CREATORS’ MOTIVATION: stories were motivated by the creative play of Ivy, Freya ‘These Blackwood’s daughter. It reminded me of the same sort of play of my own children, especially Josephine, when they were small. The first story, the necklace, really happened although I have added some details.’ Libby Gleeson a lovely creative streak, so became a vessel ‘Like Cleo, Ivy has always had The Cleo Stories for me to remember and record some of her little creations. Most content when surrounded by toilet rolls and in her playroom making an sticky tape, Ivy’s favourite time was spent enormous mess and brilliant bedroom is littered with similar creations creations. So Cleo’s – a teddy bear with a paper mane or a beak, toilet rolls with wings attached (but never butterfly wings, always bat wings), a mask. always I was thrilled to read that Uncle Tom has ‘I‘ve respected Libby’s liberal attitude. tattooed arms and that friend Nick wants tattoos when he is older. I have a good laugh Cleo’s when I think what some to that will be! parents’ reactions the characters Libby creates, and Cleo was no exception. She is such a ‘I also enjoy refreshing and very realistic character, and I had fun fleshing her out, using Ivy as inspiration. Cleo often wears a set of rabbit or cat ears and an odd assortment of garments. She doesn’t want to wear the nice summer dress but something mismatched and inappropriate. the value in these stories for me is that Cleo is encouraged to be creative and ‘Essentially, resilient, by not getting everything she asks for. Parents are faced with constant requests for things and saying no can bring about ingenious solutions. I see it all the time in Ivy’s playroom!’ Freya Blackwood ABOUT THE AUTHORS LIBBY GLEESON AM has published over 30 popular, highly acclaimed books for children and teenagers, been shortlisted for 13 CBCA Awards, and won three. Libby has been a teacher and lecturer and contributes regularly to national conferences. She chaired the Australian Society of Authors from 1999-2001, and in 2007 was awarded membership to the
CREATORS’ MOTIVATION: ‘These stories were motivated by the creative play of Ivy, Freya Blackwood’s daughter. It reminded me of the same sort of play of my own children, especially Josephine, when they were small. The first story, the necklace, really happened although I have added some details.’ Libby Gleeson ‘Like Cleo, Ivy has always had a lovely creative streak, so The Cleo Stories became a vessel for me to remember and record some of her little creations. Most content when surrounded by toilet rolls and sticky tape, Ivy’s favourite time was spent in her playroom making an enormous mess and brilliant creations. So Cleo’s bedroom is littered with similar creations – a teddy bear with a paper mane or a beak, toilet rolls with wings attached (but never butterfly wings, always bat wings), a mask. ‘I‘ve always respected Libby’s liberal attitude. I was thrilled to read that Uncle Tom has tattooed arms and that Cleo’s friend Nick wants tattoos when he is older. I have a good laugh when I think what some parents’ reactions to that will be! ‘I also enjoy the characters Libby creates, and Cleo was no exception. She is such a refreshing and very realistic character, and I had fun fleshing her out, using Ivy as inspiration. Cleo often wears a set of rabbit or cat ears and an odd assortment of garments. She doesn’t want to wear the nice summer dress but something mismatched and inappropriate. ‘Essentially, the value in these stories for me is that Cleo is encouraged to be creative and resilient, by not getting everything she asks for. Parents are faced with constant requests for things and saying no can bring about ingenious solutions. I see it all the time in Ivy’s playroom!’ Freya Blackwood ABOUT THE AUTHORS LIBBY GLEESON AM has published over 30 popular, highly acclaimed books for children and teenagers, been shortlisted for 13 CBCA Awards, and won three. Libby has been a teacher and lecturer and contributes regularly to national conferences. She chaired the Australian Society of Authors from 1999-2001, and in 2007 was awarded membership to the