Illustrator brings stories to life

BESTSELLING author and illustrator Yuval Zommer has transformed the windows of Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard into a natural wonderland.

The work is inspired by Zommer’s Big Book of… series which encourages children to take care of nature through illustrations and fun onomatopoeiac words.

The series has been published in 25 languages and been shortlisted for several international awards.

Zommer was joined by local children last week in completing the artwork before he held a workshop at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens about creating art from recycled materials.

 

“I’m working together with children so it’s really spontaneous because I’m also asking them what their favourite things are,” he said.

“It’s an unplanned artwork that is done together with the creativity of the children and myself.”

Collins Booksellers on Lydiard owner Tracey Willersdorf said she was thrilled Zommer had chosen to visit the Ballarat shop on his trip from London.

“They chose our store, a regional store, because we have great windows and also because we could offer the craft activity with him with 30 children,” she said.

“He loves involving children and having them work with him. As each child enters the window, he draws a flower or a butterfly…and they colour that.”

 

Zommer graduated from the Royal College of Art and worked as the creative director at advertising agencies before he began to write and illustrate children’s non-fiction books.

His new book Our Islands comes out in September and includes Australia’s K’gari island.

Zommer said he hopes to encourage children to show respect for the environment.

“We are part of nature and nature is part of us and it’s our home,” he said.

“The books encourage children to love and respect out natural world and look after it.”