There’s a new page here (top right) called SCHOOL THINGS. It has colouring-in sheets, a word jumble, the sheet of images of “Strange” the cat from The Night Garden, and a rogue’s gallery of some of the pictures I’ve created when visiting schools – as directed by the kids in the class.

They’re free to use but subject to copyright (so do let CAL know you’re using them and ask me if you want to reproduce them in a publication).

I’d love to know what you think and if you have any suggestions. And I’ll be gradually adding more things so keep coming back to check.

Also if your kids have used the material and come up with something special – send it in and we’ll make a gallery of their artwork. Then they’ll be famous!

I just finished chatting to schools in the online festival. It’s wonderful to get to talk to the kids directly like that. I wish it had been longer! One of the cool questions was if I had made Sally a boy, would that have changed the design? Very good question. I’d like to think the style wouldn’t change. Hmm. It’s got me thinking actually. I purposefully pulled the story back from getting too scary because I wanted it to be exciting but not frightening. I don’t think that would have been different if it was a boy. I’m conscious of not having all adventurous stories being about boys which is partly why I chose a female character. Also because the story is the adventure I always wanted to have… so Sally is me, really.

One of the schools said that they were about to make their own books. There’s nothing better and I’ve seen some fantastic books made by students…

In fact…

Just last Wednesday night I went to about sixty launches! I was revisiting my Grade 3 friends at St Michael’s Grammar in St Kilda for the launch of all their own books. I was so impressed. There was a huge sense of occasion, excited parents, very excited young authors, a red carpet video, teasing blurbs, hardcovers and dust-jackets, beautiful endpapers, great stories and illustrations. Brilliant! Some of my favourite titles were “Attack of the Soap” and “The Unexpected Monster”. I am so proud of all their hard work and what they achieved. And of all the hard work of the teachers too! People underestimate what kids can do.

I realise that I didn’t explain anything about the festival It is a huge event. It runs for a full week with programs for primary school kids during the week days and some further sessions for adults on the weekend. The most startling fact about the festival is that it is free for the children. The schools simply have to book in. I would have loved to have a chance to meet and learn from authors and illustrators when I was a kid! And with no fee attached the experience can be shared by all children, not just the privileged schools. Some still find the bus hard to afford, showing just how little money there is to spare in some schools… but it was a fantastic turnout.

And check out this list of presenters! Anita Bell, Janeen Brian, Mark Carthew, Anna Ciddor, Lindsay Cripps, Justin D’Ath, Tony Davis, Brian Falkner, Sandy Fussell, Pat Flynn, Simon French, Matt Dray, Ann Haddon, Simon Higgins, Scott Monk, Josie Montano, Boori Pryor, Frances Watts, Terry “bindi” Denton, Brian Doyle, Elise Hurst, Ann “Iceberg” James, Marc “Spooky” McBride, David Miller, Jan Ormerod, Andrew Plant, Donna Rawlins, Kim Toft, Liz Flynn, Michael Bauer, Lachlan Creagh, Lee FullARTon (PANI), Belinda Jeffrey, Lucia Masciullo, Charlotte McConaghy, Kristina Schulz, Robyn Sheahan-Bright, Leonie Tyle, Michelle Witheyman-Crump.

And here’s my favourite picture of the week… Count Congo.

A motorcross-riding blood-sucking gorilla.