Posted on 14th February, 2012
Are we there yet? (published by Penguin Books) is a warm, heartfelt story based on an actual journey undertaken by Children's Laureate, Alison Lester, and her family. The story is based on the reflections of her children on their adventurous and sometimes funny expedition around Australia.
The exhibition will tour to 8 venues in 2012, one for each state and territory. Starting in Darwin from the 1st - 22nd of February and the exhibition will end in Victoria in December 2012.
The exhibition was first curated by Books Illustrated in 2004 to celebrate the launch of this now well known and loved picture book and has already toured in Australia and overseas to Taipei and Tokyo.
The exhibition shows both the original illustrations as well as the preliminary and developing stages in the making of the book - from Alison's children's actual travel diaries, through text, illustration and design drafts, to the final published book. It includes a number of folios of developmental drawings.
A fascinating addition to the original exhibition is a special display and range of activities for the braille version of the picture book published by Vision Australia.
The exhibition was opened in Darwin on Wednesday 1st February, but it will also be celebrated on Tuesday 14th February as part of the official launch of the National Year of Reading in Darwin. For details visit the The Northern Territory Library, website.
Award-winning Darwin author and National Year of Reading ambassador, Marie Munkara, was invited to open the exhibition. Her first book Every Secret Thing was awarded the 2010 Northern Territory Book of the Year.
Illustrator Ann James, from Books Illustrated, explained the history of the exhibition and read out a touching message on behalf of Alison who was unable to be at the opening as she is on a project in Antarctica.
I love darwin, it always feels like coming home when I get off that plane and drive down the wide palm-lined streets into town. I've had family and friends to stay with for a long time, in parap and nightcliff, so i know those parts well. I love sitting in the roma bar, running out to east point, having a laksa at the parap market, swimming in the nightclif pool, dancing at shenanigans and the beautiful art gallery. In 2005 I nearly died in the darwin hospital so i'll always be grateful to darwin for saving me, it was a great place to get my wobbly legs going again, I hope you enjoy the show, I wish I could be there, x, Alison.
There is a National Year of Reading competition based on the book Are We There Yet? where children are encouraged to write and/or illustrate about their own town or special place they've visited in Australia. Visit the NYoR website to find out more.
Here are some photographs from the opening - enjoy!
