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Eric
Carle
Author
& Illustrator |
EC |
 Brian
Caswell |
EC, MC, EA,
LA |
| Ken
Catran |
EA, LA, ADULT |
| Aidan
Chambers |
EA, LA, ADULT |
Anna
Ciddor
Author & Illustrator |
MC, EA, ADULT |
|
Margaret
Clark |
MC, EA
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Sherryl
Clark |
EC, MC,
EA |
| Judith
Clarke |
EA, LA, ADULT |
|
Eoin
Colfer |
EC, MC,
EA |
|
Paul
Collins |
MC,
EA, LA,
ADULT |
|
Bill
Condon |
MC,
EA, LA |
|
Meredith
Costain |
MC, EA
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Susan
Cooper |
EC, MC,
EA, LA, ADULT |
| Robert
Cormier |
EA, LA |
| Tania
Cox |
EC |
|
Sharon
Creech |
MC, EA,
ADULT |
| Gary
Crew |
MC, EA,
LA |
| Cath
Crowley |
EA |
| Phil
Cummings |
EC, MC,
EA |
Neil
Curtis
Illustrator
|
n.a |
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indicates Australian authors/illustrators
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| indicates Western Australian authors/illustrators |
indicates readership
levels for author's fiction works:
- EC Early Childhood = Kindergarten -
Yr 3
- MC Middle Childhood = Yrs 3 - 7
- EA Early Adolescence = Yrs 7 - 10
- YA Late Adolescence/Young Adulthood
= Yrs 10 - 12
- ADULT
NOTE: No levels are assigned to illustrators.
Illustrations can be appreciated at all levels. |
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Eric Carle, author
of the immensely popular The Very Hungry
Caterpillar and other well-known picture
books, was born in 1929, in Syracuse, New
York, USA. As a child he moved to Germany,
where he was educated, but returned to America
in 1952.
For more details about his life and work,
visit the official Eric Carle website listed
above. It is clear, colourful and with teacher
assistance is suitable for younger students
who are capable readers. It contains information
about Eric Carle, a list of his books, a bulletin
board, answers to frequently asked questions,
some reviews of his work, upcoming events
(world-wide) and new publications.
For secondary students
and teachers interested in Carle's artwork The
Art of Eric Carle is
a valuable and accessible reference book.
(A selection)
- Brown Bear, Brown
Bear, What Do You See?,
1967
- The
Very Hungry Caterpillar,
1969
- The Mixed-up
Chameleon, 1975
- The
Very Busy Spider,
1984
- A House
for Hermit Crab, 1987
- The Very
Quiet Cricket, 1990
- Polar Bear,
Polar Bear, What Do you Hear?,
1991
- The Very
Lonely Firefly, 1995
- Little
Cloud, 1996
- Hello,
Red Fox, 1998
- Slowly,
Slowly, Slowly Said the Sloth,
2002
- Mister
Seahorse, 2004
- 10
Little Rubber Ducks, 2005
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Brian
Caswell was born in Wales and emigrated to
Australia when he was twelve. He has been
a singer and songwriter and taught in secondary
schools before becoming a full-time writer.
He is known for the innovative plot structure
and narrative technique of his books and for
writing about outsiders. His time teaching
adolescents and later talking to them during
author visits, encouraged Brian to reconsider
the narrative style of his writing. As noted
on the Penguin website:
Listening to them (students) helped him
to develop his theory that narrative structure
needed to change in order to appeal to teenagers
brought up in the current visually orientated
world. He quite consciously set about changing
his narrative style. ... he is still experimenting.
(A Selection)
- Merryll
of the Stones, 1989.
CBCA Book of the Year: Older
Readers, 1990 Honour Book.
- A
Cage of Butterflies, 1992.
CBCA Children's Book Award: Older
Readers Shortlist.
- Mike,
1993. Australian Multicultural
Children's Literature Award, 1994
Shortlist.
- Dreamslip,
1994. CBCA
Notable Book.
- Lisdalia,
1994. Australian
Multicultural Children's Literature
Award, 1995
- Maddie,
1995. CBCA
Notable Book
- Deucalion,
1995.
Joint Winner Aurealis Award for
Science Fiction: YA Category, 1995;
Children's Peace Award.
- Asturias,
1996. CBCA
Notable Book
- Only
the Heart, 1997.
Brian Caswell and David Phu An Chiem.
Children's Peace Literature Award
1998 Shortlist.
- The
View from Ararat, 1998.
CBCA Notable
Book
- The
Full Story, 2002.
Brian Caswell
and David Phu An Chiem.
- Double
Exposure,
2005. NSW Premier's Literary Awards:
Ethel Turner Prize for Young People
at Secondary School Level, 2003
Shortlist; CBCA Book of the Year:
Older Readers 2006 Shortlist.
- Loop, 2006
Notable Book, CBCA Book of the Year:
Older Readers, 2007
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- Relax
Max, 1997
- Tee
Dee and theCollectors: Or How It
All Began, 1996
(Alien Zones; 1) CBCA
Notable Book
- Messengers
of the Great Orff, 1998.
(Alien Zones;
2)
- Gladiators
in the Holo-Colosseum, 1998.
(Alien Zones;
3)
- Gargantua,
1998. (Alien
Zones; 4)
- What were
the Gremholzs' Dimensions Again?
1998 (Alien
Zones; 5)
- Whispers
from the Shibboleth, 1998.
(Alien Zones;
6)
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Spotlight
on Brian Caswell
Article from Fiction Focus Vol. 19 No.
3 2006, p. 7-10, available in printable
PDF format.
Biographical information
and selected book list.
Author Profile and book
list. The University of Queensland Press site
also has Teacher's Notes for some Caswell
titles.
'Interview with Brian Caswell
about his novel, Only the Heart written
with David Phu An Chiem' on the NSW DET site
in the School Libraries teaching ideas section.
Biographical information
and list of Brian’s papers housed in
the Lu Rees Archives of Australian Children's
Literature.
Student reviews of Cage
of Butterflies, Austurias, Dreamslip, Maddie,
Merryll of the Stones, Only the Heart, The
Full Story, Double Exposure.
 CASWELL,
Brian. 'Making the Connection: Writing
for the Post Speilberg Generation',
in The Written World
: Youth and Literature. Edited by Agnes
Nieuwenhuizen. Port Melbourne : Thorpe, 1994.
p 273-284
'Brian
Caswell' in MATTHEWS, Stephen. The Eye
of the Soul:Interviews With Seventeen of the
Younger Generation of Australians Writing
for Children and Young Adults. Grange,
Qld. : Magpies, 1998. p. 39-54
ISBN 1 875249 02 8
'Brian
Caswell: Cartographer of the Future' in Nimon,
Maureen & Foster, John. The Adolescent
Novel: Australian Perspectives. Wagga
Wagga, N.S.W. : Centre for Information Studies,
Charles Sturt University, 1997. p. 127-133
ISBN 0 949060 41 0
COLLINS,
Paul. Meet Australia's Authors and Illustrators.
Book 1 A-C. South Yarra, Vic : Macmillan
Education Australlia, 2002. (Book People)
p. 33-34.
ISBN 0 7329
6754 6
Includes and
author interview.
WATSON, Victor. The
Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English.
Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2001.
p. 130
ISBN 0 521 55064 5 |
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New
Zealander, Ken Catran is a television scriptwriter
and an author for young adults and pre-teens,
who is popular and applauded both in his homeland
and Australia. He has written science fiction,
crime, historical fiction and humour as well
as stories based on mythology.
(A Selection)
- Deepwater Black,
1993. NZ Post Children's Book Awards
Shortlist, Senior Fiction Category
- Dream-Bite,
1995. NZ
Post Children's Book Awards Shortlist,
Senior Fiction Category
- Taken
at the Flood, 2001
- Voyage
With Jason, 2000.
Winner Book of
the Year & NZ Post Children's
Book Awards Senior Fiction Category.
- Talking
to Blue, 2000. NZ
Post Children's Book Awards Shortlist,
Senior Fiction Category
- Blue
Murder, 2002
- Tomorrow
the Dark, 2002. NZ
Post Children's Book Awards Shortlist,
Senior Fiction Category
- Letters
from the Coffin Trenches, 2003.
2003 LIANZA Esther Glen Medal
shortlist. NZ Post Children's Book
Awards Shortlist, Senior Fiction
Category
- Jacko
Moran: Sniper, 2003.
Esther Glen Award for a distinguished
contribution to literature, LIANZA
Children's Book Awards 2004.
- Bloody
Liggie, 2003
- Robert
Moran: Private, 2004.
- Protus
Rising, 2004
- Jimmy
Moran, Regular, 2005
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Interview with Ken Catran,
which provides answers to questions commonly
asked by children.
Information about Catran's
books.
Brief biography, booklist
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Winner of the Carnegie
Medal 1999, Hans Christian Andersen Award
2002 and Michael Printz Award 2003, Aidan
Chambers is a highly acclaimed British novelist,
dramatist, critic, editor and publisher, whose
work for children and adults is published
in numerous languages.
Aidan 's writing began to be published when
he was 30. In the 1960's Aidan wrote plays
about adolescence for the students he taught.
Breaktime, his first novel was published
in 1978 .
Aidan's official website contains a detailed
biography, news, information about his writing
and awards. Of particular interest to teachers
and senior students is the suggested reading
for young adults in the Personal Column
section under the title Ten Books Every
Eighteen Year Old Should Read, also the
Readers Write, section, which
includes samples of students' work on Aidan
Chambers.
- Seal Secret,
1980
- The Present Takers,
1983
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- Booktalk, 1985
- The Reading Environment,
1991
- Tell Me: Children,
Reading and Talk, 1993
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Anna Ciddor, author
and illustrator of nonfiction and fiction
has always been interested in how people
lived in the past. Runestone and
Wolfspell are
her first fiction titles. They are part of
the Viking Magic series, which combine
adventure and fantasy in a historically accurate
Viking world. Runestone is
a 2003 CBCA Notable Book and has been shortlisted
in numerous Children's Choice Awards across
Australia. Find out more about Anna and her
books from her official websites above and
the links below.
- Runestone,
2002 (Viking Magic 1)
2003 CBCA Notable Book
- Wolfspell,
2003 (Viking
Magic 2)
- Storm
Riders, 2004 (Viking
Magic 3)
- Prisoner
of Quentaris, 2006
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Anna's Viking
Magic website,
aimed at young readers, to support her fantasy/adventure
books Runestone and Wolfspell
will entertain and inform students about
Viking times and the process of book creation.
Students will enjoy finding out about runes,
writing secret messages and solving puzzles.
They can find out more about the characters,
Vikings, Norway, the writing of the novels
and the process of designing the covers
and preparing the illustrations. As well
they can read excerpts from the books and
link to the author profile on the Allen
and Unwin site.
Brief information about
Anna, mainly concentrating on her value as
a school speaker. |
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Margaret Clark is a popular
Australian author for children and young teenagers.
Her website contains a wealth of information
about this prolific writer including a biography,
photograph, list of her books, news, FAQs,
and contact.
Margaret Clark also writes under the name
Lee Stryker.
(A selection)
- Ghost on Toast
- Living with Leanne
- Fat Chance
- Hot or What
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- Care Factor Zero
- Love on the Net
- On Ya Sonya
- Calvin the Clutterbuster
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(A selection)
- Evil at Camp Star
- Revenge of the
Vampire Librarian
- Humans For Breakfast
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- Teacher Torture
- Curse of the
Mummy
- Deadly Friends
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(A selection)
- Weird Warren
- Wally the Whiz
Kid
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NOTE: Reviews
of a selection of Margaret Clark's books
can be
found on the CMIS
Resource Bank. |
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Sherryl Clark is a children's
and young adult author. She also writes poetry
for adults and has recently begun writing
poetry for children. Students will best recognise
Sherryl for her popular books in the Aussie
Nibbles, Bites and Chomps series.
Her website contains a biography, information
about her books, answers to questions kids
ask and very useful writing activities to
get young writers started. Older students
who aspire to be published should refer to
the Make Your Own Books section.
(A
selection)
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Australian
author Judith Clarke writes novels and short
stories for teenagers and has also written
poetry and short stories for adults. Her work
has won critical acclaim both in Australia
and overseas, especially in the USA.
Judith was born and educated in Sydney and
has worked as a teacher and librarian. She
now lives in Melbourne.
(A
selection)
- The Boy on the
Lake - Stories of the Supernatural,
1989
- Panic Stations,
1995
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(A
Selection)
- The Heroic Life
of Al Capsella, 1988
- Al Capsella and
the Watchdogs, 1990
- Al Capsella on
Holidays, 1992
- Friend of My Heart,
1994 CBCA Book of the Year: Older
Readers 1995 Shortlist
- Big Night Out,
1995 (novella)
- The Lost Day,
1997
- Starry
Nights, 2001
- Nighttrain,
1998 CBCA Book of
the Year: Older Readers 1999, Honour
Book
- Wolf
on the Fold, 2000
(Linked stories)
- Kalpana's
Dream, 2004
Honour Book Boston Globe-Horn Book
Award 2005; CBCA Notable: Younger
Readers 2005
- One
Whole and Perfect Day,
2006
Shortlist: CBCA Book of the Year:
Older Readers, 2007
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COLLINS,
Paul. Meet Australia's Authors and Illustrators.
Book 1 A-C. South Yarra, Vic : Macmillan
Education Australlia, 2002. (Book
People) p. 38.
WATSON,
Victor. The Cambridge Guide to Children's
Books in English. Cambridge : Cambridge
University Press, 2001. p. 155
ISBN 0 521 55064 5
SCIS No: 1068751
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Information about Kalpana's
Deam, Starry Nights and Wolf on the
Fold plus awards and short biography of
the author available on the Allen & Unwin
site. Click on each title.
Short biographical details
about Judith Clarke, list of books and awards,
plus email Judith Clarke available on the
Front Street Books, a publisher of books for
children and young adults. |
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Irish author Eoin Colfer
is best known in Australia for his Artemis
Fowl Books. Before becoming a full-time
writer Eoin was a primary school teacher.
He wrote his first books while teaching. Eoin's
website provides answers to frequently asked
questions, includes biographical information
supported by photographs and details about
his books.
(Early Childhood) (A selection)
- Going Potty,
1999
- Ed's Funny Feet,
2000
- Ed's Bed,
2001
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(A selection) |
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Paul Collins has had
a varied career as a writer, publisher and
editor of novels, anthologies, short stories,
magazines and nonfiction for both adults and
children. His main focus is science fiction
and fantasy but he has recently published
a seven volume set of books about Australian
children's authors and illustrators.
Paul was born in England, grew up in New Zealand
and moved to Australia in 1972. From the mid
1970s Paul wrote for adults. He became interested
in writing for young adults and children in
the early 1990s. For a detailed biography,
booklist, awards and interviews go to Paul's
homesite above.
(A selection)
- Wizard's Torment
- Wizard's
Trouble
- The Great
Ferret Race
- The Dog
King
- Out of
this World
- The
Wish Bug, 2004 [Start-ups]
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(A selection) |
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Bill Condon is the author
of more than fifty books for children and
adults, including plays, poetry, short stories,
novels and non-fiction. Before taking up full
time writing for children he worked in a variety
of jobs from greyhound training to journalism.
He lives in NSW with his wife Dianne
Bates who is also a
popular children's author. Unlike
his novels for teenagers most of Bill's books
for children are humorous.
(A selection)
- Chunderella,
illustrated by Terry Denton
- Jack and
the Magic Baked Beans, illustrated
by Terry Denton
- A Waste
of Space
- Poor Jason
- Bonkers
Conquers
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- Dogs,
2000
Honour Book CBCA
Book of the Year: Older Readers,
2001
- No
Worries, 2005
CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers
2006 Honour Book
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For a complete
list of Bill Condon's books, a biography,
photograph, samples of his writing and
email contact go to his website above.
Brief author information
and information about his books.
COLLINS,
Paul. Meet Australia's Authors and Illustrators.
Book 1 A-C. South Yarra, Vic : Macmillan
Education Australlia, 2002. (Book
People) p. 40-41. [Includes
an interview]
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Meredith grew up in
rural Victoria and even as a child her main
interest was reading and writing stories and
poems. After graduating from university Meredith
taught English but now is a full-time writer
and a magazine editor. She writes fiction
and nonfiction for children and younger teenagers
and books for teachers.
Meredith's website above contains an interesting
author profile, a list of her books, information
about writing workshops and an email contact.
(A selection)
- My Brother the
Spy, 1997 (Supa Doopers)
- The Mummy's
Curse, 1998 (Supa Doopers)
- Spaced
Out, with Paul Collins, 1997
(Crackers)
- Musical
Harriet, illustrated by Craig
Smith, 1995 CBCA Notable
Book 1996
- Freeing
Billy, 2000 (Aussie Nibbles)
- The Sandpit
War, 2002 (Aussie Nibbles)
- Doodledum Dancing [poetry], illustrated
by Pamela Allen. Honour Book CBCA
Book of the Year : Younger Readers,
2007
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(A selection)
- Heartbreak High
series
- The Nannies
series
- Dolly Fiction
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This informative website
devoted to Susan Cooper has been developed
and maintained by Mark Scott, a fan and longtime
friend of Susan. Susan Cooper is a renowned
writer of fantasy, best known for her The
Dark is Rising series.
Site contents include:
- Biography - detailed
- Meet Susan Cooper - written
by Susan Cooper
- The Dark Is Rising Series
- summaries and critiques
- Other Books - summaries,
reviews and Susan's own thoughts about
these books
- Picture Books - summaries,
reviews, book covers and sample illustrations
- Plays & Films - summaries,
reviews, awards
- Book List & Characters
- Your Comments, Reviews
& Views - many by teachers, students
and parents
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Susan Cooper's Wales -
descriptions, photographs and links to
the settings in Cooper's books
- Email the Author
Students, teachers and
librarians looking for useful information
about Susan Cooper will find this an invaluable
reference.
NOTE: Reviews of
a selection of Susan Cooper's books
can be found in the CMIS
Resource Bank. |
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Award-winning American
author Robert Cormier is renown for his realistic,
generally chilling young adult novels.
The above is a comprehensive author spotlight
on Cormier and his work. It includes a biography,
information about his books, excerpts and teacher's
guides.
(A selection) |
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Tania
Cox is a teacher and author who lives in Queensland.
She has written several popular picture books,
some of which have been published in the USA.
Her stories are perfect to read-aloud to a
very young audience. They feature alliteration
and repetition in the minimal, cumulative
texts and engaging story-lines that encourage
young children to join in the reading.
(A selection)
- Snap!
Went Chester,
2003. Illustrated by David
Miller. CBCA Early Childhood Book
of the Year 2003, Shortlist.
- Scary
Bear, 2003.
Illustrated by Danny Snell
- Wolf's
Sunday Dinner,
2003. Illustrated by Greg Holfeld
- Baby, 2000.
Illustrated by Ann James.
- Little Bat,
1999. Illustrated by Andrew McLean
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Children's Book Council
of Australia. Short List Information Book
2004. Compiled
by Hilary Cohen. p. 20 |
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Sharon Creech was
born in South Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
She grew up with three brothers and a sister.
She spent 18 years teaching English and writing
in England and Switzerland. Sharon started
writing novels for adults before she tried
her hand at writing for young people. Most
of her inspiration for her children's novels
comes from her own childhood. Sharon lives
in the USA with her husband, a school headmaster.
They have two grown children.
Sharon Creech's website is colourful and inviting
with a photograph of the author, family home,
pets and book covers. It is useful for both
teachers and students. Students can access
information on all the titles Sharon has published
as well as books she is currently working
on or are soon to be released. The menus on
the top of the pages allow access to biographical
information, information on picture books,
novels, new titles, teachers guides for all
her titles and reading group guides to two
titles. Students can read summaries of her
books, find out where the inspiration for
her stories came from, read anecdotes from
the author and interesting quotes as well
as one or two chapters of each book. Links
to websites with additional information on
Sharon Creech are can be found on the Teach
Creech page of the site.
- A Fine, Fine School
- Fishing
in the Air
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Gary Crew author of
novels, short stories and picture books for
older children and young adults began his
writing career in 1985, when he was a high
school teacher. His books are challenging
and intriguing, often based on non-fiction.
As well as writing fiction, Gary is a lecturer
in Creative Writing, Children's and Adult
Literature, at the University of the Sunshine
Coast, Queensland and editor of the After
Dark series.
Explore Jenny Stubbs' excellent site above
for interesting details about Gary Crew's
life, his writing process and style. Teachers
will also find useful ideas for writing activities
based on Crew's books to try with their students.
(A selection)
- The Inner Circle,
1985
- Strange
Objects,
1991 CBCA Book of the Year,
Older Readers; Alan Marshall Prize
for Children's Literature; NSW Premier's
Award; Shortlisted for Edgar Alan
Poe Mystery Fiction Award (USA)
- Angel's
Gate, 1994 CBCA Book
of the Year, Older Readers, Shortlisted
for Edgar Alan Poe Mystery Fiction
Award (USA)
- The
Blue Feather, 1997
- Mama's
Babies, 1998
- Edward
Brittan, 2000
- The
Diviner's Son, 2002.
CBCA Notable
Book 2003
- Quest [Sam
Silverthorne series]
- The Lace Maker's
Daughter, 2005
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(A
selection)
- Lucy's Bay,
illustrated by Gregory Rogers, 1992
- First Light,
illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe,
1993 Winner, CBCA Picture
Book of the Year 1994
- The Watertower,
illustrated Steven Woolman, 1994
Winner, CBCA Picture Book of
the Year 1995, Bilby Children's
Choice Award
- Caleb,
illustrated by Steven Woolman, 1996
- The
Viewer, illustrated
by Shaun Tan, 1997.
- Memorial,
illustrated by Shaun Tan, 2000
Honour Book, CBCA Picture
Book of the Year 2001
- Old
Ridley, illustrated
by Marc McBride, 2002
- Quetta,
illustrated by Bruce Whatley, 2002
- I
Saw Nothing: the Extinction of the
Thylacine , illustrated
by Mark Wilson, 2003 (Also:
I Did Nothing;
I Said Nothing)
- The
Mystery of Eilean Mor, Illustrated
by Gary Geddes, 2005
CBCA Notable
Picture Book 2006
- The
Lantern, illustrated
by Bruce Whatley, 2005
- Automaton, 2006
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Cath
Crowley is a rising Australian author for
teenagers. She lives in Melbourne, where she
works as a freelance writer and part-time
teacher. Her debut novel, The
Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain was
published in 2004.
Biography, photograph,
10 things you couldn't know about me,
links to teacher's notes and interviews
Author Interview
about writing Chasing Charlie Duskin,
available in pdf.
Author Interview
about writing , The Life and Times
of Gracie Faltrain available in
pdf.
Student reviews on
YARA of Chasing Charlie Duskin, The
Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain and
Gracie Faltrain Takes Control.
Search under Australian
titles. |
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South Australian author
Phil Cummings started writing children's books
after discovering children's literature when
he attended teacher's college. It took six
years before his first book was published
but now he has many titles to his name ranging
from picture books and short books for early
readers to novels for young adolescents, many
of which are available in the United States,
Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
For a biography, a complete list of Phil's
books and information about what's new browse
his attractive site above, useful for both
students and teachers.
(A
selection)
- Goodness Gracious!,
1989, illustrated by Craig
Smith
- Marty and
Mei-Ling, 1995, illustrated
by Ritva Youtila
- Basketball
Ben, 1996 (Crackers)
- Angel,
1997
- A Piece
of Mind, 1999
- Spike,
2001 (Solo)
- The Rented
House, 2001
- On the
Run, 2001
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- Breakaway,
2000 CBCA
Notable Book, 2001
- Tearaway,
2002
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The Adelaide City Library
site below also contains useful information
about this popular author: |
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Neil
Curtis is a freelance illustrator who lives
in Melbourne, Victoria. He won the Australian
Writers and Art Directors Silver Award for
Illustration and his work has been exhibited
both in Australia and internationally.
Sadly, Neil died on December
11, 2006 from cancer. He was 56.
Children's Book Council
of Australia. Short List Information Book
2004. Compiled
by Hilary Cohen. p. 30 |
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