Janeen Brian is an award-winning author of picture books, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, short fiction and novels for young people and the educational market.
She grew up in Brighton, South Australia, graduated as a Primary teacher and taught for over twenty years before becoming a full-time writer.
Janeen lives in Glenelg, South Australia with her husband Jon and has two grown-up daughters, Natalie and Cassie.
To book Janeen for workshops or meet-the-author sessions in South Australia, contact:
Literary Booking Agent, Carole Carroll
ph: (08) 8376 4662
fax: (08) 8376 1162
email: c.carroll@internode.on.net
For interstate bookings contact:
Show and Tell Promotions
ph: 1300 732 339
fax: 1300 732 919
email: info@showtell.com.au
Janeen Brian now has a Blogspot blog! Check it out at: janeenjottings.blogspot.com
| Click here for Teacher Classroom Ideas. Great for your class! |
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| NEW: Click here to read REVIEWS of some of Janeen's books! | |
updated
20/07/10 |
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Libby Gleeson and Janeen Brian at a recent Children's Book Council of Australia Conference in Sydney. 'A wonderful conference in all aspects of children's literature and illustration.' |
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The following books are now available to purchase direct through |
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I Spy Dad! has been shortlisted for the 2010 Speech Pathology Awards! The intention of Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year Awards is to:
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Did you know about the picture book, I Spy Dad! that has been very popular since its release in 2009? Now, there’s I Spy Mum! Recently released, and in time for Mothers’ Day, it’s full of fun, energetic illustrations by Chantal Stewart and lots of lovely, rhyming rhythm to read aloud! You might even spy your mum! |
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'I Spy Mum would make a great companion for Brian's I Spy Dad, which I reviewed here at The Book Chook , and which has been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Award. Both are typical of Brian's rhyming picture books - a strong rhythm, impeccable rhyme, and above all, FUN! Fun to read aloud, fun to share with kids, and fun to discuss and respond to.' |
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| NEW - Teacher Classroom Ideas for Shirl and the Wollomby Show | ||
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The launch of Shirl and the Wollomby Show was a wonderful and woolly event. Lots of people, fun, and knitting contests! There was ‘a mudcake to taste,’ just as appeared in the story - except the sheep made ‘grassy-green jam’ as well! The launch was held at Little Picassos, Glenelg, and we were surrounded by all the wonderful pieces of art, which were connected to the story and created by the art students. Thanks kids and thanks to Janine Boyd, the director. It was wonderful to have both Kat Chadwick, the illustrator, from Melbourne over to help celebrate, and Lorraine Marwood, writer/poet from Bendigo, as the book is dedicated to her. Thanks too, to Joanne at Omnibus for all those yummy platters of food! (photo is at launch of Shirl and the Wollomby Show. Shows me on the left and illustrator, Kat Chadwick, at Little Picassos. ) |
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Do you like being scared? Just a little? Maybe a lot? Then you should dip into Short and Scary, an anthology just for you. Published by black dog books it’s full of stories and poems to send a tingle to your toes. |
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| Do you like surprises? Remember my picture book, Columbia Sneezes! about a camel that is allergic to sand? Well, it’s going to be adapted into a sculpture and placed in Thalassa Park, Aberfoyle Park, SA, as part of the Storyboard Walk. It will be one of the sculptures unveiled in September during the Poetry Unleashed Festival. How exciting! |  |
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Sometimes when a book is printed in another country the publishers re-design the cover. Here's the 2009 American version of Too Tight, Benito! transformed into Too Tight, Benny. The publisher, Sandy Creek, for the bookshop Barnes & Noble, also wanted Benito’s name changed. |
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SPECIAL PRICE! $14 plus postage and handling. Don’t know the book? Read on! Julia is on a camping trip from hell. Her stepdad has convinced her to go bush with him and his son, Robert, whom she’s only just met. But Robert is far from good company. Aloof and uninterested, he’s impossible to talk to, and Julia has had enough of trying. All she wants to do is get back home to the family life she knows and loves. If only she could. As things start going horribly, drastically wrong, it seems they’ll be lucky to make it home at all... |
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Get yourself a copy now! Write in the Guest book and tell me what you think! Terrific Teacher Activity Notes now available for Cross-Currents!
Read some testimonials from readers of Cross-Currents!: "Cross-Currents is fantastic! I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for writing it! I’ve not had either of my boys praise a book as much as this one!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "At the end of this book you walk away smiling, content that things have been resolved because Janeen has skilfully created a world in which you find yourself lost and absorbed. She builds characters that you can’t help but care and identify with." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Cross-Currents is a fast-paced, exciting read that holds the attention from start to finish. Themes include the power of cooperation, tolerance and understanding. Recommended for 11 – 15 year-old reader." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A pacy read, surprises in both the physical terrain and in the terrain of growing understanding between Julia and Robert." |
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Janeen was guest speaker at the recent Hills District Primary Schools Readers Cup. Her book, Cross-Currents, was one of 7 books selected for the teams to read. Congratulations to the winning team from Crafers Primary School! |
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Machino Supremo! Published by Celapene Press What a delightful, fun-filled book. Kids will absolutely buzz in their socks after reading all about the amazing world of machines. Janeen and Mark use onomatopoeia – stutter mutter mutter matter to describe the Jackhammer; Nozzling Nuzzling Nosing Hosing Zooming brooming Vacuum Vrooming to bring to the life The Vacuum Cleaner. This book is aquiver with energy and begs to be read aloud – a wonderful way to introduce kids to drama, action and movement. These poems are definitely Supremo! |
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Janeen Brian and Mark Carthew are thrilled to announce the release of Illustrated with great humour by John Veeken and published by Celapene Press, the fun, picture/poetry book is aimed for 7 - 10 year olds, and is Janeen and Mark’s first joint publishing venture! "It's a fabulous little book. So much cleverness packed into such a small space!" |
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Welcome to the launch of 'I Spy Dad!' It was held in Ipswich on Fathers' Day 2009, and well-known illustrators, Ann James and Terry Denton, helped act out the fun of the story, while Janeen looked on, enjoying it all! |
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Janeen had a great time visiting many schools in Melbourne during Book Week. Here she is with several students at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School. | |
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Ever played the game 'I Spy?' 'I Spy Dad!' is about a little girl looking for her dad. But with so many others, all playing and having fun with their children, will she find him? A fun, rhyming picture book for the young and the young-at-heart. 'I Spy Dad!' is bursting with bright, colourful pictures by Chantal Stewart. Can you spy a copy of 'I Spy Dad!' in your library or bookshop? |
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Janeen's much-loved Aussie Bite, Elephant Mountain, has been selected as a Notable in the Younger Readers Category of the 2009 Children's Book Council of Australia Awards! Have YOU read it yet? |
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Check this site out - a new poem each week for teachers to use with children in middle to upper primary. Poems chosen from Australian poets will be displayed, and extra ideas offered. My poems, 'Over and Over' and 'Scarecrow' are there! |
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Oddball An hilarious handball tale with a hypnotic bent in the Lightning Strike series from Walker Books. In a moment of temporary insanity, Sol Tranter challenges school bully, Aggo, to a game of handball - and what’s worse he blurts out that he is going to beat Aggo using hypnotism. Sol is miserable and desperate in equal measures, and with no plan forthcoming, he hopes for a miracle. But will one come - and will it arrive in time?! |
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'What does a bear do when he's grown too big for his cubby-hole? Meet Benito Bear, in A heart-warming story about the classic search for the thing that was never lost. "This lovely story satisfies in so many ways." |
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Janeen had a wonderful time running workshops for children and adults at the inaugural CLIC Festival in Alice Springs. (Children’s Literature in the Centre). Her book, Columbia Sneezes! even had an outback launch! Here’s Janeen with a balloon sculpture of Columbia - big hump and glasses as well! 'Columbia the camel lives in the desert, as a camel should. He likes all the spiky palm trees, the clear moonlit nights and the endless dunes. He likes it all, except for the sand carried on the desert breeze - that just makes him want to sneeze!' |
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Ever seen a camel wearing glasses? Or a desert traveller on stilts? Gabe Cunnett’s humorous illustrations make you laugh. Columbia Sneezes! is a fun picture book, published by Omnibus/Scholastic. Grab yourself a copy! (But make sure it hasn’t got sand in it!!) Rated one of the 5 top reads for Autumn from Just Kidding Magazine. Came in as Bestseller of the Week in the Highest New Entries chart from Boomerang Books. |
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"Janeen Brian is an expert at rhyming text, which never sounds forced and is always fresh, lively and full of rhythm.’ Columbia Sneezes! is ‘a story in rhyme which is perfect read-aloud fun for young children." "Inspired perhaps by ‘Hoosh!, her fine information book on camels, comes one of Janeen Brian’s most engaging picture books." |
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Are you taking part in The Premier’s Reading Challenge? Well, guess what? Janeen is now one of the Ambassadors for the Challenge. See website: www.prc.sa.edu.au She wishes you all well with your reading! |
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A QUICK QUIZ!! By Jingo! |
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Read Janeen's first Aussie Bite!, Elephant Mountain It is illustrated by Sally Rippin and published by Penguin Books. "I'll always look after you," Kasem says to the little elephant. But will Kasem be able to keep his promise? The story is based on a factual event that happened in Thailand during the 2004 tsunami. |
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Read what others say about Elephant Mountain: "Truly a beautiful and simply told story." "You did a great job of blending in background from your reading and research about Thailand, elephants and the tsunami, to make the story so believable. Kasem, your main character, really came to life too. I’m sure your readers will all keep turning the pages to see whether he gets his wish." |
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More Teacher Activity Notes are now available!!
Thanks to wonderful teacher Matt Porter, for providing them.
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