Lucky young readers and artists have the wonderful opportunity to join multi-award-winning author and illustrator Zeno Sworder for an interactive workshop at Belgrave Library at 11am on Friday 2 October.
The “Bringing Stories to Life: Illustrating and Writing Children’s Books” workshop will be all about writing and drawing and imaginative fun.
Sworder is the creator of the much-loved picture books This Small Blue Dot (2021) and My Strange Shrinking Parents (2023). His latest title, Once I Was a Giant (2025), won the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature.
The beautiful picture book is also the winner of the Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Book of the Year Award 2026 and the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Award 2026.
At the inspiring workshop for children, Sworder will read some of his books and share his creative process. He will also lead a range of exciting art activities, and work with kids to create their own micro picture books.
Children and adults alike will fall in love with Once I Was a Giant, which will be available for purchase on the day.
This visually astonishing book begins with a pencil speaking to a picture-book maker about her past as a giant tree, having grown from a seed and experienced all the wonderful changes that took place in her forest.
From the sunshine to the starlights, from the birds chirping upon her branches to the insects living among her barks and roots, the tree had seen it all. She also offered shelter to a tiny wanderer, and they soon became best friends.
But, when the machines came and took the tree away, shaping her “into a thousand and one different things”, the wanderer started searching… Would the two dear friends ever be reunited?
This is a deeply moving story, its words simple but subtle, its imaginary soft, quiet, dreamy yet expressive, conveying a sense of nostalgia and yearning for something that was once beautiful and innocent, not unlike our youth…
Kids may yet to learn how all things in nature are deeply connected, but they already know life is full of magic, just like a tree can transform into books that transport us to other brand new worlds. All that’s needed is a chance, for a pencil in an emerging artist’s hand to start telling the most amazing story.
The “Bringing Stories to Life: Illustrating and Writing Children’s Books” workshop is suitable for kids aged 8-12. The event is hosted by the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival. Bookings are essential via Your Library Ltd.
Note: This article was published under the title “Join author Zeno soon” by Ranges Trader Star Mail, September 29, 2026, P.21.
