Each Year our Patron Max Fatchen creates a poem relating to the Book Week theme.
This year's poem lends itself to being illustrated by some creative artists among our young readers!

Here it is.

Book Safari

Come on our long safari
Come travel, learn and look
And join us in adventure
Our four-wheel is a book.

The lands are far away, yet near.
Be careful with yourselves,
For dinosaurs and tigers
Are lurking on your shelves.

In books you dare to open
Excitement you will find,
While wild imagination
Will gallop through your mind.

Such images presented
Do tell us what you saw
Put there by clever people
Who love to write and draw.

They want you in their country
To say the very least.
Here's one of their surprises
A huge quite friendly beast.

 Or, if you're feeling nervous
You'd better stay at home
And meet a friendly rabbit,
A pudding or a gnome.

Safaris are sensational
With pictures in your brain
But open up another book
And off you go again.

Max Fatchen

On Wednesday June 3rd 2009 interested members gathered at Westbourne Park Primary School to hear our Judge's talk presented by Val van Putten. These are always informative talks and we would have liked a larger gathering but those present were able to gain from Val's experience.

At our CLAYTON'S NIGHT on 23rd March 2009 Dr. Helen Martin spoke about the Picture books and Early Childhood books that she thought were likely winners. For Picture Books she chose Enigma by G. Base, Cat on the island by G. Crew and G. Warden, The Two-Hearted Numbat by A. Kwaymullina and Ezekiel, Home and away by J. Marsden and M. Ottley, Nobody owns the moon by T. Riddle and The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by C. Thompson.

For Early Childhood books she chose the following - Possum and Wattle by B. Bancroft, Little cat and the big red bus by J. Godwin and A. Walker, Leaf  by S. King, Brave little penguin by A. Pignataro, Baby bird's blankie by M. Wild and G. Perkins and finally Puffling by M. Wild and J. Vivas.

Jo Schenkel and Sandra Daldry talked about the Books for Younger Readers that they had read. They chose as probable winners the following books - The Kings of Clonmel  by J Flanagan, Noodle Pie  by R. Starke, Dragon Dawn by C. Wilkinson, The Wizard of Rondo by E. Rodda, Miss McAllister's ghost by E. Fensham and Tracey Binns is trouble by S. Clark

Katharine England spoke about the books that she had read for the Books for Older Readers category. She then highlighted her favourite six which were - My candlelight Novel by J. Horniman, A Rose for the ANZAC boys by J. French, A brief history of Montmaray by M. Cooper, Goodbye Jamie Boyd by E. Fensham, Hunting Elephants by J. Roy and Ironbark by B. Jonsberg.