Recently I have been researching the history and function of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBC) with a particular focus on the promotion of children’s literature and reading through Book Week. Why, because I eventually want to publish a couple of books for children! The CBC commenced operating in 1945 and initially its aims were to encourage children to read, as well as directing them to suitable quality and age appropriate literature. Its other main aim was to promote the publication of children’s literature.  The CBC was born out of a group of volunteer enthusiasts who believed the standards of children’s literature needed to be raised, as well as advancing the relevance of Australian books to Australian children. Children’s literature flourished for about 70 years after white settlement, but the effects of World War 2 reduced the production of books because of restrictions in paper and a restriction on imports to Australia[i].

Apart from Book Week, the CBC continues to celebrate and promote Australian children’s literature and its authors and illustrators, and seeks to engage the community with literature for young Australians through a number of different events and promotions. In an effort to raise the profile of Australian children’s literature it aims to form worthwhile partnerships with other key stakeholders of Children’s Literature. It has a National Executive that coordinates the Council’s activities as well as administering the annual Children’s Book of the Year Awards. It holds a ‘Book of the Year Award’, with prize money being made available through an Awards Foundation.  It has merchandise available on-line to support events such as Book Week, and forms partnerships with the literary community through relationships with for example, retailers, literary agents, authors and illustrators.  Its website specifically links to many different areas, and it also has a Foundation, primarily for fund-raising, a Junior Judges Project and a Reading Time Area for on-line participation in literature.

Book Week is also celebrating its 67th year in Australia[ii]. Mary Townes Nyland was the catalyst for bringing together a group of other enthusiasts in Sydney who worked towards participating in and International Children’s Book Week in September 1945[iii]. Promotion of the event continues to take place through the CBC, individual schools and colleges, literary agents and some book retailers. Literary Agents promote it with literature advertising and promoting authors and illustrators who are available for Book Week to visit schools or other venues promoting Book Week to provide ‘Meet the Author’ sessions or workshops. Mostly the school Librarian is behind each school and the focus is engineered from the Library.  Some schools (with not so active Librarians) don’t do anything, whereas others like Westbourne Park Primary or St. Ignatius’ Junior College have a whole week of celebrations.  Their libraries dressed up like a wonderland with the theme that is changed yearly.  Parades and other literary focus is usually based around the current year’s theme. It takes on a life of its own amongst the schools Australia wide, although in the last few years it has had to fight with Science week which was moved into the same period that has always been known as Book Week. For example, Saint Ignatius’ College Junior School at Norwood[iv] runs the event for the whole of Book Week, having a daily ‘Fair’ in the library and holding a parade where every child is encouraged to dress up in the costume representing their favourite book. According to their librarian, it is very successful in engaging the interest of all ages of children in books. My children were very involved in this whole event, dressed up as all sorts of incredibly and funny characters, made out of boxes, sheets, or any number of creative things!

The CBC and Book Week will continue to be highly progressive and functional in the promotion of children’s literature in all areas as they are supported by a very strong group of volunteers in each state of Australia, as well as having numerous major sponsors continued support. Through discussions with librarians, children and literary agents[v], it is evident is a school yard during Book Week that children of all ages are inspired and encouraged to pursue the enjoyment reading. The children in each participating school are encouraged via the classroom to read books for the whole year leading up to Book Week, to choose a colourful or interesting character, and then as part of classroom activities and homework, are active in selecting and making (with the assistance of parents!) appropriate costumes. This leads on to enjoyment and humour, especially as the Parade takes place, and Robinson[vi] claims humour is a valuable tool for children to cope with life and its stresses, and in this age of increased global communication, and the negative effect that can have, as for example in the time of 9/11, it is a positive way for children to approach the future through the enjoyment and reading of books. I have been wondering lately the value and future of ‘real’ books, as the wave of online reading material takes the world by storm. Their goals fit well with what I have learnt from my NaNoWriMo experience, and the Young writers program run through the Office of Letters and Light. Having just sold my first copies of my poetry book last night (which, by the way, was an awesome feeling), I certainly hope schools and authors of books for young people continue to find ways to keep kids engaged in books that sit on book shelves, creating spaces in homes that are full of love and mystery and intrigue.

[i] Smith, J. & Hamilton, M. 1995, Celebrate With Stories: The Children’s Book Council of Australia, Sydney: Margaret Hamilton Books, p. 9[ii] Children’s Book Council of SA                                                                                                                                                                                                 [iii] Smith, J. & Hamilton, M. 1995, p. 10                                                                                                                                                                                    [iv] Saint Ignatius’ College SA                                                                                                                                                                                                             [v] Carole Carroll Literary Agent SA                                                                                                                                                                                              [vi] Robinson, M. 1997, ‘Humour ion children’s literature’, Give them wings: the experience of children’s literature, eds M Saxby & G Winch, MacMillan, South Melbourne, pp. 277-289.