Well known Australian author Lian Tanner visited Forbes Library on Wednesday to lead the Storytime event.
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The fun-filled event featured songs, finger puppets and the reading of Lian Tanner's children's book 'Ella and the Ocean'.
The children's book was the 2020 NSW Premier's Award Children's Literature Winner.
Ella and the Ocean 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.
Central West Libraries' Reading and Writing Coordinator Jasmine Vidler said they worked in partnership with the NSW State Library to bring authors who won the Premier's Award to regional areas.
This is part of The Going Places - Authors Tour program with the State Library of NSW, supported by the Copyright Agency Fund to allow NSW Premier's Literary Award winners to present their works.
Ms Vidler said as part of the Going Places program Ms Tanner travelled to Dubbo, Forbes and Orange to read and sing songs at storytime.
Ms Tanner said working with a young age group in the Storytime event was a learning experience but was very fun.
Ms Tanner said she enjoyed visiting the region as people have been immensely friendly and hospitable.
The Forbes Library will be host to more literary activities this year with the return of the Forbes Birth to Kinder Rhyme Time on February 5 and Forbes Library Storytime with Candice on February 12. These events will take place fortnightly during the school term.
