Jill B Bruce

English Tibetan bilingual books

2012-01-10T19:02:00.001-08:00

These are two English-Tibetan bilingual books I have written for the Tibetan refugee children. I was asked by them to advise and ended up writing them pro bono. I really enjoyed doing something a bit different. They say they will send copies to India, Nepal and Tibet. Time will tell how successful they are.

2012 has arrived!

2012-01-04T01:43:00.000-08:00

January 2012 and am I busy! I am up to reading CBCA awards book number 290 - probably another 60 - 80 left to read before the end of march and then I must compile my own short list before the Adelaide CBCA Judges conference in Adelaide starting on March 30 for 5 days. The short list will be anounced in Adelaide by us on April 3.

I have recently signed most of my books up with Five Senses Education in Seven Hills. New editions of Convicts..., Who Did that? Number 2 and Aussie Jokes and Riddles are already published. I have also just re-written my award winning book Who Did That? It was in a narrative and is now an information report. More reprints on the way soon!

Whitsunday reading break

2011-08-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

To take a break from reading the books for the Children's Book Council awards we had a week away at the Whitsunday Islands. On a trip to the reef we saw 5 whales - a magical sight! We also visited Whitehaven beach. It was windy but sunny but only 22 degrees which was not really warm but we swam and snorkeled every day. It is a beautiful part of our natural heritage that is worth preserving

Exciting overseas trip

2011-07-20T18:12:00.001-07:00

We were away for 6 weeks in May and June.After flying to Budapest we sailed down the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers to Amsterdam. Then by train to Paris and hired a car to Loire Valley to our 300 year old cottage where we visited Chenonceau castle. Gorgeous! Then a week in Paris visiting Louvre, Eiffel tower, Fountainbleau (Napoleons's home) Sacre Coer +++. We took the Eurostar to London for a week, then visited family in the Cotswolds for 3 nts, on to Bath for 3 nts then Kuala Lumpur for 2 nts. Whew! an amazing trip.

2011-07-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Such excitement! My first outing as the NSW judge for the CBCNSW.

I am at a dinner at the Hughendon Hotel attended by the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir. I gave a 15 min speech titled "So Far, so good" about how I was doing reading and writing reviews for the CBC awards. I was a little nervous but sitting with her Excellency I soon relaxed and was warmly received. There will probably be 390-420 books to review. I thought most would be picture books - WRONG! So far I have received 48 novels and 16 picture books. There are some great books entered and...

Author visit with a difference!

2011-04-12T01:15:00.001-07:00

Have an author visit with a difference.

Jill B Bruce, teacher librarian and author along with her husband, Roger AKA "Roger the Dodger" will visit schools and give a 55 min presentation Early European settlement for stage 2 - 3rd & 4th grades. Jill wears full colonial dress and "Dodger" has 3 changes. This is based on her book Convicts from the First Fleet to the end of Transportation.

A powerpoint presentation is used to trace settlement through Aboriginal Peoples, Captain Cook, crime in Gt. Britain, the First Fleet, convicts, child convicts (children get a chance here to dress up as convicts), early houses and convict built early colonial buildings and bridges. Discussion of how convicts helped develop Australia. Here "Roger" re-appears as a wealthy colonial gentleman who has received his ticket of leave and a land grant.

We do this at a very economical price of $200 for 1 presentation and $50 for each extra presentation up to 3. Contact through my website or

jillbbruce@bigpond.com

Appointed NSW judge for Children's Book Council of Australia 2012-13

2011-03-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

I am really honoured to have been appointed as the NSW judge for the Children's Book Council of NSW for the 2012 and 2013 awards. This means reading, reviewing and analysing the 300-400 new Australian children's books published each year. It will be a huge job but one that I will relish as a I have had a long and passionate career involved in children literature. Of course my grandchildren will be involved in giving opinions about which ones they enjoy!

2009-12-16T01:07:00.000-08:00

In December, 2009 Beacon Hill Public School inaugurated the annual "The J.B. Bruce Award for literacy". I donated the cup and presented it to the winner at the school assembly in 2010.

Librarian Helpers and Australian Celebrations books

2009-04-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have had many requests for these books. They can now be obtained from the new publisher Five senses Education, Sydney. 02 9838 9265