Full day outline
9.30am–9.45am: Arrive at National Library of Australia
9.50am–10am: Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
10am–11am: First Dog on The Moon
11.15am–12.15pm: Marly Wells and Linda Wells
1pm–2pm: Amie Kaufman
Session descriptions
Session 1
First Dog on the Moon: Revenge of the Toxic Space Potato
Join award-winning Guardian cartoonist First Dog on the Moon for this creative and delightfully chaotic session. Stripped of their powers and stranded on Mars, the Indefatigable EnviroTeens must stop the sinister Baron Kartuffelpoffen from siphoning all of Earth’s water. Along the way, they’ll navigate a galaxy of absurd villains, unexpected allies, and interstellar challenges. Come for the wacky intergalactic adventures, stay for the sharp environmental satire that will fire you up to protect our planet!
Session 2
Marly Wells and Linda Wells: Desert Tracks
Millie’s extraordinary adventure begins when she borrows a history book because she sees herself and her life reflected on the cover – a rare experience for a young Black reader. Desert Tracks is a captivating time-travelling novel set in Central Australia that explores how the legacy of racist policies continues to shape the present. Authors Marly Wells and Linda Wells will discuss the power of stories to challenge and change perspectives and deepen understanding of our shared histories, along with why it is so important for young people to see themselves represented in books.
Session 3
Amie Kaufman: Everyday Magic
Amie Kaufman is a bestselling, award-winning author whose young adult science fiction and fantasy novels have found readers across the globe. In this session, Amie will share where her ideas come from, and the role storytelling plays in helping us understand ourselves and the world around us. Focusing on her novels Red Star Rebels, The Isles of the Gods and Lady’s Knight, students will gain insights into the creative process and discover what it takes to build characters and worlds that readers care about. Bring your curiosity and imagination and leave inspired to tell your own stories.
