Balingup transformed into a storybook world on July 7 and 8 for the annual Telling Tales in Balingup event.
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Over 300 families from all over WA were treated to a weekend of children’s storytelling sessions, and workshops with WA authors and illustrators.
Published authors and illustrators including, Norman Jorgensen, Elaine Forrestal, Gabriel Evans, Cristy Burne, Josh Langley, Deb Fitzpatrick and more all proved to be wonderful inspirations to children young and old.
Authors read from their books and shared their experiences of how they get inspiration for their stores.
They also shared their different experiences of the process involved in writing and publishing a children’s book.
Talented illustrator Gabriel Evans from Bridgetown, headed an impressive line-up of children’s story book illustrators.
Their sessions had the children mesmerised, and inspired many to ‘give it a go themselves’.
The Balingup Town Hall was a hive of activity with workshops in creative writing, kite making and book binding.
Local story tellers took up residence in the cafés and other quaint and quirky venues throughout the town.
They treated the children to May Gibbs, Roald Dahl, Dr Zuess and Rudyard Kipling.
A popular addition this year was the song-writing session with Mary and Sarah Evan which explored story telling through song.
Winners of the inaugural Geraldine Hallahan Children’s Writing Competition were announced on Saturday.
The main street was adorned with a host of quirky ‘story book scarecrow characters’, while Many business owners dressed in character.
Saturday’s procession of story book characters was a hit once again with the King & Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, Captain Hook and ‘Mary and her little lamb’.
Telling Tales in Balingup has established itself as an annual event with plans already underway for 2019.
Festival organisers were thrilled with the response and next year’s event will include a film-making workshops.
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