Sick Bag Sketch Inspires Award-Winning Book

Alison Lester, a celebrated Australian children's author, finds inspiration in nature for her widely acclaimed books. Her creative process often involves observing the natural world and translating those experiences into her studio. A remarkable instance of this involved sketching an idea for the book 'Kissed by the Moon' on an airplane sick bag during a flight from Perth, a piece now archived.

Lester's 1990 classic, 'Magic Beach,' captures the essence of summer on the Australian coast, a place she frequented since childhood. This book, which has sold over 500,000 copies and was adapted into a film in 2024, is one of four of her works nominated for a Guardian Australia best children's picture book poll. Her books often feature animals, including her own ponies and pets, and are celebrated for their distinctive, softly grainy pencil illustrations.