloaded, along with other free literacy resources, from the Laureate website: http://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/project/share-a-story/

‘There are a million ways to share a story. To read to a child on your lap; to have a child read to you while you cook dinner; to read to the dog; to join a storytelling session at your library.’ – Jackie French

Share your story ideas, favourite authors, paintings, or whatever this project has inspired you to create on our: the Australian Children’s Laureate's Facebook page or on Twitter: @Ozlaureate

Event: Laureates in Conversation and Silent Auction

Click the poster for more