Dr. Virginia Lowe has been a Judge for the Children's Book Council's Book of the Year Award and Convenor for the CBCA Crichton Award for new illustrators. She has taught children's literature, English and creative writing at university. She is a published poet, and has also written extensively on children and books. She reviews regularly in Reading Time and appears occasionally in ViewpointAustralian Book Review.
Virginia's book Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two Children Tell was published by Routledge (London) in November, 2006.
Earlier articles by Virginia, relevant to the book, can be found on the bibliography page.
One of her publications is a chapter in 'Playing with words' in Poetry and Childhood (ed Styles 2010).
It is reprinted in Books for Keeps: http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/186/childrens-books/articles/other-articles/playing-with-words-two-children%E2%80%99s-encounters-with-
Other downloadable articles are in Write4Children 'I love monsters-pretend monsters in books' and 'That is how is goes nursery rhymes and the young child'.: http://www.winchester.ac.uk/Search/Pages/SearchResults.aspx?k=Virginia%20Lowe
Virginia has a poem "Real People" in the anthology - Did I tell you?
131 poems for children in need.
ll the profits from the sale of the book go to children in need.
To order a copy and support this fantastic charity go to: www.wordaid.org.uk
Virginia also received her copy of Poetry and Childhood (edited by Morag Styles) in which she has a chapter
‘Playing with Words: Two children’s encounters with poetry from birth’.
Virginia has a wealth of knowledge and experience about children's books, having been a public librarian and a school librarian as well as a university lecturer. She has a PhD on the topic of children and books (Is this a Real Story? Monash 1997), and an MA and BA (1st Class Hons.) in Literature (Monash). She also helps in the writing of biographies and autobiographies through Memories in Print.
Virginia enjoys speaking at libraries, parent groups and writing groups about babies, young children and books or on writing for children. She will also run workshops on creating picture books and writing memoirs and biographies.
Virginia and John have been published by the Melbourne Poets Union, more details on the Poetry page: https://createakidsbook.com.au/poetry.html
One of Virignia's poems was selected by Jackie French for the essential Australian Poem collection
This is Home
Published by the National Libary of Australia 2019
copies available at:
https://publishing.nla.gov.au/book/this-is-home-essential-australian-poems-for-children.do
Contact Virginia by phone: 03 9578 5689 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
More contact details on the Contacts page.
Marlo Garnsworthy is a writer, illustrator and artist. She is now working in the USA and has started a branch of CReATe a kids’ book there, where she is running workshops and assessing for USA and Canada. She will continue to assist Virginia with emailed assessments from Australia as well. (Examples of her work can be seen on the USA and Canada and contacts page.) In 1991 Marlo achieved a BA and has since spent many years overseas. She has been active in children's book creation since 1996, and has exhibited her artwork in Australia and abroad. She finds her greatest inspiration in nature, and is an avid outdoorswoman.
Contact Marlo by phone: (+1) 401 207 5026 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
Jo Thompson's ambition to write and illustrate picture books has existed as long as she can remember. A Diploma of Visual Arts in Queensland, and over twenty years experience as a graphic designer/illustrator, have allowed her to focus her passion. Endearing characters and dynamic layouts are a feature of her work. She runs our e-mail course Illustrate a Children's Book. She does some assessments of illustrated picture books.
(See the contacts and e-courses pages for more examples of her illustrations.)
Contact Jo by phone: 03 9580 0112 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Her book The Glasshouse with Paul Collins launched October 2010.
Details at: http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com/ 
Jennifer Dabbs began teaching the Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing & Editing) at TAFE after publication of her first children's novel.
She became the co-ordinator and delivered seminars and guest lectures at the CAE, Monash and Melbourne Universities over a period of eleven years. She has had three more novels, numerous short stories, articles and reviews published and has judged several literary competitions. Her work has been broadcast on ABC Radio. She has had a play produced at Carlton Courthouse Theatre. Victoria University of Technology commissioned her to write a distance education teaching text for Short Story Writing. She now edits and assesses manuscripts for published, as well as aspiring, writers. She is a reader for a major publisher and is working on a new novel. Reading and writing are her ruling passions! Jennifer assesses some of the novels submitted, and has written and runs the Create a Kids’ Novel e-course. She is also tutor for the novel workshops of CReATe a kids’ book . Jennifer’s first and best known novel was Beyond Redemption. It is being republished. (Lamont Publishing, 2007)
Contact Jenifer by phone: 0433 798168 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
Beck Lowe is our fantasy expert. Her BSc helps here (logic is important!) She has a Certificate VI in workplace training and assessment, and also a Diploma of Permaculture. She runs a Permaculture farm and courses in Heathcote (http://www.cydoniapermaculture.com.au). She has always read fantasy and science fiction – with a critical eye.
John Lowe, Virginia’s husband assesses all texts in verse, and the poetry module of the Create a Picture Book e-course. He has an MA in English from Monash, and has himself written three novels and is an awarded and published poet. My Brother Jack Award (2nd prize 2009 and 2010.) Also published in Blast magazine.
He is an expert proofreader.
Contact John by phone: 03 9578 5689 or email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
