Last year some lucky year 2 students attended a presentation by author illustrator Wendy Binks.  Wendy is the creator of the popular 'Stripey the emu chick' books.  Capel Primary School was very fortunate to host another visit this year by Wendy during Book Week and this time students from years 2-4 attended.  
Wendy told the children how she became an author illustrator by starting out making pottery which featured emus.  Many years down the track she decided to write a children's book and 'Stripey the emu chick' was born. Wendy showed the children the process of creating a book using samples of  her storyboard and illustrations accompanied by a slideshow. She also spoke about how emu eggs and chicks are looked after, and included the children in drawing a kookaburra using basic shapes.  
The students were kept involved by Wendy’s lively friendly style of delivering information and asking questions, and by her colourful slide show, and they all enjoyed creating a wonderful kookaburra drawing.
If you ever go to Fremantle for the day Wendy has a shop named 'Stunned Emu Designs' which sells pottery, paintings, bags, mugs and more.  You may also catch a glimpse of her life size painted cow which was auctioned for charity and raised $18,000 in Margaret River, or life size painted kangaroo at Miami Bakehouse.  Stripey the emu chick is also featuring in wallpaper in the children's wards at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Capel Primary School is very grateful to Healthway, Go for 2 & 5, Lotterywest, Government of Western Australia Department of Culture and the Arts, Children's Book Council of Australia and the Shire of Capel Libraries for making Wendy's visit to our school possible.