Library activities set to be real page turners

International bestselling author Tony Park will make a virtual appearance at Cairns Libraries next week as part of a free online event.

The author of 18 novels and six non-fiction biographies, Mr Park will talk about his latest release, Last Survivor, as part of the Authors Online event on Tuesday 20 October from 7pm.

Mr Park has enjoyed a diverse career working as a journalist, press secretary, a PR consultant and a freelance writer. He has also served in the Australian Army Reserve for more than three decades, including six months in Afghanistan in 2002.

He currently divides his time, along with his wife, between two homes, one in Sydney and the other in southern Africa.

The Authors Online event will be livestreamed on Cairns Libraries Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cairnslibraries), with Mr Park available to answer questions posted via comments during the live stream.

Cairns Libraries will next week also celebrate Children’s Book Week with reading sessions, creative activities and a specialty collated selection of Australian books.

Since 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has used Book Week to celebrate reading and books with a particular focus on Australian children’s authors and illustrators.

This year, from 17-23 October, Cairns Libraries will take part in the annual event – themed Curious creatures, wild mind – with First 5 Forever Storytime and Baby Rhyme Time sessions, a special Storytime in the Park event at Sugarworld Parklands, and a collection of displays at each of the libraries.

A host of art and craft activities that can be done from home are part of this year’s program, including making bookmarks, tips for drawing ‘wild and curious’ creatures, and the chance to download and colour in a poster created using themed characters by illustrator Gwyn Perkins.

If you are searching for something to read, Cairns Libraries has available all the books on the 2020 CBCA Shortlist – a treasure trove of some of the best Australian children’s books published over the past year.

Or you can head to the Story Box Library, a free online reading room for library members that features Australian stories for primary school-aged children.

More information on Children’s Book Week can be found at https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library/whats-on/event-programs/childrens-book-week