Write Out West - Kids Programs
Children’s Author Event: Lee Constable
Who: 5-12 year olds and their adult carer
When: Wednesday 27 November | 3-5pm
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Bookings are not required.
Calling all junior eco superheroes! Join author of How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet Lee Constable, for an afternoon of science, sustainability and a whole tonne of blinkin’ fun.
From 3pm, Penrith City Council’s Waste and Resource Recovery team invite you to ignite your inner ‘Litter-Leonardo da Vinci’, ‘Salvager Dali’, and ‘Reuse Rembrandt’ by contributing to a collaborative artwork made from post-consumer waste items.
This project encourages people to think about the everyday items we consume, and the waste generated by consumer behaviour and to consider possible alternatives to sending these items to landfill. Collected materials from the office and home, including bottlecaps, fabric offcuts, old textiles, bicycle wheels, outdated flyers and other miscellaneous items are used in the project, meaning the project does not use any new materials.
From 4pm, Lee Constable, science and sustainability presenter and edu-tainer will tell us How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet. Lee is a science and sustainability presenter and edu-tainer. She is best known for hosting Network 10 kids’ science TV show Scope. Her TV appearances also include Studio 10, ABC News Breakfast and War on Waste (Season Three). Lee is the author of How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet: A Garbological Adventure and How to Save the Whole Blinkin' Planet: A Renewable Energy Adventure. Growing up on her family’s sheep farm in rural New South Wales during severe drought inspired Lee to pursue her interest in science, climate and the environment in a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science (Honours). While studying a Master of Science Communication she toured remote and regional Australia in the Questacon Science Circus, hosted a radio show on 2XXFM and SYN Nation, and founded Co-Lab: Science Meets Street Art. Lee’s other adventures included guiding night-time spotlight tours of the National Botanic Gardens, giving tours of a landfill and recycling sorting facility and commentating robot battles.
Book sales and signing will be available on the day.
Story Time Event with Cheryl Orsini
Who: 3-8 year olds and their adult carer
When: Thursday 28 November | 10.30-11.30am
Where: The Joan Theatre, Allan Mullins Studio
Tickets: $10 per person. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://www.thejoan.com.au/events/story-time-with-cheryl-orsini-kids-families
Come along for a special story time with bestselling picture book illustrator, Cheryl Orsini. Share beautiful stories and get an up-close look at how picture book illustrations come to life.
Cheryl Orsini is a much-loved, bestselling picture book illustrator, author, designer and communicator. With over 20 years experience working with publishers, designers, festivals and broadcasters, Cheryl has illustrated over 70 books. Part of Cheryl's work involves speaking to schools and encouraging literacy and a creative life in the visual arts. Her work appears on TV in Gardening Australia Junior, in magazines, murals, was featured in the Sydney Writers’ Festival program, the Children’s Festival of Moving Stories and was splashed all over Russ the Story Bus – honk if you love books!
Book sales and signings will be available on the day.
Children's Author Talk: Jacqueline Harvey
Who: All ages
When: Saturday 30 November | 10.30-11.30am
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: $5 per person. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://penjacquelineharvey.eventbrite.com.au
Jacqueline Harvey worked in schools for many years but has had a passion for storytelling since she was a child. She is the author of the popular Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, Kensy and Max and the Willa and Woof series, which have sold almost two million copies in Australia alone. In 2022, she released a picture book, That Cat, illustrated by one of her former students, Kate Isobel Scott. Jacqueline's books have received numerous shortlistings and awards while her picture book, The Sound of the Sea, was a CBCA Honour Book.
Jacqueline lives between Sydney, Australia, and Queenstown, New Zealand, and is currently working on more Willa and Woof adventures, several picture book projects and an exciting new middle-grade story.
Books sales and signing will be available on the day.
Children’s Author Talk: Debra Tidball
Who: Children aged 3-8 years
When: Saturday 30 November | 4-5pm
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: $5 per child. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://pendebratidball.eventbrite.com.au
Debra Tidball grew up in Penrith and studied social work and then children's literature and became an award-winning author of picture books, poems and plays for children. She is a self-confessed night owl, and like Little Dragon, the character in her latest book, Debra sometimes finds it hard to go to bed.
Book sales and signing will be available on the day.
Trinket the Robot
Who: 3-8 year olds and their adult carers
When: Sunday 1 December | 10-10.45am
Where: The Joan Theatre, Allan Mullins Studio
Tickets: $10 per person. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://www.thejoan.com.au/events/trinket-the-robot-kids-puppet-show-workshop
Trinket the Robot is an enthralling tale about a little robot who longs to become “real” – but is he ready for what it means to be alive? An inventor, Dr Doovalacky, sets out to build a robot with the help of his assistant, a green caterpillar named Gizmo. But this robot will be no ordinary robot. Trinket will be able to have feelings like a “real human,” and the audience needs to help him learn about the world. Trinket learns that to become human is not only to feel wonder and joy, but also to feel anger, fear and the sadness of having to say goodbye to someone when you don’t want to.
Puppetry of Paper Workshop
Who: 3-8 year olds
When: Sunday 1 December | 11.15am-12.15pm
Where: The Joan Theatre
Tickets: $10 per child. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://www.thejoan.com.au/events/trinket-the-robot-kids-puppet-show-workshop
How many things can you do with a piece of paper? This workshop is based on Bunraku-style puppetry, a traditional Japanese form of theatre which involves multiple puppeteers working closely together to operate one puppet. Workshop participants will start by making a unique puppet out of paper. They will then learn techniques for bringing their puppet to life, either as individuals or as a team. Each group will work on short performances which are presented to the group. Participants will leave the workshop with a range of performance skills, which can be applied to any kind of puppetry.
Little Wing Puppets have facilitated workshops with thousands of young people in every state and territory of Australia, as well as overseas. They believe that young people deserve access to the arts, wherever they live. They’re passionate about passing on their skills so that children can learn to create their own worlds through puppetry.
Dungeons and Dragons
Who: Ages 13+
When: Wednesday 27 November | 4-6pm
Where: Narellan Library, 19 Queen Street, Narellan
Tickets: Free. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://camden-events.bookable.net.au/#!/?eventCategoryId=5
Welcome to a fresh perspective on Dungeons & Dragons, the cornerstone of storytelling in tabletop gaming. In this immersive experience, you will unleash your creativity by designing captivating characters and formidable monsters, learning the intricacies of character development, including backstory, motivations, and abilities.
Join us for an exciting one-shot adventure that focuses on the hero's journey, exploring the concept of autonomy. Experience the thrill of making choices that shape the narrative and witness how your decisions influence the outcome of the story. Join us for this extraordinary journey where you can explore the depths of creativity, storytelling, and gameplay in Dungeons & Dragons like never before, and leave equipped with the knowledge to embark on your own adventures!
Comic Book Workshop with Christof Bogacs
Who: Ages 13+
When: Thursday 28 November | 4-6pm
Where: Whitlam Library, Cabramatta
Tickets: Free. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/write-out-west-3717809
Inspire your creative spirit with our Comic Book Workshop! Join Christof Bogacs, author of Under Kingdom, published by Dark Horse Comics, as he guides you through the process of creating a single-page comic strip.
Lamingtons and Dumplings
Who: Ages 5+ and their adult carer
When: Wednesday 4 December | 3.30-4.30pm
Where: Whitlam Library, Cabramatta
Tickets: Free. Bookings are essential.
Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/write-out-west-3717809
This book highlights the friendship between two boys who live in different parts of the world. They learn about one another and share their lives through the wonderful world of technology, social media and the internet. There will be a book reading by Pho and an opportunity to purchase her book which will include a cute dumpling shaped keyring.
Storytime
Who: Families
When: Thursday 28 November | 11am-12pm
Where: Richmond Branch Library, 29 West Market Street, Richmond
Tickets: Free. Bookings are not required.
Come and join us for some entertaining stories, craft activities and lots of fun for pre-schoolers.
Puppy Dog Tales
Who: Children
When: Thursday 28 November | 3.30-4.30pm
Where: Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street, Windsor
Tickets: Free. Bookings are essential.
Book now: Hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com
For more information about Hawkesbury Library programs, please call 4560 4460 or email library@hawkesbury.gov.au