Kids mix with authors at Lit Fest '08

by Urszula Dawkins

April 7, 2007

FORMER WA Premier Carmen Lawrence, and Singaporean children’s writer Shamini Flint, were two of 30 authors who appeared on April 2-4 at a major children’s literary festival in Perth’s southern suburbs.

Hosted by All Saints’ College, Bull Creek, Lit Fest featured authors, illustrators, journalists, artists and storytellers in over 130 sessions attended by an estimated 6000 school students.

All Saints’ own students were joined by school groups from across Perth and as far away as Geraldton, Pinjarra, Bunbury and Leinster, 368 km north of Kalgoorlie.

A highlight was a visit by best-selling picture-book author, Mem Fox, whose most famous work, Possum Magic, has sold over three million copies. Fox’s sessions attracted over 1000 bookings, and her book signings drew long queues of kids.

Shamini Flint, whose books based on her own children are well known in Asia, was also there. She was the first international guest in the festival’s seven-year history.

Flint read from her books and answered questions from a curious audience of five to eight year olds, ranging from “What’s your favourite colour?” to questions about the source of her inspiration. Speaking after the session, Flint said that although literary festivals existed in Singapore, they were usually on a smaller scale, and directed mainly at adults.

“It’s wonderful to come and see how the college can nurture children’s interest in books,” Flint said. “If you don’t teach a child to read, all they’re ever going to know is

What they see on TV and what they experience personally.”

Carmen Lawrence’s appearance especially appealed to older students interested in politics and legal studies. Her presentations and workshops focussed on her recent book Fear and Politics.

Festival Director Kris Williams said Lit Fest provided a chance for kids to touch, see and speak to the people who write the books they read.

 “It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to talk to somebody [like Dr Lawrence] who’s actually lived the things they’re learning,” Mr Williams said.

All Saints’ College students themselves helped introduce sessions, and take care of

guests over the three-day period. This was the second festival for year eight All Saints’ student Sian Lilford-Powys.

“It’s fun and you learn lots about authors and writing,” Sian said.

Her favourite session was Jade Lewis’s talk about her book, Golden Haze, one of several talks addressing youth-based issues such as drug use and cyber-bullying.

“She told us about the experience of drugs when she was young,” Sian said, “and she told us that her friend died from drugs, and how she got kicked out of her house, which caused a lot of trouble.”

Sian likes creative writing and thinks she might like to be a storyteller some day.