Mem Fox Presentation

Mem Fox is one of Australia’s most beloved children’s authors, helping to raise generations of Australian children with over 40 books, many of which have become international best-sellers. Her first book, Possum Magic, is still being read after 39 years, and her book, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, was Australia’s official gift to Prince George, the royal baby. Mem’s book, I’m Australian Too, takes her back to where she started: her passion for Australia. In writing it, her hope was to spark spirited discussions about Australian-ness, create an awareness of Australian immigration over the centuries, and begin to calm the rising racism in this country.

Mem lives by the beach in Adelaide, South Australia, but travels a lot, wearing her academic speaking hat, advocating for literacy and the best ways to achieve it.

In her presentation, Mem will explain the three stages in a child’s pre-school life that will make school an exciting destination. If we pay close attention to these stages, children will not only be happy and able to talk fluently, they’ll also be ready to learn to read on their first day in the classroom. The stages are happiness and bonding through the language of song and rhyme; learning how to talk by listening to simple picture books and interacting with them daily; and becoming familiar with the letters, sounds, patterns, and joys of English as they experience more complex, longer picture books.

Mem will be available for book signings at the Yass Book Store stand in the Library from 11am-11.30am and 3pm-3.30pm