Cirrus@Austlit

'In the time of coronavirus, there was … cooking, reading, riding and Zooming!

'Our Boroondara Bubble Book was born through online workshops for children organised by Boroondara Library Service during the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-September 2020. The workshops were run by Trace Balla, award-winning author of the comic-picture books Rivertime and Rockhopping. In fact, the whole idea was inspired by a bubble book Trace herself had created and published during the lockdown, called The Heart of the Bubble. Her book showed a family during this strange time discovering the things that really matter.

'Through the screen, Trace inspired children and their families to create their own bubble stories by ‘mixing up’ pictures and words – showing the things that really mattered to them, their daily activities, their feelings and fantasies. Some are intricate narratives; some are captured moments – all collected here for readers, from very young to tween, to dip into. These bubble stories are a time capsule that captures their perspectives in a unique and extraordinary year, 2020. We hope it will inspire other young artists and writers to do the same.

'A partnership project between Boroondara Library Service and Kids’ Own Publishing.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'My mum and dad go to work so I come to kinder every day. They need to look after their patients ‘cause they’re doctors. Lockdown is different at kinder.

'Children’s voices are incredibly important within the City of Boroondara, and it is important to Council that they be heard and amplified – including during the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-September 2020, children who attended kindergarten in Boroondara joined a special online workshop with artist Nikita Hederics, in which they drew their window at home and what they saw through it. The result is a unique view into life in Boroondara during Melbourne’s extended lockdown, through the eyes of children aged 3 to 5 from 8 different kindergartens.

'Through my window was a partnership between Boroondara Library Service and Early Years’ Health and Wellbeing Services.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In 2020... Coronavirus shows up. We had to wear masks and be in isolation, and stay home from kinder. We went on a bear hunt, saw Spoonville and flowers and a rainbow on the footpath, but we missed our friends and teachers. We all live happily ever after! 95 children from three rooms at Mayone-bulluk Kindergarten tell and draw about their Covid experience.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Murray is an ibis who lives at Lake Craigmuir, but when his nest is burned in a fire, he finds himself on an adventure around the world.' (Source: Publisher's website)

'Rainbow River is a book by a unique group of friends who meet once a week to create artwork and make stories together. With the theme of the river and the song Rainbow River by Vashti Bunyan as inspiration, this magical world unfolded and the story captures special moments, songs and events that they have experienced throughout the year.

'This book is an outcome of a community arts program funded by the City of Yarra’s Investing in Communities program. Adults with differing abilities, young children, teachers and artists have joined together to enjoy relationship building in an expressive and creative environment facilitated by artist Avis Gardner.' (Publication summary)

'What can you see in the sea? Sharks, fish, starfish, turtles, whales and squid. What else can you see? Open the book and find out.'

'Children from Ceduna Area School and Koonibba Aboriginal School responded to the question In the sea, what can you see? with drawing, painting, collage and writing.' (Source: Publishers website)

'This is the story of a boy and a river. One day the river became dirty, so the boy decided that he needed to find out why. So he walked and he walked, following the water. As he walked animals and spirits appeared to help him and guide him on his way'. (Source: backcover)

'Come on the bus to meet the kids from Nowa Nowa Kindergarten and all their friends – Borun the pelican, the Rainbow serpent, Kowern the echidna, and Narkahungdha, the Sea – as they drive through Swan Reach, Lakes Entrance, Toorloo Arm, Lake Tyers and Nowa Nowa.' (Source: Publishers website)

'Dala Yooro Boorai is a book by children and parents from Boorai Playgroup and Dala Yooro Kindergarten, Bairnsdale. Dala Yooro – the place for our little children, and our little children are like the red gum trees. They have strong roots to their country and earth, and they grow into big strong trees with branches and family and are a part of the country. The kids from Dala Yooro and Boorai went walking through their community – what did they see? They saw family, culture and community.' (Source: Publishers website)

'We are one of the rightful owners of this land. We have good dances. We take care of each other. We have lots of different languages and we all have connections with each other. I’m proud of the way we express ourselves in dances and songs. The Batja Malnigan journey, the story so far… In 2011 the Batja Malnigan (Brother Boyz) began a journey exploring their Woongi heritage. ' (Source: We Publish website)

'We love to boogie, Jitterbug boogie, and sing and make things, and luah and run and play all day. We love to boogie because we’re JITTERBUGS!

'Children and parents meet at St Lukes Church Cockatoo every week at two playgroups – one on Tuesdays, one on Wednesdays. And yes, they do have their very own bouncy castle!' (Publication summary)

'When it rained in Coober Pedy, something very unusual happened…What will happen to the rock monsters?

'Children from Coober Pedy Area School created alien rock monsters from stones, plasticine and goggly eyes to tell the story of one brave monster who wasn’t afraid to be out in the rain.' (Publication summary)

'In Donkey's Can't Fly on Planes twenty-two refugee children from South Sudan, who now live in Australia, share their personal survival stories. In short, honest texts that are accompanied by mixed-media collage illustrations, the children talk about life in Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and other African countries. They share experiences of starvation and war, of family separation and death, but they also describe African customs and traditions, everyday life and happy memories.'

Source: White Ravens.