Still available Term 1 & 2, 2022: Littlelight

Our 30% off interactive "virtual incursion" option. Click here!!

For 2022 Book Week

Touring Term 3, 2022 to Term 2, 2023

2022 CBCA Notable

"Picture Book of the Year"

LIVE stage show

or interactive VIRTUAL show at 30% off!

THE IMAGINEER

By Christopher Cheng & Lucia Masciullo

Published by NLA Publishing

Adapted for the stage/screen, music & performed by "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed

Technical Design by Zac Krause & Tony

Music by Natalie Calia Dip.Ed, Gerald Marko & Tony

"The best children's theatre I've ever seen. I have seen and organised many visiting entertainments and Tony (& his company) was by far the best." Fairfield PS, VIC

How does the interactive virtual incursion work?

The live production is cleverly adapted to make it work more effectively for a professionally filmed & edited performance that students can stream & interact with:

• at a school assembly;

• in their classroom;

• or even individually by students at home if they are away sick that day.

"Loved the live-action engaging and interactive nature of the show. It actually felt like we were at a live theatre show even though it was virtual!"

St. Augustine’s PS, Frankston South, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

"EVERYONE LOVED IT! They thought it was fun and colourful and the students were all so engaged... It was such a fantastic show, I certainly enjoyed it just as much as the students did"

Mount Waverley North PS, VIC for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL.

Everything from the live show & more is captured with:

• multiple top-end 5K cameras;

• full DMX stage lighting;

• pro sound;

• plus several additional visual technical elements & green screen technology integrated to enhance the live production.

"Thank you so so so much for all your valuable resources and an amazing brilliant 'virtual show'. Our students were engaged throughout the performance and thoroughly enjoyed watching it, from our Prep students right up to our Year 6 students. The teachers enjoyed it too and gave it a thumbs up. Thanks also for the FAQ video which we will be coming back to. Everything worked well and was seamless which was fantastic. The quality was spot on - so clear that it made you feel that you were actually in the room... I will certainly be recommending you to my other teacher librarian colleagues as a 'must have' performance for their schools."

St Leonard's PS, Glen Waverley, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

"After having you perform at our school in previous years, we knew the show would be good, but with having to perform a virtual show, we could never have imagined it would be incredible. Your show exceeded all of our expectations and both staff and students absolutely loved it... Even through a screen, you have the ability to engage, entertain and inspire our students... a truly amazing show - a highlight of our Book Week."

Caulfield Grammar, Malvern, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

Filmed with multiple camera angles & sparkling 4K clarity gives every student the very best seat in the house & make them a part of bringing books to life.

"The staff and students loved the show... extremely impressed with how you made the illustrations come to life and were able to put yourself into the illustrations. Everyone from Foundation to year 6 thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and were extremely impressed by how life-like everything was... Congratulations on a fantastic performance. I hope to book the performance again next year."

St Fidelis' Catholic PS, Coburg, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

"The kids really enjoyed it and were quite captivated by it. They particularly enjoyed the change of character and how he made them feel like he was in their home. Great show!"

Marist Catholic College, North Shore, NSW for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL

The pre-recorded performance is professionally edited to add in a host of special digital effects to make full use of the green screen technology & create opportunities that the live show just can't offer.

"Grades enjoyed (the show), teachers enjoyed your jokes! Looking forward to seeing you again... Even though it was on the tv it was great that you found ways to interact with the kids... The green screen effects were great... The show was great, loved that even though it was virtual, it was still interactive"

Morang South PS, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

Multiple interactive activities are included in the filmed performance for students to participate in from the hall, classroom or at home. These are designed to get the students up & moving to be part of the action, making the audience feel as if they are actually in & around the characters in the show.

"I received a lot of great feedback on your show this year. Although they love having you in person and the wonderful theatre vibe that brings, this year's virtual incursion had so many pluses!  It was great being able to have 3 shows in our Hall... It meant there was a lot more room to move about when you had the interactive parts. These were really enjoyable and the students commented they wanted more! They particularly liked the signal flags and by you pointing out into the audience, the students organised who came out the front without any direction/instruction from the teachers whatsoever!... Thanks again for the great show you put on this year."

Gilles Street PS, Adelaide, SA for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

"As a teacher, it was brilliant. The story that we had been focusing on all week was brought to life and was wonderful. From a students perspective, they loved it. We had students up out of their chairs and engaging in the many interactive moments, singing, dancing, speaking strange languages and using what we had gathered as props."

Melton CC, VIC for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL.

We also provide a list of optional props to be collected that can then be used by students within the show in their own classroom to enhance the interactive virtual experience. Many schools get their Year 6 students to be in charge of running these props in the shows as a fun leadership activity for them to share with their schoolmates.

"Our students were so highly engaged for the whole show, and erupted into applause at the end!! It was, as always, a very cleverly structured show with student needs in mind and appealed to absolutely everyone. We appreciated being able to pause it a couple of times when needed. And the props were a wonderful way to create interaction. I prepped our year 6/7 class on the day before to be prop managers. They sat down the sides and supported and encouraged all the other students while each having a job such as choosing a student and coaching them to do the Northern Lights or spraying water everywhere! It was a fantastic way to fully engage those older children and have them being responsible and generous. Thank you so very much and congratulations on your successful adventure into virtual incursions!”

Newbery Park PS, SA for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

"It was amazing! We used the sets & props run by the senior students and everyone absolutely loved it... Thank you for a fantastic virtual performance. For 2 days the library was transformed into the town of Littlelight and generated much excitement with students from Prep to Year 6 attending. They all loved it and enjoyed being part of the show. The information you provided on your website regarding the interactive components of the performance including the optional props was comprehensive and extremely helpful. We took full advantage of your suggestions, involving all the year 6 students in running the interactive activities. It enabled all the students to become part of the show making it a much better experience. We ran 3 sessions over the 2 days and having the virtual performance enabled us to work around the other specialist lessons making it less disruptive to the scheduled learning.  The year 6 students provided some feedback:  They wanted to know if they could run the show again next year... They thought the interactive activities really made the show."

Chinchilla CC, QLD for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL.

Teachers have the ability to pause the show during these activities to organise students in the room to participate safely & join in the fun.

"Students of all year levels enjoyed the performance... the ability to stop the performance to explain aspects to the students and to organise the students for interacting with the performance was a bonus... the students just loved the way the use of props helped them to interact with the performance. The props really made the whole experience something the students will remember and talk about"

Otways MARC, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

Great for teaching and observing the aspects of Drama. Props and Sets were effective. The links all worked perfectly. We had all of the props ready to go. We had watched the reading by Kelly Canby and the YouTube preview on Tuesday, which really helped. The interactive segments were engaging and quite funny at times... Many references were made to Australian authors and children’s books, which could flow on to literacy. This performance could effectively be used with different age groups across primary... The Q &A link provided interesting information about props, costumes (cheap easy ones!) etc. It would be useful if you are trying to design and create your own performance. All-in-all it was very well done, and could easily be used in many KLA’s, and as inspiration for a performance."

St Francis Xavier's PS, Urana, NSW for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL

A filmed in-depth student FAQ session is included where “Tony Bones” takes the students through the creation of the show, the content & messages in the book, plus where he provides answers to common questions. Check out the 2021 version of this here. Teachers then have the ability to email through their students’ additional questions which Tony will reply to via video clips that can be played back to the students within 24 hours. If scheduling allows these extra questions can even be done as a live video call with your school group via Zoom, Webex, Google Meet or Skype at no extra cost. Also included are easy to follow teacher notes & guided discussions for teachers to run before & after the virtual performance to give the students a greater understanding of the content & a more meaningful interaction with the show. This is in addition to the extensive teacher resources & lesson plans already available for the live performance.

"I was blown away! It’s obvious you’ve put so much time and effort into the production value of this virtual incursion and I appreciated the quality as well as the content... It was surprisingly interactive and adaptable to the online ‘zoom’ classroom as well as projected for the kids of essential workers at school and it worked well in both environments. The extra classroom resources were abundant and could span several weeks so I’m looking forward to revisiting this book and using your video, songs, resources and the memories the kids made today."

Melton CC, VIC for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL

Wonderful entertainment for my class... Students were excited to participate in the actions and sat and watched your portrayal intently.  I also provided as many of the props as possible which added to the student's experience.  They particularly liked it when they were splashed with water during the turbulent water/sea scene!... We watched the Q and A later that afternoon.  I wasn't sure whether my class would be able to sit through this due to their age and concentration span?  Surprisingly they were most interested.  We watched this for about half an hour and will come back to watch this further in the coming week.  This deepened the student's experience of the production. A plethora of further resources was very much appreciated for further and future learning. Overall, the portrayal was magnificent... We all enjoyed this sooooo much!"

S.S. Peter and Paul's PS, East Doncaster, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL

Schools will be provided with a hyperlink & a unique password to unlock the virtual performance on the specific day of their booking. They can then share that link with all teachers at their school who have a class booked for the performance.

"It was so well done... The link worked perfectly and there were no issues regarding set-up… I could tell the kids really enjoyed it… as did (the other Year 6 teacher) and I! The students were really engaged throughout"

Chatham PS, Surrey Hills, VIC for 2020's 'Hello Lighthouse' VIRTUAL.

The price for the interactive virtual performance is a huge 30% off the live show price +GST.

• Within "Book Week" itself just $5.25+GST/student;

• or any other week just $4.55+GST/student;

• minimum 120 students or for schools with less than 150 students it is simply 80% of the entire primary school enrolment.

Simply indicate in your enquiry as to whether you'd like the live show or the virtual incursion option.

"I’ve seen a live performance of yours as well and have to say that while the kids obviously miss out on so much in remote learning, they haven’t missed out on this special experience. It was genuinely comparable to a live show and that’s quite an accomplishment!"

Melton CC, VIC for 2021's 'Littlelight' VIRTUAL.

Teacher Frequently Asked Questions for the new 2022 virtual performance:

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions by teachers at the moment. Just let us know if there are any other questions that are not covered here.

1. Do the students and teachers have to read the book before seeing the virtual show?

2. Do we have to collect & use the suggested optional props in the virtual show?

3. Do all the students need to watch the virtual show at the same time?

4. Do I need to register for an account to watch the virtual show?

5. When will I get access to the virtual show?

6. Do I need to run a test of playing the virtual show at school?

7. Can the staff watch the virtual show first so they know what to expect?

8. How does the student FAQ's (frequently asked questions) section work after the virtual show?

9. How long does the virtual show & student FAQ section go?

10. Are there lesson plans & teacher resources?

11. How long will it take for you to respond to student’s questions that we email through?

12. Can we keep a copy of the virtual show for the future?

13. Can we have access to the virtual show over multiple days?

1. Do the students and teachers have to read the book before seeing the virtual show?

This is not mandatory but it is highly recommended. The teachers or senior students running the optional props will better understand where everything happens if they have already read the book. The students who have already read the book before experiencing the show respond far better to our Book Week performances because they understand the source material & can see how we have adapted it. And it is a Book Week show after all so we’d love to encourage the students to read the book, not just experience the show. If a copy of the book cannot be sourced before the show then just let us know & we'll come up with a solution. It is recommended that students have read the book in class at some point in the week leading up to your show date, but maybe not on the day of the show itself as this can mean they are seeing the book twice in one day.

2. Do we have to collect and use the suggested optional props in the virtual performance?

No, it is optional, but the feedback from our past schools was that the students LOVED LOVED LOVED them & had so much fun bringing "Books To Life" in their own classroom with their teachers & classmates. As stated, many schools get their Year 6 students to be in charge of running these props in the shows as a fun leadership activity for them to share with their schoolmates. Some schools have had a lot of success getting their Year 6 students to experience the show in the very first session of the day then have them run all of the props for all of their junior classes, already knowing exactly what happened when in the show & how to make it work best for the students so that the teachers could sit back & relax. If you only have one set of the props then those senior students can then also be in charge of shuffling props from one class to the next if you have multiple groups seeing the show all starting in 5 or 10 minute intervals. The Year 6 students love the leadership opportunity to "run the show" & the teachers get to relax. How clever is that?

3. Do all the students need to watch the virtual show at the same time?

No. Many schools run the virtual incursion in their individual classrooms for either their one class or sometimes a few classes together, depending on how many comfortably fit in the room. If every classroom has a decent screen to watch it on then it works fine. If not then just use the best room a few times for the different groups during the day. You have unlimited use of the footage for that entire school day (8.30am to 3.30pm) & can watch it as many times as you like with small or large groups. It is up to you. Even individual students who might be at home can watch the show if you email them the link & password to use.

4. Do I need to register for an account to watch the virtual show?

You do not need to register for an account with Vimeo. Like Youtube, anyone can watch a video on Vimeo just by clicking on a link.

5. When will I get access to the virtual show?

We will email you the link & password for the virtual incursion at 9.15am the morning before the show to forward to the appropriate staff at your school. The password will only work from 8am of the day your show is booked until 4pm. On the day of the show whenever each class is ready to watch the show the teachers simply click on the link I’ll have emailed you & enter the password that comes with it. Then the video will play on the screen, streaming from Vimeo. There are instructions for this in the email that is sent with the link & password the day before your virtual performance.

6. Do I need to run a test of playing the virtual show at school?

We do recommend running a test at school before the day to make sure that the Vimeo website is not blocked by your school's network (unlikely but possible) by playing our 2020 show trailer at this link while at school: https://vimeo.com/469142406 If in the unlikely event that Vimeo is blocked at your school then please contact your ICT staff to ask them to ensure that it is unlocked for the day of the show & for whenever classes want to access the student FAQ footage afterwards.

7. Can the staff watch the virtual show first so they know what to expect & when to use the optional props?

We're not offering the option to preview the show itself, however:

• The show follows the storyline of the picture book very closely;

• Closer to the show date you can watch the show trailer to get a feel of how it will look; 

• The student FAQ will be available for the students to watch after the show but it will also be available for teachers to watch before the show if you prefer. It will be released a little closer to the show date & will go through in great detail how we made the show;

• Detailed notes & page images will be sent through before the show to let you know exactly when & how to use the optional props.

8. How does the student FAQ's (frequently asked questions) section work after the show?

If you watch through the short credits at the end there is a little message from me to camera about the questions. The 45 minute FAQ video is at a separate link which will be emailed to all teachers along with the show link. This video has no password & is available to go back to whenever your classes want to work through any of that content. After they have experienced the virtual show the students can watch just the first part of the FAQ about the book or jump to whichever section the teachers would like them to look at (the puppets, props, etc). The FAQ link will also be on our website. you can even check out our 2020 student FAQ video here.

9. How long does the show and student FAQ section go?

The virtual show is 40-45 minutes. The FAQ is 30-45 minutes. Staff & students are free to just watch a bit of the FAQ directly after the show then come back to it another time if that suits.

10. Are there lesson plans and teacher resources?

Yes. A huge amount of lesson plans, videos & teachers resources are available on our website to use before or after the show as your teachers wish. These can be accessed once the book title is announced in May 2022 at: https://www.bookstolife.com.au/2022-Show/#TeacherResources

11. How long will it take for you to respond to student questions that we email through?

We'll have recorded a 30-45 minute "FAQ" section that the school has unlimited access to for the rest of the year & this goes through the content of the book, the use of puppets, mask, props, sets, music, etc. There will also be links on our website to the author/illustrator's website as well as many other video & written resources at https://www.bookstolife.com.au/2022-Show/#TeacherResources If there are more questions that we haven't covered in all of that then the classes should feel free to email them through to us at tony@bookstolife.com.au With multiple schools seeing the show each day at various times we will send a video answer to all questions by the next school day so that we always have time to get them prepared, shot & sent overnight.

12. Can we keep a copy of the virtual show for the future?

Unfortunately no. For the FAQ section you have free access forever, but not for the virtual show itself. Like the live show, no digital recordings of the show can be made. Filming your students getting up & involved is encouraged but no copies of the film itself can be made as it is a breach of copyright. We do not have unlimited rights from the author/illustrator or book publisher to perform the book beyond this season, nor from the musicians that we compose the songs with, nor from the designer of the film. All of these artists sign contracts where the deal is that the students get to see the live show once (or in the virtual show as many times as they like on one school day) but not that they then own the show forever. It is like buying a movie ticket to watch a film at the cinema, not like buying a DVD that you keep afterwards & watch forever. The costs for that would be much much higher. The project is only developed as a term-long tour, virtual or live, so any copies used after that are breaching those artists' copyright.

13. Can we have access to the virtual show over multiple days?

Yes, if it is necessary for your school to do it that way to run it in library sessions we can accommodate that request. We do however prefer schools to watch the show all on the same day if it is possible, just as they would with the live show, at different times throughout the day if required to suit your school schedule. As a whole school activity, this means students can communicate with other students at school about the show that they have all seen on the same day, which makes it a special shared experience for them.

Past CBCA Short Listed Books that "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed has adapted & performed include...

35 CBCA SHORTLISTED & NOTABLE-LISTED BOOKS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY "TONY BONES" APPLEBY B.ED FOR BOOKS TO LIFE & TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director & Performer

36 - Littlelight (2021 - based on the picture book by Kelly Canby)

35 - Hello Lighthouse (2020 - based on the picture book by Sophie Blackall)

34 - The All New Must Have Orange 430 (2019 - based on the picture book by Michael Speechley)

33 - A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the picture book by Gwyn Perkins)

32 - The Windy Farm (2014 - based on the picture book by Doug McLeod & Craig Smith)

31 - My Life As An Alphabet (2014 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Barry Jonsberg)

30 - Herman & Rosie (2013 - based on the picture book by Gus Gordon)

29 - Other Brother (2013 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Simon French)

28 - No Bears (2012 - based on the picture book by Meg McKinlay)

27 - Bungawitta (2012 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Emily Rodda)

26 - Two Peas in a Pod (2011 - based on the picture book by Chris McKimmie)

25 - Duck For A Day (2011 - based on the younger reader's novel by Meg McKinlay)

24 - Schumann the Shoeman (2010 - based on the picture book by John & Stella Danalis)

23 - Matty Forever (2010 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Elizabeth Fensham)

22 - Nobody Owns The Moon (2009 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)

21 - Audrey Of The Outback (2009 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Christine Harris)

20 - The Night Garden (2008 - based on the picture book by Elise Hurst)

19 - Amelia Dee & The Peacock Lamp (2008 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)

18 - Water Witcher (2007 - based on the picture book by Jan Ormerod)

17 - Being Bee (2007 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Catherine Bateson)

16 - Irving The Magician (2006 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)

15 - To The Light (2006 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Pat Flynn)

14 - At The Beach - Postcards from Crabby Spit (2005 - based on the picture book by Roland Harvey)

13 - Billy Mack’s War (2005 - based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)

12 - Milli, Jack & the Dancing Cat (2004 - based on the picture book by Stephen Michael King)

11 - Stella By The Sea (2004 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Ruth Starke)

10 - Bear & Chook (2003 - based on the picture book by Lisa Shanahan & Emma Quay)

9 - Tom Jones Saves The World (2003- based on the younger reader’s novel by Steven Herrick)

8 - Horrible Harriet (2002 - based on the picture book by Leigh Hobbs)

7 - My Story - A Different Sort Of Real - The Diary Of Charlotte McKenzie - Melbourne 1918 (2002 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Kerry Greenwood)

6 - When Dogs Cry (2002 - based on the older reader’s novel by Markus Zusak)

5 - The Singing Hat (2001 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)

4 - Something's Fishy, Hazel Green! (2001 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)

3 - Touch Me (2001 - based on the older reader’s novel by James Moloney)

2 - Captain Mack (2000 - by Tony Appleby based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)

1 - Tyro (2000 - based on the older reader’s novel by David McRobbie)

Where will Books To Life tour in 2022???

Our interactive virtual performance is available to schools in all states & territories in Australia and all regions of New Zealand.

For our live show tour, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide & Hobart. Sure, we tour the live show of the 2022 Book Week show to these capital cities, but we also tour the 2022 Book Week show absolutely anywhere in Australia, as long as we can cover the cost of touring the show there.

Sometimes this involves asking schools who book the show in more regional or even very remote areas to then spread the word to their network of teachers at other schools to increase their own audience numbers or to get another school in the area to also book the show. But rest assured, if you can get enough students there to cover the costs, then we're happy to bring the show to you. So let's get specific. Exactly where & when do Books To Life tour in Australia?

Reviews for our Books To Life 2021 interactive virtual incursion of "Littlelight":

"The students loved the show!... They were all engaged" Sathya Sai School, Murwillumbah, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school

"It was amazing! We used the sets & props run by the senior students and everyone absolutely loved it... Thank you for a fantastic virtual performance... For 2 days the library was transformed into the town of Littlelight and generated much excitement with students from Prep to Year 6 attending. They all loved it and enjoyed being part of the show. The information you provided on your website regarding the interactive components of the performance including the optional props was comprehensive and extremely helpful. We took full advantage of your suggestions, involving all the year 6 students in running the interactive activities. It enabled all the students to become part of the show making it a much better experience. We ran 3 sessions over the 2 days and having the virtual performance enabled us to work around the other specialist lessons making it less disruptive to the scheduled learning.  The year 6 students provided some feedback:  They wanted to know if they could run the show again next year... They thought the interactive activities really made the show." Chinchilla Christian College, QLD for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"EVERYONE LOVED IT! They thought it was fun and colourful and the students were all so engaged... It was such a fantastic show, I certainly enjoyed it just as much as the students did... What a powerful way to deliver such an important message." Mount Waverley North PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"Wow what a fabulous show!... It was so well put together and incredibly entertaining." Yarraman Oaks PS, Noble Park, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"My students in my Webex just then loved your performance, so thank you for getting them up and active (and smiling!)... I would love to book you (again next year), as long as I get approval!... Thank you once again for a fantastic performance!" Coburg West PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"A spectacular book week show for our students during home learning. You have made it memorable despite the lockdowns and I appreciate your love for bringing children's literature to life, thank you!... Tony's show was full of fun and student engagement!" Marayong South Public School, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"Great for teaching and observing the aspects of Drama. Props and Sets were effective. The links all worked perfectly... The interactive segments were engaging and quite funny... Many references were made to Australian authors and children’s books, which could flow on to literacy. This performance could effectively be used with different age groups across primary... The Q&A link provided interesting information about props, costumes (cheap easy ones!) etc. It would be useful if you are trying to design and create your own performance. All-in-all it was very well done, and could easily be used in many KLA’s, and as inspiration for a performance." St Francis Xavier's PS, Urana, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"The students were all thoroughly engaged and enjoyed themselves throughout the show. They laughed and interacted enthusiastically with the character and were intrigued by his change of costume, accent and clothes. They enjoyed discussing the performance and the message they gleaned. A happy way to celebrate Book Week - Thank you" Marist Catholic College, North Shore, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"As a teacher, it was brilliant. The story that we had been focusing on all week was brought to life and was wonderful. From a students perspective, they loved it. We had students up out of their chairs and engaging in the many interactive moments, singing, dancing, speaking strange languages and using what we had gathered as props. Once again, thank you." Melton Christian College, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"I was blown away! It’s obvious you’ve put so much time and effort into the production value of this virtual incursion and I appreciated the quality as well as the content. Our preps clapped along matching different beats and had a go at throwing fruit in the basket! It was surprisingly interactive and adaptable to the online ‘zoom’ classroom as well as projected for the kids of essential workers at school and it worked well in both environments. The extra classroom resources were abundant and could span several weeks so I’m looking forward to revisiting this book and using your video, songs, resources and the memories the kids made today. I’ve seen a live performance of yours as well and have to say that while the kids obviously miss out on so much in remote learning, they haven’t missed out on this special experience. It was genuinely comparable to a live show and that’s quite an accomplishment! Thanks for all the hard work you’ve put into this, it was well worth it for us as I hope it was for you." Melton Christian College, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"The virtual incursion was fantastic. The (grade 5) students especially enjoyed the different songs and music. The interactive options were also enjoyed by those who participated. The book choice and associated resources/lesson plans were AMAZING!!! It was so good to spend the week exploring the text, going deep before the show... an amazing experience for my students." Melton Christian College, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"They loved it! It was interactive and full of fun, they were delighted. What a great choice of book. We will be using this book for further learning moving forward. Thanks also for your flexibility in ensuring we could see the show virtually during Book Week... Thanks again for the wonderful performance this year." St Luke's Catholic PS, Lalor, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"The show was amazing. I ran it onsite with two groups of students; 3-6s then p-2s and both groups really enjoyed it.  The balloons, torches, and interaction with the brick walls were some of our highlights! Thanks again, despite Covid, this was a super easy incursion to plan. The communication with you throughout helped to make this a really supported experience and the show itself was really entertaining and suitable for all grade levels. We are keen to book in a date for book week 2022 as soon as we can!" Newport Gardens PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"Thank you for providing this experience for the girls last week. The girls really enjoyed taking a break from the normal routine and there was much positive feedback about your production." Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"We all enjoyed the show! There have been lots of comments on how funny it was, how cleverly it was done and how great it was with including students. I’m so glad we were able to still run the show, even virtually, to celebrate the end of Book Week. Well done on creating a great show! Thanks for bringing this awesome book and lovely message to our students" Ringwood North PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"They loved the songs and storyline and the use of props... From a teacher's perspective, it was a great alternative for home learning and enjoyed listening to the interactive story. Students who were onsite on this day watched it on the big projector and all variety of year levels enjoyed it." Kingston Heath PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced both at school & at home.

"Many thanks for your performance. I have received unsolicited positive feedback... All very enthusiastic, kids laughing constantly and very involved. One Year 1 student included it in his sentence of the day, where he had to use adjectives. He wrote: "The funniest thing I ever saw was in the Littlelight incursion when they were translating the unfamiliar words."... I watched it too and it was fabulous. My favourite part was the CBCA books section, I would have loved to watch my kids do that since I read them all those books. The whole performance was fast-paced, true to the story and very uplifting. The FAQ was good too... Well done." Medowie Public School, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"The children thoroughly enjoyed it... They really enjoyed the interactive aspect of the show and delighted in gathering props themselves and actively involved themselves completely in the show singing and dancing etc. It was a joy to watch especially in these strange times. I was impressed with the discussion on the themes that the children engaged in and how much they gained from watching the show. Fortunately, even though they are very young they are used to discussing complex themes and enjoyed talking about all the different walls that have been constructed in the world... I will recommend this production to other teacher friends and would love to hear about any future productions." Hampton Public School, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school & at home.

"The presentation was excellent and we really appreciated the time and thought that went into your production values... The songs were great." Roberts McCubbin PS, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school & at home.

"The shows are going great! I have had lots of wonderful feedback and loved watching the students have fun in the shows.... I'm glad I put together all the props because the students really do enjoy all the activities and having the muffin tray decorated as a tree has been very entertaining for them. It has been a wonderful addition to our book week celebration!.. the feedback I received throughout the week from both students and staff was very positive... It was a great addition to our book week celebration and fitted perfectly with the theme and our school context as well." Ashdale PS, Darch, Perth, WA for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"I have been watching your show 4 and 5 times a day. Kids are loving it and I'm singing it in my sleep, catchy tunes! The whole school has viewed it by the end of today, with everyone staying with their own classes as we are not able to mix the kids. It's been perfect for right now with COVID" Kotara South PS, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school

"The extended times for viewing were helpful in allowing families flexibility. The information (emails) prior to the show was appreciated- having time to plan and gather props, as well as pre-watching the story. Clever use of household items as props, and various options for things to be used, made participating easy for busy families. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the show was contagious! The games and use of props was well balanced throughout the show, the games were able to be enjoyed by all family members in their own way- this was a valuable component of the show. It was a good length of time... The show was a fun way for children to engage with a story- especially for those who don't usually enjoy reading. It also allowed families to spend this time together, without having to have planned an activity themselves - this was a blessing during a difficult season." Moree Christian School, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at home.

"It was a great performance - many thanks! Teachers enjoyed it, too." Deniliquin South PS, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"You are very clever. The children absolutely enjoyed every moment of the show. There was not much time where the children were sitting still. There was so much for them to do that the 50 minutes passed so quickly... We would definitely love to book again next year... You really do bring these books to life!" Terang College, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"All students and teachers from Prep to Year 4 absolutely loved the show and thought the way you had students interacting with the various games and activities was terrific. There was so much positive feedback after the show.  Also, your video of FAQ was a great follow up to the performance and really added to their understanding of how a show is put together and the meaning of the story.  Thank you for all the work you do to ensure we had a great experience.  Your correspondence was second to none, and along the way, you always answered my questions or queries with such promptness and courtesy. I have no hesitation in recommending your performance to others and we will certainly be booking you again for next year." Caulfield Grammar School VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"Great feedback for 'Littlelight'. Most positive feedback was for the dancing activity and balloon bounce/bird ball relay." Otways MARC, VIC  for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"Every level loved it! ...brilliantly performed. We have struggled to find performances which do entertain  and engage across P-6, even though they might be advertised as such, observing the students in any class enjoying and talking about it beyond the performance is a major win." St Anthony's PS, Alphington, VIC for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

"I asked every class I saw last week re. their thoughts about the show - a resounding loved it, was very funny, liked the dance class - all of it!" Nulkaba PS, NSW for Littlelight Virtual Show experienced at school.

See more reviews for this & all our past shows here!!

2022 Season Dates

All tour dates are subject to change depending on availability. If you'd like the show to perform in your area out of the advertised season dates then just ask & we'll try our best to accommodate you.

• Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat & the rest of Victoria (VIC) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• July 11th to 15th, 2022 (Term 3, Week 1, 2022)

• July 18th to 22nd, 2022 (Term 3, Week 2, 2022)

• August 25th to August 26th, 2022 (Term 3, Week 7, 2022 / Book Week 2022)

• August 29th to September 2nd, 2022 (Term 3, Week 8, 2022)

• September 5th to 9th, 2022 (Term 3, Week 9, 2022)

• Where do Books To Life tour in Victoria? Click here!!

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast & the rest of New South Wales (NSW) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• July 25th to August 2nd, 2022 (Inland NSW - Term 3, Week 2, 2022)

• August 3rd, 2022 (NSW North Coast - Term 3, Week 4, 2022)

• August 8th to 9th, 2022 (Sydney - Term 3, Week 3-4, 2022 / Book Week 2022)

• August 10th to 12th, 2022 (Newcastle NSW - Term 3, Week 4, 2022)

• August 15th then 17th to 19th, 2022 (Sydney - Term 3, Week 5, 2022)

• August 22nd to 23rd, 2022 (Sydney - Term 3, Week 6, 2022 / Book Week 2022)

• Where do Books To Life tour in New South Wales? Click here!!

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Canberra & the rest of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• August 16th, 2022 (Term 3, Week 5, 2022)

• August 24th, 2022 (Term 3, Week 6, 2022 / Book Week 2022)

• Where do Books To Life tour in Australian Capital Territory? Click here!!

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Maryborough, Mount Isa, Gympie & the rest of Queensland (QLD) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• August 4th to 5th, 2022 (QLD Term 3 Week 4)

• Where do Books To Life tour in Queensland? Click here!!

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Adelaide, Gawler, Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Murray Bridge, Mount Barker, Victor Harbour, Crafers, Bridgewater, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Port Augusta & the rest of South Australia (SA) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• September 12th - 16th, 2022 (SA Term 3, Week 8)

• Where do Books To Life tour in South Australia? Click here!!

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Hobart, Launceston, Devonport & the rest of Tasmania (TAS) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• We are offering our 30% off interactive virtual show from August 1st 2022 to July 1st 2023

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Perth, Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Busselton, Karratha, Broome, Port Hedland, Esperance & the rest of Western Australia (WA) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• We are offering our 30% off interactive virtual show from August 1st 2022 to July 1st 2023

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

• Darwin, Alice Springs, Palmerston, Katherine & the rest of Northern Territory (NT) Primary School Book Week Tour 2022

• We are offering our 30% off interactive virtual show from August 1st 2022 to July 1st 2023

• Make an enquiry - Click here!!!

Desperate to find a Book Week 2022 performance for your primary school in Melbourne, VIC?

Then click here for season dates for regional & urban Victoria for 2022 & search no more!! Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour in Melbourne (including touring dates for Northern suburbs, Western suburbs & South East Melbourne), plus all towns & cities in VIC including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Melton, Shepparton, Wodonga, Sunbury, Pakenham, Mildura, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Wangaratta, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Bacchus Marsh, Torquay, Jan Juc, Horsham, Moe, Newborough, Warragul, Morwell, Sale, Lara, Bairnsdale, Echuca, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Colac, Drouin, Leopold, Portland, Swan Hill, Castlemaine, Gisborne, Benalla, Hamilton, Wallan, Healsville, Wonthaggi, Yarrawonga, Maryborough, Kilmore, Ararat, Portalington, St Leonards, Lakes Entrance, Kyabram, Seymour, Stawell, Cobram, Leongatha, Inverloch, Bannockburn & Cowes. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!

Need a primary school show for Book Week 2022 in Sydney, NSW?

Season dates for regional & urban New South Wales are available for 2022 if you just click here!! Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour in Sydney (including touring dates for The Blue Mountains, Cantebury, The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Forest District, Falls District, Western Sydney, Macarthur, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Sutherland Shire, Berowra & Hawkesbury), plus all towns & cities in NSW including Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong, Maitland, Tweed Heads, Wagga, Albury, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Orange, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Queanbeyan, Lismore, Bathurst, Coffs Harbour, Richmond, Windsor, Bomaderry, Nowra, Goulburn, Armidale, Broken Hill, Wentworth Falls, Katoomba, Forster, Tuncurry, Bellbird, Cessnock, Grafton, Taree, Ballina, Griffith, Sawtell, Singleton, Raymond Terrace, Weston, Kurri Kurri, Kiama, Lithgow, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Lawson, Hazelbrook, Muswellbrook, Parkes, Ulladulla, Inverell, Moree & Casino. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!

What 2022 Book Week shows tour to primary schools in Canberra, ACT?

Ours does!! Click here for all our season dates for Australian Capital Territory for 2022. Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour of all ACT suburbs in and around Canberra, Palmerston, Belconnen, Canberra Central, Curtin, Narrabundah, Queanbeyan, Kambah, Gordon, Gungahalin, Jerrabomberra, Majura, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek & Woden Valley. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!

Can't find a Book Week 2022 stage show that blows your primary school away in Brisbane, QLD?

Then click here and stop looking!! Season dates for regional & urban Queensland have been released for 2022. Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour of all suburbs in Brisbane plus all other areas of QLD including South East Queensland, Wide Bay, Burnett, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Darling Downs, North Queensland, Central Queensland, Gulf Country, South West Queensland & Central West Queensland. Specific towns & cities in QLD to be toured include Ipswich, Logan City, Redland City & Morton Bay Region, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, Maryborough, Mount Isa, Gympie, Bongaree, Woorim, Nambour, Yeppoon, Warwick, Emerald, Dalby, Bargara, Innes Park, Kingaroy, Tannum Sands, Moranbah & Bowen. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!

Scratching your head for a Book Week 2022 performance for your primary school in Adelaide, SA?

Well you've come to the right place. Click here for all our season dates for regional & urban South Australia for 2022. Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour of all suburbs in Adelaide plus all towns & cities in SA including Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Gawler, Port Pirie, Bridgewater, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge, Port Lincoln, Mount Barker, Victor Harbour, Aldinga Beach, Naracoorte, Renmark, Millicent, Goolwa, Berri, Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Kadina, Roxby Downs, Loxton, Strathalbyn, Moonta, Clare, Nairne, Wallaroo, Coober Pedy, McLaren Vale, Ceduna, Bordertown, Kapunda, Mannum, Barmera, Angaston, Willunga, Hahndorf, Waikerie, Kingscote, Lobethal, Peterborough, Woodside, Port Elliot, Balaklava, Sellicks Beach, Kingston, Tailem Bend, Jamestown & Williamstown. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!

What can I do at my primary school in Hobart, TAS for Book Week 2022?

See our show!! Click here for all our season dates for Tasmania for 2022. Includes specific dates for our 2022 tour of all TAS suburbs in and around Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burni, Somerset, Blackmans Bay, Kingston, Ulverstone, Gagebrook, Bridgewater, New Norfolk, Wynyard, George Town, Sorell, Midway Point, Smithton, Penguin, Longford, Latrobe, Dodges Ferry, Lauderdale, Queenstown, Legana, Deloraine, Perth, Old Beach, Port Sorrell, Scottsdale, Hadspen, St Helens, Stieglitz, Huonville, Ranelagh, Pontville, Bridport, Turners Beach, Westbury, Beauty Point, Rosebery, Seven Mile Beach, Evandale, Beaconsfield, Sheffield, Margate, Zeehan, Railton, Geeveston, Richmond, Cygnet, Snug & Currie. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!