The very talented Lane Cove author Aura Parker’s book Bowerbird Blues has been chosen as the 2024 National Simultaneous Storytime book.
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).
Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.
Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
How is the Book Chosen?
Each year, interested publishers send in possible titles. The criteria for choosing a book include: a positive storyline; appeal to a modern and diverse audience; suitability for read-aloud (language and length); how well the book lends itself to craft and other activities.
What is Bowerbird Blues?
The picture book is about a beautiful Bowerbird on the search for blue!
The story is about the Bowerbird, who is a collector. Always looking, finding … and keeping! Bowerbird loves blue. Magnificent cobalt. Brilliant, vibrant blue! But something is missing. What could it be?
It’s a moving story of longing and connection that unfolds as the bowerbird’s search sends him soaring across the sea, sky and city. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection, and soon his bower – a mix of natural and unnatural objects – attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined.
In 2016, Aura released her debut title, TWIG. The book was very popular and was nominated for a 2017 CBCA Notable for Early Childhood.
Since then, she has released more magical children’s books – Cocoon, Meerkat Splash, Goodnight Glow Worms, The Silly Seabed Song and now, her second meerkat story, Meerkat Christmas.
The first, ‘Meerkat Splash’ was a CBCA Notable book and won Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2020 for speech and language development – birth to three years. It has super cute meerkats and a fun rhyming story that won’t drive you crazy to read a hundred times, which could happen! Aura illustrates her books with watercolour paint, pen and coloured pencil using both traditional and digital techniques.
Other Books By Aura Parker
Meerkat Christmas
Other Books By Aura Parker
The Silly Seabed Song
The Rock Oysters sing the Silly Seabed Song to help send the sea creatures to sleep, but the crazy words are too much fun, and it just makes them all laugh instead! Little Turtle Hatchling Fred wants to rest his head, but how will he ever get to sleep?
Way down deep, under the sea,
Can you hear it? Can it be?
Jelly flubber! Wobbly gong!
It’s the Silly Seabed Song!
Goodnight Glow Worms
This book is the perfect book for young kids to read with their parents before bedtime. Aura’s playful rhyme and energetic illustrations combine to create the perfect picture book for the very young. Spoiler Alert: it has a lovely ending to send your little ones to sleep.
Goodnight, Glow Worms shining bright,
Time to dim your Glow Worm light
Glow Worms gleaming, beaming round,
Can’t switch off and can’t wind down.
Cocoon
Cocoon is a story about patience and achieving your dreams. It also touches on solitude, independence and the wonder of life cycles. It’s the perfect story for bug lovers. On every page, there are tiny details to discover. Cocoon is about friendship, patience, imagination, teamwork, counting, insects, goals and flying. The story is about Dawn and her best friends. They have a plan to eat as many leaves as they can, weave cocoons and turn them into moths so they can FLY!
Easy peasy, right? But what happens when days go by, and Dawn still doesn’t have her wings? What if she doesn’t grow them at all? Will Dawn ever get to chase the lights with her friends?
Meerkat Splash
ITC asked Aura a few questions about why she loves writing and living in Lane Cove.
Why Did You Decide To Write Children’s Books?
I have always had the writing bug; as a child, I would make up stories and write diaries. These days writing is a bit of an obsession, and the main reason I do it is because I love it! I have a background in illustration and design. Children’s literature is a passion of mine, and the books kind of tie everything together; things I learn from my own children, the patterned nature of the textiles, it is all in there. I love drawing, and with picture books, I get to do both words and pictures! I enjoy my work immensely, and it is exhilarating when I’m working on a story and things start to fall into place.
Did Living in Lane Cove Provide Some Inspiration?
My first book, TWIG, is dedicated to my son Saxon, and I wrote it when he was going through a huge bug-phase and about to start Kindy. I live on the edge of the bush in Lane Cove, and we used to go exploring together, looking for insects. I enjoy walking around our local area, it is stunning, and we are lucky to be surrounded by nature which is a constant inspiration for my writing. I’ll often come back from a walk brimming with ideas or having solved something to do with a story I’m working on.
TWIG has now gone international and is available in Australia, Canada (English and French edition ‘Brindille’), South East Asia (English and audio pack edition), China and South Korea and the USA. This is a huge achievement for a local author.
All books are available from Burns Bay Bookery in Lane Cove.
Aura Parker’s Contact Details
Website: Illustrated.com.au
Facebook: @Aura Parker
Instagram: @AuraParker
Help Support Local and Independent News
You can support us in three ways:
- Become an ITC reader sponsor – Feel free to be a reader sponsor if you have enjoyed our local news coverage – no amount is too small or too big. Thank you so much to the people who have already supported us via our press Patreon account. Help Us Here.
- Buy the ITC team a coffee – our office is nearly every coffee shop in Lane Cove, and we regularly meet locals at coffee shops – buy the ITC team a coffee (or two) here.
- Do you own a Lane Cove Business or a Lane Cove resident who owns a business, you can advertise with ITC – our packages start from $35 monthly fee (for a 12-month commitment). Email us here for our rates card.
