Amelia Tonta will visit Cootamundra and Temora next week for Book Week. Photo: Supplied.
Children’s book author Amelia Tonta will visit Cootamundra and Temora next Monday as part of Children’s Book Week (16-23 August).
The Canberra-based picture book author, who previously published under the name Amelia McInerney, will tour Riverina regional libraries and local schools to celebrate Book Week with all her books, including her latest one, Lucky.
She described Lucky as a “chaotic romp where one disaster just leads to the next and things just get calamitously wrong”.
Amelia’s new book, Lucky, is a lot of “chaotic fun”. Photo: Supplied.
“But the family is very positive, and they take a glass half full view of it,” she said.
Her book, Nearly Amazing Sea Cucumber, is set to take over the US children’s book market, with the success leading to a sequel.
The children’s book author thinks picture books should be written for adults and children.
“I want to entertain the adult reader as well, so that they read it in a lively way,” she said.
“The child realises that their big person, whether it’s a teacher or parent, is enjoying it too, and then they enjoy the experience.
“And they think, ‘Oh, this is all from this thing called a book.’ And that helps their literacy.”
Writing for two audiences can be challenging, but Ms Tonta views it as part of the fun.
“I guess the answer is to write with layers. Good picture books have layers of meaning, so there’s enough in it to keep a two-year-old entertained.
“But there’s also things in there, either in the text or the illustrations to amuse and entertain an adult.
“That’s the challenge, and that’s the enjoyment. That’s the reason I enjoy it so much.”
The part-time sonographer had a “light bulb” moment over a decade ago when her daughter was born.
“I just went on the internet and read books about creative writing and how to write for kids, fell in love with it, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” she said.
“When my third baby was born, I’d been reading picture books for six years and really enjoyed the experience reading to my kids.
“It’s a lovely bonding experience, and it’s great for their literacy. I started to enjoy and admire the form.
“It’s an audiovisual format, and I was inspired to try creating them myself.”
Book Week has been the “highlight of the year” for the picture book author, and she hopes to continue writing until she “can no longer hold a pen or type”.
“I love doing all the visits, and it’s just great to get around kids, share my books, and get them fired up about reading and writing,” she said.
“In most of my sessions, I incorporate a little creative writing workshop.
“I get the kids to write and then share their work. So, it really shows them that books are written by real people.
“They don’t just turn up on the shelves from nowhere, and I think it makes them tangible and shows them that they could also be authors one day.
“It is about connection with books and storytelling and their community.”
Amelia Tonta will be visiting Cootamundra Library (10:30 am) and Temora Public School (2:15 pm) on 25 August, and Bland Library in West Wyalong on 10 September.
Keep up with her on her website, or through Instagram and Facebook.
