THERE were bums, toads and blabbermouths inside the Wagga Marketplace at the weekend but there was no need for alarm – they were just part of a stack of Morris Gleitzman books.
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The widely-acclaimed children’s author was surrounded by fans of all ages at The Book Shop on Saturday, everyone eager to meet the literary genius and grab themselves a signed copy of his latest book, Extra Time.
As he sat at the table, Mr Gleitzman fielded questions from fans of all ages and heard stories from parents about how his books had influenced their children to read.
“They’re a very friendly and well-read bunch ... we’ve had a good time,” Mr Gleitzman said.
“It’s a big thrill for me to meet young adults who grew up on my books and are now giving them to their own kids or using them in classrooms as teachers.
“It makes me feel a little bit old at times, but in a nice kind of way.”
Cootamundra High School teachers Erin Sheppard and Britt Phelps were out shopping when they unexpectedly spotted Mr Gleitzman and made a beeline for him immediately.
The pair, who grew up reading his books, described Gleitzman as “amazing” and “brilliant” and planned to use his portrayal of relevant life events as classroom tools.
“He tackles some heavy themes and issues but it’s accessible to students of all literacy levels,” Ms Sheppard said.
From Blabber Mouth to Bumface and Misery Guts, the English-born Australian author has written more than 30 books, each with its own identity.
“I’ve always believed that stories shouldn’t shy away from tough areas of life because stories can also remind us we’re always capable of love and friendship,” he said.
“I realised early in my career (even though) kids have smaller bodies than adults, they’re still interested in the big things in life.”