collaboration

The School Library Association of NSW invited me to speak about advocacy at their recent conference at the State Library of NSW. I was asked to talk about a range of topics including: the transition our school library is currently undergoing with the assistance of Kevin Hennah; the partnership with our local municipal library; the need for teacher-librarians to use social media, blogging and local media to publicise the savvy, changed place of libraries in school culture.

When my daughter discovered two of her literary heroes, Jackie French and Morris Gleitzman, were speaking at the same conference she was very keen for me to get her paperbacks autographed by the authors. When I mentioned this to Michelle Jensen, the president of the association, she went quite a few better and asked Lucy to introduce both Morris and Jackie. Her rationale, that a 10 year old reader was who our authors and teacher-librarians were serving, made sense.

Lucy did very well and the hashtag tweetstream  had some very nice commentary from the delegates. She did not seek my assistance preparing, other than to have me listen to her practice. She prepared very conscientiously and I was proud of her efforts in front of 125 delegates (and her heroes).


cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo shared by Darcy Moore

Here are Lucy’s brief introductions:

First of all, I would like to thank Michelle Jensen for inviting me here today to introduce some of my all-time favourite literary heroes.

We all know Morris Gleitzman and adore his books. My dad’s favourite is Misery Guts, but I like some of Morris’s more recent stories.

I’ve avidly been reading holocaust fiction for the last year or so, and some of my favourite books are in the Once series, about a Jewish boy called Felix and his bossy, feisty best friend Zelda. The series tells the story of how they survive in the world of war around them.

What I like about these books and other novels by Morris Gleitzman, are that the characters, in the changing world around them, are so innocent, and sometimes think up the funniest stuff to solve their predicament.

Some of my favourites are Boy Overboard, the story of a young asylum seeker from Afghanistan, and Give Peas A Chance, a book chock-full of hilarious short stories.

I think the thing that’s the most incredible about Morris Gleitzman’s novels are that they can turn you from laughing to crying and back again, all on the same page.

My class last year found this out after a busy Term One spent studying some of Morris’s fantastic funny literature, especially Keith Shipley’s hilarious adventures in Australia.

I think we can all agree once you start reading Morris Gleitzman’s books, it’s pretty much impossible to stop!

You haven’t come here to listen to me, you’ve come here to listen to Morris Gleitzman. Can we give him a warm welcome, please!

I would like to start off my introduction to Jackie French, one of Australia’s most popular, prolific, and well-renowned authors, with a passage from one of her novels.

The houses crouched like mushrooms behind their iron railings. Matilda ran as fast as her skirts would let her, staying close to the fences, one shadow among many. The night air smelt of smoke from coal fires, and the big furnaces of the jam and tin factories. Someone was cooking sausages too. Her tummy clenched into a knot.

She’d eaten nothing since Tommy’s sandwiches yesterday. She’d told Mum the factory gave the workers dinner. It was a lie; Mr Thrattle’s cockroaches ate better than his workers. But Mum was so thin these days. Two shillings a week only bought food for one.

This passage is from my favourite book by Jackie French, A Waltz For Matilda, also one of her most popular historical fiction works and in her series telling the stories of the women of Australia.

Jackie writes across all genres, from picture books to historical fiction to humour and gardening nonfiction, and even newspaper columns!

Her amazing characters become so real they could almost be standing next to your seat, reading along beside you. Jackie has the ability to make different worlds come alive, as if you’re dancing with Nikko and Thetis in Ancient Greece, or fighting monsters with Boo at the School for Heroes.

For both adults an children, whatever you like, however good a reader you are, Jackie French is inspirational, as well as a near-perfect author.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jackie French to the stage!


cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo shared by Darcy Moore


cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo shared by Darcy Moore

I tried my best too. It seems, from the response on twitter and at the conference, that teacher-librarians are putting their shoulder to the wheel of convincing Premier Barry O’Farrell to champion the idea of one library card for all citizens in NSW that I have written about in the last six months in a number of publicationsincluding this blog.

Here’s my brief slideshow to support the presentation about our library and advocacy.

Featured image: cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by Darcy Moore: http://flickr.com/photos/darcymoore/12875066753/
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Comments(13)

    • Stu Hasic

    • 10 years ago

    You must be very proud Darcy. It sounds like Lucy shone in what might be a calling for her. Parental influence is such a powerful shaper of a child’s future and sadly, it can just as easily go one way as the other. Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience with your readers, and good on Michelle Jensen for recognising what would become a good story by providing Lucy with an early formative opportunity that most kids will never see.

    Great stuff Lucy!

    • Andrew FitzSimons

    • 10 years ago

    Wonderful to have this focus on writing, reading, libraries and children advocating for all of the above!

    Putting reading at the centre of learning and growing and maturing is a worthy challenge.

    • carlaleeb

    • 10 years ago

    Please tell Lucy that I thought her introduction was fabulous, so engaging and authentic .
    I bet it was one of the best that these authors have experienced . Sounds like it was a valuable day for all.

    • Eva Gold

    • 10 years ago

    I am touched to read your comments and Lucy’s introductions – so insightful for a young reader. I’ve only seen her grow up from a distance but this is enough to give me such a glow of pleasure. You must be over the moon Darcy. Congratulations and may you keep having much joy from your family.

    • Paddy O'Shea

    • 10 years ago

    🙂 Yum Stories like this just make me all gooey

  1. […] ALL, Please READ AND SIGN! http://www.darcymoore.net/2014/03/02/advocacy-daughter-morris-gleitzman-jackie-french/ Regards, Michelle Jensen Teacher Librarian Hoxton Park High School President, School Library […]

    • Rob McTaggart

    • 10 years ago

    Beautifully chosen words and a wonderful introduction. Well done, Lucy!

    • Bill S.

    • 10 years ago

    Well done.
    Lucy, Darcy, Morris, Jackie et al contributed to a great day at the State Library of NSW on Saturday.
    Congratulations to all involved in the preparation/organisation/delivery of the day.

    • Katie Cripps

    • 10 years ago

    I was lucky enough to be there and see Lucy be charming, articulate and insightful in front of her literary heroes. I know I wouldn’t have been that composed even as an adult. Congratulations to all involved in a great day.

    • Andrea Brock

    • 10 years ago

    You were a definite highlight of the conference for me Lucy well done.

  2. Lucy’s introductions wrere powerful in their simplicity and sincerity – well done to her! And you powerpoint was also powerful, the images emphasising, withoput the need for words (ironically) how important reading and libraries are. Great stuff.

    • Kirsten Wedlock

    • 10 years ago

    Sounds like a great day. Long live libraries

  3. This sounds like an awesome experience for your daughter!

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