Yesterday was a wonderful day.

While awaiting the imminent birth of my third child (any day now) I decided to take a hike on the Bay Walk in Sydney’s Inner West.  (My mum had called me the day before and mentioned that a long walk around Centennial Park had kicked off her labor with my sister forty-something years ago.)  It was a glorious day, the sun was shining, my eight-year-old was charging ahead on her bike, my three-year-old resting contentedly in the pram and even though I am currently the size of a whale, I was very much enjoying getting some exercise and fresh air with the family.

So when a text arrived from my illustrator Leigh Hedstrom, with a link to the ‘just announced’ CBCA Book of the Year Notables list, I tried not to get too excited.  It’s probably just a link relating to a mutual friend, I told myself, or perhaps one of Leigh’s books with another author…

So it was a wonderful and much unexpected surprise to see that our latest collaboration, Emily Eases her Wheezes had made the ‘Notables’ list in the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, alongside 15 other beautiful new Australian books.  It was also pleasing to hear that the CBCA President commented that the category was particularly strong this year.  We were listed alongside books by the major publishers like Penguin, Walker Books and Allen & Unwin.

Congratulations to all the other authors who made the Shortlist and the Notables list.

As expected, many of Australia’s favourite authors and illustrators are there: Jackie French, Margaret Wild, Libby Gleeson, Alison Lester, Aaron Blabey, Freya Blackwood, Robert Ingpen and Stephen Michael King, but a special mention should go to new authors such as Clare Atkins and Lesley Gibbes – what an incredible achievement for them!  Congrats!

You can see the full CBCA Book of the Year, 2015 list here.

Starting school is a big deal for any kid, but for children with food allergies, it’s especially challenging. When my daughter, who is allergic to peanuts and eggs, started school two years ago, I had no idea what to do. We nervously handed in her Anaphylaxis Action Plan, put allergy-warning stickers on her lunch box and hoped for the best. Fortunately, I’ve learnt a bit since then so I wrote this article for Kidspot!

If you also have a child with a food allergy, here are a few tips to keep your little one safe at school.

8 tips for keeping your child with food allergies safe at school:

1. Educate your child about their allergies
2. Ask for a face-to-face meeting with the school to nut out the tough issues
3. Send a note home to the other class parents
4. Ask the teacher if you can speak to the class about food allergies
5. Find out how the school canteen really operates
6. Develop a strong relationship with your child’s teacher
7. Give your child opportunities to be assertive and permission to be different
8. Keep communicating

You can read the full article on Kidspot’s Parenting Exchange here!

And why not share the article to help educate your friends and family and keep our kids safe.

Once again, our friends at Ryde Presbyterian Church are hosting our annual Meet the Author Christmas Book Market.  As well as the author’s listed below, Julie Mallinson, Justin Theng and Maureen Bartlett will be on board, with more Christian authors being added daily!  Trust me, it’s getting hard for me to keep up, everybody wants to be there!

As well as Marty’s Nut-Free Party and my other books, I’ll be selling a very select range of children’s books from my favourite Wombat Books authors.  Other authors will be selling fiction, non-fiction, biography, bushwalking guides, inspirational books, poetry and more children’s books.

Please pop in and say hi.  Bring cash with you because there will be some wonderful treasures for your family and friends, but most of the authors won’t have card facilities on hand!  I look forward to welcoming you there!

Marty’s Nut-Free Party has made it to the finals of the Caleb Awards in the Children’s section!  Results are announced on October 12, 2013.

I’m excited to be alongside two beautiful books by friend and fellow Sydney author, Penny Reeve, whose books Wonderfully Madison and More Than a Mouse have also made it through to the finals.

Exciting News!

Marty’s Nut-Free Party has just been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards (Lower Primary.)

Here’s how they described it!

“Finally! A fun way to explain allergies to all young children! This appealing story with a likeable character has an interesting and highly relevant narrative. The main idea is explored via humorous text with familiar settings and occurrences. The language chosen has rhythm and repetition and would be well-liked by young readers.”

It’s a wonderful shortlist, including gorgeous books like Gracie and Josh by Susanne Gervay and Serena Geddes, Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester, Saurus Street: Tyrannosaurus in the Veggie Patch by Nick Falk and Tony Flowers and Billy B. Brown: The Bully Buster by Sally Rippin.  (My six year old LOVES the Billy B. Brown books so I’m finally getting some cred with her!)

Make sure you check out the full list here!

1 in 10 babies born in Australia today will develop a food allergy.

May 13 – 19th is Food Allergy Week.

So Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia is asking Aussies to paint one fingernail.

Show your support of kids with food allergies by painting one nail and make a donation to help educate Australians about the fact that food allergies are serious and can be a matter of life and death.

You can find out more here:  http://www.foodallergyaware.com.au/

I will also be visiting schools and libraries with my book Marty’s Nut-Free Party during Food Allergy Week.

Here’s where I’ll be in May.