Treeshape - Book launch
Saturday 21st March 2026
in partnership with the Castlemaine State Festival and Castlemaine Library come along to
TREESHAPE – BOOK LAUNCH Celebrating International Day of Forests - Calling all tree lovers! Trace Balla – much loved creator of the multi-award winning Rivertime, Leaflight and Rockhopping – has a new graphic novel about the trees in her life. Come along for the launch of Trace’s new book and stay for a workshop. (AND WORKSHOP - booking out fast) Do you have a special tree in your life? In the hands-on workshop you can create a collage-cartoon-love letter-story about a particular tree or forest in your life. The book launch and workshop are both free – workshop materials are provided. 10.30am – Book Launch – no need to register, just turn up! come early for book signing.
Saturday 21st March
10.30am-12.30pm – Workshop – please register here:
Changemakers
Tuesday 24 March 2026
4pm-5pm
Storytelling, comic and collage with Trace Balla
Calling all tree lovers!
Join author and artist Trace Balla for a collage-cartoon-story workshop about a particular tree or forest in your life; and a peek behind the scenes of her new book, Treescape.
Ages 12+ years and adults.
Lake Bolac Eel Festival
Saturday 28 March 2026
11.30am to 1pm &
2pm to 3.30pm
Cartooning the Amazing Eel Story
How amazing is this! Trace Balla, renowned children’s book author/illustrator, will tell you lots of interesting information about eels, show you some tips and tricks about cartooning and then you can make your own cartoon strip, all on the themes of the amazing eels.
come along to a singalong book launch for a new book A Basket of Songs - the Castlemaine Launch will be in the courtyard cafe (yes you can by cuppas and cake!) of the Good Op Shop (yes you can go op shopping before and after!) - Trace has written the lyrics and stories behind the songs, and illustrated the book. Andrew McSweeney has made them into songs- the book comes with music sheets as well as a link to online recordings.
Cost $20- cash or card- (correct cash is faster!)
11 am Sat 16 March 2024 - the Good Op Shop, 4 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine
parking is limited so come early, or by foot or bike
Singalong city book launch for the new book A Basket Of Songs as part of the Sustainable Living Festival and Climarte.
Lyrics by Trace Balla music by Andrew McSweeney. A Basket of Songs is for everyone to connect to our hearts and things that matter. Includes stories behind the lyrics, lyrics, song sheets, link to online recordings, and beautiful illustrations. Songs for celebrations, ceremonies, schools, sunsets, around fires and kitchen tables, at memorials, on your bike, anywhere a song can be sung.
11.00am, 17th February, 2024. Fitzroy Gardens (near the Old Bandstand - cnr Clarendon & Grey Sts East Melb)
books $20 -cash or card - correct cash is fastest!
come along to the city launch of Trace’s new graphic novella Leaf-light (2023)
talks, book sales, signing, singalong with Andrew McSweeney to Trace’s lyrics, listen to Wildlife Vic speaker, and Trace will give a peep at how she created the book.
come by tram or bike, 11 am Tues 26th sept Botanic Gardens, Dallas Brooks drive, Naarm, Melbourne
Book Launch 11 am, sat Aug 5th, 2023
Castlemaine Visitors Info Centre
come along to the book launch of Leaf-light! We will have a chat about making the book, a bunch of thanks and some songs to celebrate with songman Andrew McSweeney, (some of Trace’s lyrics to join in singing with ) book sales and signing.
Join Miri and Wingo on their quest to help a rescued baby emu find their feet in the world… a beautiful ode to working together to make the world a better place. A story about friendship, taking down barriers and creating community, finding your own path in the world and inspiring others along the way. A stand-alone companion to Landing with Wings.
Trace and Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, having a sneak peek at a preview copy of Leaf-Light
launching in Castlemaine on August 5th, and in Melbourne Domain House BOTANICAL GARDENS on Tues 26 Sept - 11am 2023
Catching Stories with Trace Balla
Free Event
Join much loved author-illustrator, graphic novelist and animator, Trace Balla, for a free captivating story-catching webinar.
In her acclaimed books, Trace’s vibrant storytelling process combines words, images and other graphic elements to bring stories to life.
In this fun webinar she reveals how to catch, stretch and activate stories to bring kids alive to the love of creative literacy.
Books That Move You
BOOKS THAT MOVE YOU
A professional development workshop for teachers hosted by Environment Education Victoria
Firekeepers spring holiday program
Cartoon Story Catching, Stretching and Hatching with Trace Balla
Author-illustrator, Trace Balla, has caught many stories on her travels down rivers and across landscapes, and hatched them into award-winning picture books such as Rivertime, Rockhopping, and The Thank You Dish.
To launch Firekeepers Spring Holiday Program:
Join Trace on a virtual creative adventure workshop, where we will combine our stories, stretch them, and hatch them to make a group adventure cartoon story. Trace will give you lots of tips and tricks to inspire you to create your own little cartoon strips that you can share with the village on the Firekeepers Community Facebook page.
Suitable for all ages and abilities.
You will need: A biro, dark pencil, or dark Texta, and some a4 or a3 paper
Cycling Together Book Launch
Due to Covid restrictions we are moving the launch online. Click the button below at 11am on the 18th of September to join Trace, Mark Balla, Jane Bennett and Saltgrass podcast creator Alison Hanly who will be chatting about Trace’s new graphic novella, Cycling Together. Click the button below to join the launch from 11am, Saturday 18th September. There are two launch buttons - the left one is for computer users, the right is for IPad and Mobile users.
A True Roo Tale of Wandering and Wondering, set on Djaara Country, south eastern Australia. Created to honour the gentle kangaroos that live among us, as well as to acknowledge and support local wildlife rescue and care workers and shelters. A thoughtful graphic novella about Trace’s relationship with the local roos- for all ages, that you can color in. All proceeds go to the Red Box Wildlife shelter.
Soon Available in shops and as an ebook
join Trace for some super fun, free cartoon making workshops at the Woodend and Bendigo libraries, and learn about Boobook owls!
bookings filling fast - follow the links