The upcoming issue of The Jewish Quarterly presents the diary of Yitskhok Rudashevski, a Jewish teenager in the Vilna Ghetto. An only child, Rudashevski was transferred to the ghetto at age 13 and used a small notebook to chronicle his experiences, wonder, hopes and regrets. The diary was later discovered in an attic which was the final hiding place for him and his parents. On Tuesday 12 November, join Samuel Kassow in conversation with David Slucki as they discuss Yitskhok Rudashevski’s remarkable diary, filled with the observations of a teenager whose belief in culture, history and knowledge defied the cruelty that surrounded him.
Event Topic: Children & Young People
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Scratch and Sniff with Tami — Children’s Session
Tami Sussman’s hilarious and heart-warming debut So That Happened … tackles leaving your childhood home and memories behind, how to be a good friend (and realise when you have been a bad one) and most importantly, how to get back up when it feels like the world has knocked you down. Aspiring (and reluctant) writers aged 9-12 are invited to tap into their own creative juices at this exclusive ‘scratch and sniff’ workshop and Q&A hosted by the author.
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The World According to Idan — Children’s Session
Idan Ben Barak’s Do Not Lick This Book! can be found in most homes around Australia. Idan likes writing about things in the world – and ourselves – that we normally don’t pay attention to. Come and find out about what your brain can and cannot do; how many senses you really have (hint: more than five); what your skin looks like from up close and what lives there, and other weird things that happen to be true.
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Hila Tells Stories: Max and The Wild Things — Children’s Session
Max and The Wild Things – an Interactive Theatre Show based on Maurice Sendak’s iconic book, that invites children to Max’s wild world where big emotions rule! The show follows a boy named Max who takes the audience on an adventure to a magical land filled with strange and wonderful creatures known as The Wild Things. Through music, dance, and storytelling, Max learns valuable lessons about family, imagination, and the power of being true to oneself.
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The Ultimate Betrayal: When children are prey
Since time immemorial, people in power have sought to take advantage of their innocent subjects. This is no more prevalent than within religious institutions, where the semblance of piety, coupled with the naivety of the young and faithful, provides a perfect cloak and cover for child sexual abuse. Michael Visontay discusses the ultimate betrayal with survivors from within the ultra orthodox Jewish community, Dassi Erlich and Manny Waks, as well as Anne Manne whose research covers a particularly sinister, pedophilic network within the Anglican church.
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Book Chat: Anna Cidor on ‘The Boy Who Stepped Through Time’
Anna Ciddor is an author and illustrator who has made her name as a versatile writer and illustrator of fiction, travel and historical books for primary school children and older readers. Her Viking Magic historical fantasy series has earned her fans throughout the world. Anna is a patron for OZ Kids, an organisation that promotes and supports children’s literary and artistic talents and a 2021 Ambassador for Australian readers.
In her book chat, Anna discusses The Boy Who Stepped Through Time, her time-slip adventure about a boy transported back 1700 years to Roman times. She explores the complexity — and tremendous fun! — of weaving plot, character development and historical fact into her work.
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Creative Writing Through Circus Skills (for primary-aged children)
Simi Genziuk facilitates a unique creative writing workshop for children by combining her two passions, circus and writing. Participants learn the basis of three to four circus skills and use the experience as the inspiration for creative writing exercises. As part of the event, storyteller Zoe Bell will be doing a reading of Simi’s book, So She Did.
This workshop is one hour in duration, and participants find it extremely gratifying. Most kids leave with a skill and a story!
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Bubbles of wonder (for pre-school children)
Dr Hubble is Australia’s favourite bubble man. He loves bubbles and can make them do amazing things. He manipulates simple soap bubbles to create miraculous moments of wonder. Dr Hubble will show you bubbles you have never seen before: the square bubble, the octagon bubble, the chimney and the explode-a-bubble. This is a fun, funny and slightly educational show with subtle storytelling and a message of sustainability woven through it. You’ll have to see it to believe it.