Sally Rippin

While many of us may recall our favourite books from childhood, fewer amongst us can remember how we learned to read, and why we wanted to do so in the first place. Today’s children have a bewildering wealth of titles to choose from, but it can still be a struggle finding a way in to the world of reading. What kind of book can give a child the confidence to develop their word skills and engender a life-long love of reading?

Author Sally Rippin, creator of the hugely popular Billie B Brown and Hey Jack! series of books for early readers, is a guest at this year’s Children’s Book Festival. In this lunchtime lesson, she speaks about writing books that both early and reluctant readers can enjoy and engage with. She also shares precious tips and insights into the often emotion-laden realm of teaching and parenting kids who are taking hesitant steps down the road of literature. (rodneyvc)… (mere)

Author Talk & Book Signing
Sally Rippin & Lucia Masciullo
Our australian girl: meet lina

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin and grew up in South-East Asia. As a young adult she studied traditional Chinese painting for three years in Shanghai and Hangzhou, which inspired her first novel Chenxi and the Foreigner. Sally is the author of many books for children, including the popular Billie B Brown and Hey Jack! series, and the highly acclaimed children's novel Angel Creek. Currently, she lives in Melbourne with her partner and three sons, and writes and illustrates full time.

Lucia Masciullo grew up in Livorno, Tuscany, among smells of saltiness and rosemary. She always loved painting and after graduating in Biology she decided to pursue her dream career as an artist. In 2006 she moved to Brisbane and since then has been happily working as a fine art painter and freelance illustrator. She has recently illustrated Sonya Hartnett's The Boy and Toy. (rodneyvc)… (mere)