All the news (that’s fit to print)
It was a big weekend for youth literature in the nation’s newspapers.
First, Rosemary Neill in The Australian has this feature, triggered by debate over Requiem for a Beast, Matt Ottley’s CBCA prize wining picture book.
Increasingly, it seems the protective membrane that once delineated adult from young adult subject matter is disappearing.
Then the Sunday Age ran a story, not online unfortunately, about the role graphic novels can play in keeping teenagers reading. The article featured South Australian teacher Meghan Cromie, who will be a guest speaker at CYL’s professional development session early in 2009, when we look at how classrooms can integrate the graphic novel…We tipped off the newspaper, in case you were wondering.
Then Andy Griffiths bobs up in the Sunday Age to talk Just Macbeth, his collaboration with Bell Shakespeare. (In Melbourne until 5 October, then in Sydney).
Reflecting on what children like to read Andy said: “It’s not their job to read my books, it’s my job to interest them.” Hear, hear!
You can hear more from Andy Griffiths at a public forum on children’s literacy and how to improve conditions organised by Deakin University. The event is at St Michael’s Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Tuesday 14 October at 6pm. Talks will be recorded for broadcast later on ABC Radio National’s Life Matters. For further information contact Sue Brown at Deakin, (03) 5227 2006.
