Books to draw on

By BRENDAN CRABB

WARRAWONG Public School celebrated Book Week last week with a very special performance from one of Australia’s most loved children’s authors.

Michael Salmon, who has written and illustrated more than 100 children’s books, visited the school as part of its Book Week activities, and had the students enthralled as he showed them how a book is written and illustrated.

The performance was conducted in a light-hearted, interactive manner and the students roared with laughter when the author invited several children on stage to draw caricatures of them.

Mr Salmon visits hundreds of schools each year, cartooning, talking and motivating children to develop their artistic talents.

His books are enormously popular and frequently appear in children’s choice awards. He was also the creator of Alexander Bunyip, who featured in a long-running ABC television series. His other popular works include The Monster That Ate Canberra and Surfer Joe.

The Warrawong visit was part of an extensive tour of the Illawarra, whereby Mr Salmon visited several schools in the area, performing what he described as “stand-up comedy for kids”.

“I’ve been visiting schools since 1975 and in that time have performed for well over a million and a quarter kids,” he said. “While I’m 59 it helps that I have the mental age of nine.”

The school’s teacher/librarian Maggie Thomas organised for Mr Salmon to visit the school and was delighted with his colourful and energetic display.

The day of Mr Salmon’s visit also involved both students and teachers dressing up as book characters, including witches, fairies and devils.

The students spent the rest of the day participating in activities based on the children’s author’s books and holding a book parade.

Year 6 students Stephanie Felvus and Rebekah Steele said they had both been inspired by Mr Salmon’s visit.

“It was funny and it made me want to start drawing characters at home now,” Stephanie said.