SMH August 21 by Melanie Kembry

Long before Zeno Sworder’s Once I Was a Giant was named Australia’s picture book of the year, it faced its toughest judging panel.

Sworder, who works on his intricate children’s books at night after his family has gone to bed, showed a rough version to his daughters when they were about six and 11. Their reaction convinced the Melbourne-based author and illustrator to continue with his tale of a tree whose wood is turned into a pencil and then tells the story of its life.

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