illustrator – Page 9

Meet our newest illustrator!

Posted on July 26, 2009July 27, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

We’re very pleased to introduce you to Annette Flexman, the newest member of our Illustration by Annette Flexman illustration team! Annette joins Greg Mitchell, who has been our sole (and hardworking!) illustrator since issue 1.

We asked Annette to tell us a bit about herself. And here’s what she said:

I discovered I loved drawing in early primary school. I remember drawing lots of farm animals, as we had lots of pets at home, and then moved on to space ships and space creatures as I got older!

I recently discovered watercolour pencils which are just fantastic to work with. I’m very excited about joining the Alphabet Soup team, especially because I get to read all those fantastic stories and poems from the young readers out there!

You can see a sample of Annette’s artwork up at the top of the post there. She’s been very busy with pencils, paper and scissors flying – getting pages ready for issue 4 (out mid-August 2009). Don’t miss it!

You can order copies of issue 4, (or subscribe to Alphabet Soup!) by going to our website www.alphabetsoup.net.au.

illustrator

Book week 2009: Book Safari!

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

The Children’s Book Council of Australia has released a ‘trailer’ for Book week 2009. This year’s Book Week theme is ‘Book Safari’!

authors, illustrator

Illustrator at work

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

We came across this video of Stephen Michael King working in his studio. Watch him at work!

illustrator

How a Book is Made

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

Have you ever wondered:

what happens to a story before you buy it as a book?
who are the people involved in publishing a book?
how long it takes for a book to be published?

You can find the answers to all these questions (and more!) by visiting ‘How a Book is Made‘ on the Penguin website. The step-by-step drawings take you through a book’s journey from author’s desk to bookstore shelves. There’s also a glossary so you can look up words from the world of publishing (like ‘page proofs’ and ‘manuscript’). If you’re hoping to be a published author some day, you might like some insider info!

illustrator

24 May: Kids Day Out

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

KIDS DAY OUT AT ‘THE PLACE’!

Just another quick plug for the new children’s library (aka The Place) at the State Library of WA. The Place will be launched on Sunday 24 May (from 10am until 3pm). Events are FREE! Here are some details:

CELEBRITY STORYTIMES at 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm in the Family Reading Centre

SNEAK PEEK TOUR OF THE LIBRARY (Surprises on every floor – the Library’s smelliest book, Treasures from the past, and more!)

MUSIC SESSIONS ON THE SECOND FLOOR at 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm and 2 pm

DIGITAL STORIES online all day!

TOTEM BOOK SCULPTURE (How many have you read?)

BUTTERFLY STILT WALKER ALL DAY!

ORIGINAL PICTURE BOOK ART

BALLOONS to take home!

Then from 24 May – 19 July 2009: MY FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOK Do you know what Rove’s favourite book is? What about the Prime Minister’s? Take a booklist home!

Refer to the LISWA Website for further updates: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/whats_on/the_place

See you there!

authors, illustrator

Author website: Hazel Edwards

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

book cover

There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake Answering Questions!

There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake (by Hazel Edwards and illustrated by Deborah Niland) celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Do you have a question you’d like to ask the hippo? You can ask away on Hazel’s website! (You can also find out the answers to to questions from other kids, like: What kind of cake is it? and Do you talk?)

The site also has news about Hazel’s latest picture book Flight of the Bumblebee, which comes with a CD of Antonia Kidman reading the story, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s famous music Flight of the Bumblebee.

competitions, illustrator

Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists

Posted on March 26, 2009April 20, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

For budding illustrators living in the Perth metro area (Western Australia), aged 4 – 18, it’s time for the Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists. Artwork will be accepted at the Subiaco Library from 2 to 9th April 2009.

For further details and an entry form, go to the Subiaco Library website.

authors, competitions, illustrator, info

Behind the scenes: January 2009

Posted on January 17, 2009January 17, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

Greg Mitchell has been very busy, and we’re currently adding his illustrations to the upcoming issue of Alphabet Soup. Issue 2 is due in February 2009 and includes an interview with Duncan Ball (author of the Selby books), an article about scuba diver Liz Brodie, book reviews, stories, poems, kids’ writing, a crossword and a kids’ writing competition!

For more information about the magazine (or to find out how to subscribe), see www.alphabetsoup.net.au and stay tuned!

illustrator

What we’re reading: Can You Keep a Secret?

Posted on January 17, 2009October 13, 2009 by Alphabet Soup

In our opinion, children just aren’t exposed to enough traditional rhymes anymore. Sharing them with your children aids memory, and encourages a love of rhythm, rhyme and poetry. It’s also FUN!

Can You Keep a Secret? (Timeless rhymes to share and treasure)

Can You Keep a Secret? is a selection of rhymes from a variety of cultures presented in a gorgeous hardback book. The illustrations, by Jobi Murphy, are appealing, colourful and simple.

The rhymes have been selected by Mark Carthew and are divided into sections: nursery rhymes, playtime rhymes, action rhymes, counting rhymes, finger plays, and lullabies and gentle rhymes.

Highly recommended!