AustLit

'David Metzenthen (1958) lives in and loves Melbourne, where he was born. After completing his schooling in Australia, Metzenthen travelled to New Zealand, where he worked in a range of jobs including gardener, grave-digger, and hotel porter. On his return to Australia, he worked as a copywriter for Radio 3DB, for Grundy Television, and for Myer. While at Grundy Television, Metzenthen wrote a short story which was published in The Australian. Since then, he has been writing full-time. His first novel, Danger Wave, was published in 1990.' (Introduction)

'Jeannie Baker is the author and illustrator of thirteen critically acclaimed picturebooks. Her characteristic use of mixed media to create detailed and elaborate "relief collages" is stunningly original. Born in Croydon, London, England on November 2, 1950, she studied at the Croydon College of Art (1967–69) and attended Brighton College of Art (1969–72) in Sussex, where she gained an Honours Degree in Art and Design. She worked as a commissioned artist before illustrating her first book, Polar (1975) by Elaine Moss, and then published Grandfather (1977), which she had created at art college.' (Introduction)

'Fall 1956: A member of the board of directors of the Rockefeller Foundation came to visit Jella Lepman in Munich. He told the sixty-five-year-old founder of the International Youth Library and of the International Board of Books for Young People about a world-wide project for developing countries, initiated and financed by UNESCO, the Rockefeller Foundation, and other American foundations. The aim was to support the developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in their modernization and industrialization efforts in the areas of economics, politics, and culture. Could Jella Lepman have imagined participating in this project and incorporating children's literature? Lepman did not hesitate. The temptation to spread the word about the power of children's literature to promote international understanding and peace further around the world was far too great. In her autobiography, A Bridge of Children's Books, Lepman remembers: "This would be a unique opportunity to spread the idea of international understanding through children's books to countries that were just coming into their own. Once more, fate was knocking at my door." Back then, no one would have guessed that this memorable meeting would mark the beginning of the journal Bookbird.' (Introduction)

'Just as the periodical serves as a common forum, it also grew out of the common work. The somewhat poetical name—Bookbird—was given by Jella Lepman to the little mimeographed information sheet that was published at irregular intervals following her foundation of the International Youth Library. Unfortunately, this first little "Book-Bird" was to die shortly after.' (Introduction)