Orange City Library Storytime for children returns with author visit

The Literacy Program which runs in conjunction with schools' term one will run Tuesday, February 2, at 11am, Wednesday, February 3, at 11am and on Thursday, February 4, at 11am.

Thursday's event will feature award-winning author Lian Tanner, the creator of Ella and the Ocean.

Ms Tanner was the winner of the NSW Premier's Award Children's Literature for 2020. Her book tells the story of Ella who lives in the outback with her farming family during extreme drought.

After years without rain, Ella's parents and older brother are exhausted from keeping the farm going and pay little attention when Ella tells them of a dream she has had about the ocean.

"However, Ella's grandmother knows that dreams are important and convinces the family to make the arduous journey to the coast," the book's synopsis states.

Ella and the Ocean was praised by judges in the NSW Premier's Award for being a "flawlessly composed and executed picture book" which "is perfect for young children and will continue to delight on multiple readings thanks to its sophisticated, multi-layered, and allusive text".

"While at the simplest level this is a story about a child and her desire to see the ocean, the book has extraordinary depth, exploring drought, climate change, family, resilience, dreams, and hope," the judges said.

"Ella and the Ocean is a sensitive intergenerational story that reflects the beauty and the terror of our wide brown land and validates the experience of those who live in drought, longing for water. It enables young readers to experience this, and other difficult and fearful circumstances, vicariously. It is a story that could be placed into the hands of children anywhere in Australia and the world over, to be appreciated and loved."

The special event is part of The Going Places - Authors Tour program with the State Library of NSW and is supported by the Copyright Agency Fund to allow NSW Premier's Literary Award winners to present their works in regional NSW.

Storytime places can be booked online at eventbrite or by calling Orange City Library on 6393 8132.