NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE 3

NewsletterDecemberDecemberDecemberDecember 2019201920192019

The year 2019 has not been kind to thechildren and youth of Sri Lanka. As we allknow, more than two hundred were directlyaffected by the Easter Sunday bomb blasts;even young people from other countries.Our thoughts are with all of them.

However, it is a consolation for us, to endthis year’s last newsletter with some goodnews. IBBY Sri Lanka’s Story Nest projectwhich aims to introduce storybooks andstory-telling activities to preschools, hasbeen accepted for funding by a grant fromthe Yamada Foundation. The IBBY-YamadaGrant is awarded for projects promotinga reading culture.

To develop a reading culture again in ourcountry, we need to interest children inbooks from a young age. A very importantsector which has been ignored are thepreschools. Hence, the Story Nest project tointroduce story-telling and book-relatedactivities to preschools, through teachersand parents.

The preschool is the first public institutionwhere a child spends time, away fromhome. Thus, it becomes his/her home ornest away from home. This nest is wherehe/she will spend time, happily flippingthrough some picturebooks or wordlessbooks. When he/she returns to the homenest, another story nest awaits him/her.That is, a small collection of storybooksfrom which a parent/guardian reads aloud.Thus, the child flourishes, nourished by thestories and related activities of these twostory nests.

The project will be continued over a periodof 12 months, beginning in January 2020.However, we will continue to follow-up onthe children’s progress during the 1st schoolterm in 2021.

The letter of approval states as follows:‘The Committee was impressed with yourproposal and are happy to support the2020 project to revive the reading culturein Sri Lanka with the initiation of the StoryNest project. They particularly liked thereading aloud aspect of the project.’

Needless to say, a huge responsibility nowrests on our shoulders. However, we believewe can fulfil the trust placed in our project.Two of our organisational members, namelyRoom To Read—Sri Lanka and AbhimanaSri Lanka, will be coordinating the projectwith assistance from another organisationalmember: the Stepping Stones Foundation.

WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop seriesseriesseriesseries forforforfor authorsauthorsauthorsauthors bybybybyaaaa famousfamousfamousfamous AustralianAustralianAustralianAustralian authorauthorauthorauthor

Dr.Ken Spillman, an author of many booksfor young people, will be holding the first ofa series of workshops during February 2020in Colombo... .

Page 2

Up-comingUp-comingUp-comingUp-coming eventseventseventsevents

A Literature Convention and Arts Festival forChildren and Youth, organised by SLBBY willbe held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of June, 2020... .

Page 2

The results of latest research done using 2to 5 year-olds is an eye-opener; not only forchildren’s authors but also for illustrators,editors, teachers and parents... .

PagePagePagePage 3333

BuildingBuildingBuildingBuildingmoremoremoremore bookbookbookbook bridgesbridgesbridgesbridges inininin 2019201920192019 In this issue...

WhyWhyWhyWhywritingwritingwritingwriting forforforforpreschoolerspreschoolerspreschoolerspreschoolers isisisis harderharderharderharder

thanthanthanthan youyouyouyou think...think...think...think...

TheTheTheThe StoryStoryStoryStory NestNestNestNest projectprojectprojectproject—why, what and when

Story Nestin

6numbers:

9999 provincesprovincesprovincesprovinces

36363636 preschoolspreschoolspreschoolspreschools

80808080 teachersteachersteachersteachers

1000100010001000 childrenchildrenchildrenchildren

1000100010001000 learninglearninglearninglearning kitskitskitskits

2008200820082008 booksbooksbooksbooks

NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 3 2

... SLBBY LCAF 2020

‘‘‘‘GoodGoodGoodGood booksbooksbooksbooks leadleadleadlead totototo aaaa betterbetterbetterbetter futurefuturefuturefuture’’’’ is thetheme of this exciting event to be held in acentral location in Colombo. It will bedeclared open by Mr.Mingzhou Zhang,International President of the IBBY.

A range of informative seminars, inspiringworkshops and fun activities are planned.Well-known authors, illustrators, editors andpublishers from several countries, as well asSri Lanka will conduct them.

Children of all age groups,teenagers andyouths will have ample opportunities toparticipate. Activities focused on learning,creating and performing will take pride ofplace on all three days. A book exhibitionand fair, as well as the screening of foreignfilms for children and youth, are among themany attractions lined up.

One of the highlights of the LCAF will bethe selection of the Best Children’s Book of2019. Awards will be presented to the author,illustrator, editor and publisher of the bestbook in Sinhala, Tamil and English categories.Another four appreciation awards will alsobe presented. The awards will recogniseboth senior and young authors under theirrespective categories. A panel of threeinternational experts will be appointed tojudge the submissions.

Details of the competition and the judgeswill be announced from 10th January, 2020.They will be published in Daily Lankadeepa,Daily Veerakesari and Daily Mirror, as well ason our IBBY Sri Lanka website and officialFacebook page.

Await more details about the LCAF in ournext newsletter. In the meantime, look outfor Tikiri the young elephant, our LCAFmascot in the Press and online.

WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshopseriesseriesseriesseriesononononWritingWritingWritingWritingandandandandPublishingPublishingPublishingPublishing FictionFictionFictionFiction forforforforOlderOlderOlderOlderChildrenChildrenChildrenChildrenandandandandYoungYoungYoungYoungTeensTeensTeensTeens

withwithwithwithDr.KenDr.KenDr.KenDr.Ken SpillmanSpillmanSpillmanSpillman

Michael Rosen once said: “We’ve all been children, we all know a parent or parent-figure.This makes us all potential writers of children’s books.”

ThisThisThisThis seriesseriesseriesseries ofofofof half-dayhalf-dayhalf-dayhalf-day workshops,workshops,workshops,workshops, spreadspreadspreadspread throughthroughthroughthrough 9999monthsmonthsmonthsmonths,,,, isisisis specificallyspecificallyspecificallyspecifically aimedaimedaimedaimed atatatatdevelopingdevelopingdevelopingdeveloping thethethethe interestinterestinterestinterest andandandand skillsskillsskillsskills ofofofof participantsparticipantsparticipantsparticipants inininin writingwritingwritingwriting fictionfictionfictionfiction forforforfor youngyoungyoungyoung peoplepeoplepeoplepeopleagedagedagedaged 12+.12+.12+.12+. TheTheTheThe NationalNationalNationalNational InstituteInstituteInstituteInstitute ofofofof LibraryLibraryLibraryLibrary andandandand InformationInformationInformationInformation SciencesSciencesSciencesSciences (NILIS)(NILIS)(NILIS)(NILIS) ofofofof thethethetheUniversityUniversityUniversityUniversity ofofofof ColomboColomboColomboColombo isisisis thethethethe academicacademicacademicacademic partnerpartnerpartnerpartner ofofofof thethethetheworkshops.workshops.workshops.workshops.

Drawing on his knowledge of international publishing and his own experience as anauthor, Dr.Ken Spillman will take participants through everyeveryeveryevery aspectaspectaspectaspect ofofofof writingwritingwritingwriting forforforfor olderolderolderolderchildrenchildrenchildrenchildren andandandand youngeryoungeryoungeryounger teens.teens.teens.teens.

Dr.Spillman will provide participants real insight into the creative process, buildingconfidence in their individual abilities and ideas. He will provide a wide range of tips forturning ideas into books, and will maximise the workshops’ values by providing someonline mentoring to participants between workshops. The series will also serve as apractical introduction to market sectors and publishing in Asian and global markets.

Dr.KenDr.KenDr.KenDr.Ken SpillmanSpillmanSpillmanSpillman

Dr.Ken Spillman is the author of around 80books, most of them for young people. Hiswork has been translated into more than 20languages, and he has presented sessionsto 90,000 children. He has also conductednumerous creative writing workshops withboth adults and children.

Ken is a Life Member of the Children’s BookCouncil of Australia, and IBBY India. He wasalso a finalist in 2 categories of AustralianArts in Asia Awards, a showcase for bestpractice arts engagement in Asia.

RegisterRegisterRegisterRegister now!now!now!now!

Dates: Stage I—26,26,26,26, 27,27,27,27, 28282828 February,February,February,February, 2020202020202020Stage II—9,9,9,9, 10,10,10,10, 11111111 June,June,June,June, 2020202020202020Stage III—latelatelatelate September/earlySeptember/earlySeptember/earlySeptember/early October,October,October,October, 2020202020202020 (dates to be confirmed)

Time: 08:30am08:30am08:30am08:30am––––12:45pm12:45pm12:45pm12:45pm

Venue: NILIS,NILIS,NILIS,NILIS, BauddhalokaBauddhalokaBauddhalokaBauddhaloka Mawatha,Mawatha,Mawatha,Mawatha, ColomboColomboColomboColombo 7777

Fee for all 3 stages of series: Rs.20,000Rs.20,000Rs.20,000Rs.20,000 (includes(includes(includes(includes stationerystationerystationerystationery andandandand refreshments)refreshments)refreshments)refreshments)

ToToToTo applyapplyapplyapply,,,, send an e-mail to secretary1@ibbysrilanka.orgsecretary1@ibbysrilanka.orgsecretary1@ibbysrilanka.orgsecretary1@ibbysrilanka.org beforebeforebeforebefore 20202020thththth Jan.Jan.Jan.Jan. 2020202020202020asasasas thethethethe workshopsworkshopsworkshopsworkshops areareareare limitedlimitedlimitedlimited totototo 25252525 persons.persons.persons.persons.

Ken has been a manuscript assessor for several publishers, and has a particularknowledge of Asian markets. He was a long-time board member of the AsianFestival of Children’s Content, which he helped establish. Ken has also served onvarious literature panels in Western Australia.

TheTheTheThe moremoremoremore thatthatthatthat youyouyouyou read,read,read,read,thethethethe moremoremoremore thingsthingsthingsthings youyouyouyou willwillwillwill know.know.know.know.TheTheTheThe moremoremoremore thatthatthatthat youyouyouyou learn,learn,learn,learn,thethethethe moremoremoremore placesplacesplacesplaces youyouyouyou’’’’llllllll go.go.go.go.

Dr.Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 3 3

If you look around in our bookshops, locallycreated books suitable for 2–5 year-olds arefew. The key point to note is ‘suitability’.What the author or publisher considerssuitable for this age group, can in fact beunsuitable. Understanding how the brain ofchildren of this age group works, canovercome this problem.

Advances in technology, such as trackingeye movement, has helped researchers tounderstand how preschool-age childrenview and process information. Thesefindings are important for creating booksthat meet preschoolers’ needs.

The findings can be considered according towhose work they affect directly:

Authors

Observation #1:

Children from ages 2–5 can understandsimple storylines. However, they cannotcannotcannotcannotunderstand complicated moral lessons.For example, a story about an animalcharacter which steals a smaller animal’sfood, where the child is expected to realisehe/she must not behave like the thief.

Observation #2:

Stories reflecting this age group’s interestscapture their attention. For example, somecharacters picking up seashells on the beachor blowing soap bubbles. Create storiesbased on what children of these ages findinteresting or like to do. Spend some timeobserving children of this age group in a freeenvironment, such as at a park, a beach oreven a home garden.

Observation #3:

The characters of a story must have depth.That is, the strength of feeling between thecharacters should be noticeable, and alsobelievable. For example, a rabbit rescuing itsfriend from an enemy. Otherwise, the childwill lose interest in following the story.

Illustrators

Observation #1:

Young children have difficulties in noticingcharacters placed against backgrounds. So,a scene’s main character or object mustattract the child’s attention. This can beachieved in several ways:

� Drawing characters with big faces andclearly marked eyes.

� Using bright, contrasting colours tocapture and guide attention.

� Placing the character or object againsta plain coloured or white background.

Observation #2:

The visual system of preschoolers is lessdeveloped than that of older children. So,reduce the action in a scene to a minimum.This helps the children’s slow visualabilities to follow the story.

By using the above as points of reference,Sri Lankan authors and illustrators will beable to create books that attract, and alsointerest preschool children. Furthermore,editors can use those same points ofreference when selecting manuscripts, andinstructing illustrators.

1.1.1.1.MAKE visits to the library a regularfamily activity:Take the whole family to the local publiclibrary at least twice a month.

2.2.2.2.MAKE reading a family habit:Keep a variety of reading materials athome, including newspapers, magazines,graphic novels, fiction and nonfiction.

3.3.3.3.MODELMODELMODELMODEL reading at home:�Show your family that you make timefor reading daily. Aim for 20 minutesper day.

�Everyone can read their own bookstogether or read aloud to one another.

4.4.4.4.TALK about what youyouyouyou readreadreadreadwithmembers of your family:Ask your family to talk about what theyread, too. This can happen right afterdaily reading or as part of a differentdaily routine such as travelling to school,during a meal or before bed.

...and remember to:

Introduce literature on social justiceissues to guide your children to becomesocially conscious, and to foster real-world connections to what they read.

(Adapted from:Advocating for Children’s Rights to Read,published by the International LiteracyAssociation, 2019)

EmilieEmilieEmilieEmilie BuchwaldBuchwaldBuchwaldBuchwaldAward-winning children’s author, poet,editor and teacher

Creating storiesfor preschoolers:some points youshould know

Tips for gettingyour familyto read

ChildrenChildrenChildrenChildren areareareare mademademademadereadersreadersreadersreaders onononon thethethethe lapslapslapslaps

ofofofof theirtheirtheirtheir parents.parents.parents.parents.

NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 3 4

Some of our recent activities

Filming of children stating the Children’sRights to Read. Fifty nine children andyouth (ages 5–21) fromMoneragala andMullaitivu participated. The recording wasdone in both Sinhala and Tamil languagesby Abhimana Sri Lanka, one of ourorganisational members.

232 copies of The Six Doves, a wordlessbook about coping with loss and ethnicharmony, were handed over to theArchbishop of Colombo’s representative,for distribution among the children andyouth victims of the Easter Sundaybombings on April 21st.

A story-telling programme to celebrateWorld Children’s Day was held at theNational Youth Services Centre (NYSC)in Maharagama. It was organised jointlyby ITN and IBBY Sri Lanka.

Ruhunu Aswenna, a Literature andArt Festival was held in Matara.IBBY Sri Lanka conducted 2 sets ofpresentations : one on adaptingstories from books to theatre, andone on reading books, includingwordless books. Both were agreat success.

Participated at the 4th Asia and OceaniaIBBY Regional Meeting in Xi'an, China. TheNational Sections of China, Japan,Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Malaysia,Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam alsoparticipated. The Executive CommitteeMembers of IBBY from the UK, USA, Russia,South Africa and Lebanon also participated.

An award ceremony on Teachers’ Daywas held at the Mahaweli Centre inColombo. Teachers were presentedawards for their writing of children’sbooks. The awards were sponsored byIBBY Sri Lanka.

AugustAugustAugustAugust 2019201920192019 26262626––––28282828 SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember 2019201920192019 1111stststst OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober 2019201920192019

1111stststst OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober 2019201920192019 5555thththth OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober 2019201920192019 26262626thththth,,,, 27272727thththth OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober 2019201920192019

To know the latest news and announcements from IBBY Sri Lanka, visit our website or Facebook page:www.ibbysrilanka.org www.facebook.com/ibbylanka

Compiled and published by IBBY Sri Lanka. 302, Pahalawela Road, Pelawatte, Battaramulla|December 2019