Past Event

Russ the Story Bus

Don't miss out on this magical celebration of books and storytelling for students!

Russ the Story Bus is no ordinary bus – he’s covered in illustrations, has a belly full of books and is a mobile library open for you to borrow from.

Nine years ago, Sydney Writers’ Festival transformed an ordinary bus into Russ the Story Bus: a bright and colourful creative space full of bookshelves stocked with books and comfy benches for kids to read. Each year, Russ the Story Bus visits over 10,000 children in Western Sydney and regional NSW to support children at the very beginning of their reading journey and spark a lifetime love of storytelling, reading and creativity. Come chill out, borrow a book and enjoy the wonders of Russ the Story Bus these school holidays.

Presenter Lineup

View gallery
Russ the Story Bus
02
Oct
05
Oct
When
10.30am - 12.30pm
Wed 2 Oct - Sat 5 Oct
Where

Pier Street Underpass, Darling Harbour

Get directions
Price

FREE

Map, showing Russ the Story Bus

Meet the presenters

Cheryl Orsini
Cheryl Orsini is a much loved, award winning illustrator of picture books, portraits, hand painted murals and TV. She is a regular participant at the Sydney Writers’ Festival and she loves travelling with Russ the Bus - honk if you love books!
Mo Davey
Mo was born on the tiny island of Jersey. She is an experienced primary teacher and now teaches art to high school students part-time.In her spare time she loves to write and illustrate stories and is passionate about engaging and entertaining children in art and literature in a fun and interactive way.
 
Debra Tidball
Debra Tidball is an internationally published, award-winning author of picture books, short stories, poems and plays for children. With social work and children’s literature qualifications, Debra is a children’s book enthusiast with a particular passion for picture books and the profound way they can touch children’s lives.
Eva Amores
Eva Amores, a creative in the fields of writing, design and photography, has worked for the Sydney Opera House and the ABC. Eva was born in the Philippines and moved to Australia in high school. She likes shoes, travelling and more shoes. Her side-splitting, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, bottom-clenching middle grade book series, Worst Week Ever, co-created with Matt Cosgrove, is set to be translated and released in over 35 territories around the world.
Matt Cosgrove
Matt Cosgrove is the million-plus bestselling author and illustrator of the Macca the Alpaca and Dharma the Llama picture books. He is also the co-creator of the Worst Week Ever middle-grade series, soon to be translated in over thirty languages and available in over fifty countries around the world. Alpacas With Maracas, was an official National Simultaneous Storytime book, with over 1 million kids across AU and NZ reading together at the same time!
Mick Elliott
Mick Elliott is an author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter and professional mischief-maker. His illustrated fiction series, Squidge Dibley Destroys the School is popular with readers all over the world. His hilarious middle-grade trilogy, The Turners was nominated for an Aurealis Award. Mick’s picture books, Dads and Dogs and Mums and Mogs are a warm-hearted celebration of pets and parenthood. Next in the series, Grandmas in the Grand Cars will be published in 2025.
 
Chris Cheng
Christopher is an award-winning children’s author. His critically acclaimed picture book ‘Bear and Rat’ is a loving tribute to his wife that Kirkus called “a friendship tale for the ages”. His latest title is 'Dragon Folding'. Christopher is on the SCBWI International Advisory Council and an ambassador for Australia’s National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL). He is often heard to say that he has the best job in the world!
 
Tami Sussman
Tami is the author of the best-selling picture book 'Tiny Tradies' ('Tiny Tradies First Words' will be out in November!) and her debut middle grade novel 'So That Happened …' was long-listed for the DANZ Children’s Book Award and is a CBCA ‘Notable’ Book of the Year in the Younger Readers category.
 
See what else is happening these Spring School Holidays in Darling Harbour.