Awards
ASO Librarian’s Choice Award for Fiction Category – 2016
Awarded to Mel Tregonning’s Small Things from Scholastic Australian Standing Orders as the hand picked choice by Australian Librarians.
Shortlist – The CBCA – Crichton Award 2017
Mel Tregonning’s Small Things has been shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia prestigious award, Crichton Award which celebrates outstanding debut illustrators. http://cbca.org.au/crichton-award-2017
Shortlist – ABDA – Best Designed Children’s Illustrated Book Category – 2017
The Australian Book Design Association has shortlisted Mel Tregonning’s Small Things for the 2017 Best Designed Children’s Illustrated Book category. https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2017/04/18/89205/abda-book-design-awards-2017-shortlists-announced/
Media
Cover to Cover Television Interview by WritingWA.
Meri Fatin explores the creation of Small Things (Allen & Unwin), an extraordinary graphic novel created by Mel Tregonning. She is joined by Violet Tregonning, Mel’s sister, and writer-illustrator James Foley.
You can access the WritingWA website here featuring book club notes under December Book of the Month.
http://www.writingwa.org/booksreviewed/2016-book-of-the-month-book-club-notes/
Or access the interview through Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU-SR2y_mb4
The West Australian – 25 of the best WA books of 2016
Major award wins by WA writers, highly anticipated new releases from popular authors, thought-provoking books for younger readers and a haunting graphic novel (Small Things) released after its creator’s death (Mel Tregonning) were among significant books in 2016.
https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/books/from-summer-reading-to-christmas-gifts-weve-got-you-covered-ng-b88334811z
The Guardian Article
Shaun Tan completes graphic novel after author Mel Tregonning’s suicide: ‘Her absence made me try even harder’.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/23/shaun-tan-completes-graphic-novel-after-authors-suicide-her-absence-made-me-try-even-harder
Mammamia Article
Mental illness took the life of Mel Tregonning. Now her sister is publishing her book.
http://www.mamamia.com.au/small-things-violet-tregonning-on-behalf-of-mel-tregonning/
Marie Claire Magazine
Two page article in the October 2016 edition of Marie Claire AU Magazine – World Wrap Section.
ABC Brisbane Radio Interview
Interview completed with ABC Brisbane. Violet Tregonning, Mel Tregonning’s sister, shares detail about Mel Tregonning as a person, her art Small Things and possible signs a friend or family member is having suicidal thoughts. https://soundcloud.com/612abcbrisbane/small-things (for this link, text “You can listen to the interview here”)
The Project Television Interview
On the day of the book launch and exhibition opening, Violet Tregonning shares the story behind Mel Tregonning, her late sister’s book ‘Small Things’.
https://www.facebook.com/smallthingsstory/posts/1820290931533722
Triple J Hack Article
Nine years ago Mel Tregonning started working on a comic strip about a little boy overwhelmed by his worry monsters. But before she could finish it, she took her own life.
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/drawing-on-depression-to-write-graphic-novel/7734992
Events
Exhibition 15 July – 27 August 2017 Small Things: The original book illustrations by Mel Tregonning and Shaun Tan. Held by five star gallery, Bunbury Regional Arts Gallery (BRAG). https://www.brag.org.au/exhibitions/eventdetail/387/-/small-things-the-original-book-illustrations-by-mel-tregonning-and-shaun-tan.html
Exhibition 28 September 2017 Held by Curtin Alumni at the Bentley John Curtin Gallery. Both Violet and Mel Tregonning completed their degrees at Curtin University. More details coming soon.