Melbourne Rare Book Week 2026
About
23 July to 1 August.Melbourne Rare Book Week is an annual program of free talks and events which celebrate Melbourne as a City of Literature.
Join in a free program of talks and children’s activities being presented by the City of Melbourne Libraries as part of the Melbourne Rare Book Week program.
Program:
Presenting the Young Australian Book Collector for 2026
The National Book Collecting Prize for Young Australian Collectors. Archive Fine Books and City of Melbourne Libraries
Presenting the Young Australian Book Collector for 2026
Speakers: Michael Alexandratos and Nadeem Toodayan
Host: Dawn Albinger, Archives Fine Books
Are you a budding book collector? The National Book Collecting Prize for young Australian collectors to the age of 35 is an annual prize awarded for an outstanding book collection conceived of and built by a young Australian collector.
Launched in Queensland in 2020 by Archives Fine Books, in 2023 it became a national competition. Learn more about the prize from its founder Dawn Albinger and hear from this year’s winner Michael Alexandratos about his collection of Greek Weird Books.
We’re also delighted to welcome back Nadeem Toodayan with Broodings of Brisbane Bibliophile, Part II. He will share how his collection of Osleriana, medical biographies, and other historical medical publications has continued to take shape since winning the prize in 2024.
East Melbourne Library - Sunday 26 July, 3pm to 5pm.
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Curiouser and Curiouser: The many worlds of Alice in Wonderland
Speaker: Professor Emeritus Chris Browne
All in the golden afternoon… when three little girls were rowed upstream on the Thames in Oxford by two timid clergymen, a legendary story was born which became Alice in Wonderland. Since that golden afternoon, the book has continued to fire the imaginations of readers young and old; of artists and illustrators; of actors and filmmakers; of copyists, plagiarists and satirists.
Chris Browne will show us how the stories of Lewis Carroll’s Alice have enriched our lives ever since. See how different artists, writers, propagandists and satirists have added to the evolving dream worlds of Alice.
Dress up as your favourite character and receive a very special memento!
East Melbourne Library - Monday 27 July, 6pm to 7.30pm.
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Somewhere a bear… A celebration of the centenary of Winnie-the Pooh.
Speakers: Jane Sullivan with Professor Emeritus Chris Browne
A century ago, AA Milne and Ernest Shepard collaborated in the creation of the much-loved world of a boy, his bear and the bear’s friends. Step back into childhood with us to celebrate the world of Winnie-the-Pooh. Hear the story of how the adventures of the bear of little brain captivated generations of children, and how it affected the life of the real Christopher Robin.
Hum along with Jane Sullivan as she takes us back to the innocent world of 100 Aker Wood, Poohsticks, Hunting for Heffalumps and the glorious melancholy of Eeyore. All teddy bears welcome!
East Melbourne Library - Tuesday 28 July, 6pm to 7.30pm.
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Storytime: Growing up with Books
Speaker: Jane Sullivan in conversation with Professor Emeritus Chris Browne
Many of us will remember favourite books from our childhood, but do we know what we would think of them now?
Join us to hear how a leading Melbourne journalist has used recollections of the favourite books from her own childhood to create her wonderful book Storytime. Jane will discuss how the books that she loved as a child appeal to her today.
The conversation will be illustrated by readings, and copies of some of Jane’s favourite children’s books will be on display. Jane will sign copies of Storytime, which will be available for purchase by cash only, at the event.
East Melbourne Library - Wednesday 29 July, 6pm to 7.30pm.
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Winnie-the-Pooh turns 100!
A special event for children
with children’s librarians Sarah, Tanya and Olivia
Join us in the Hundred Acre Wood as we celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh! Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and friends will all be there for a honey-sweet party filled with stories, crafts, songs, and play.
Bring your favourite Pooh Bear friend, dress up if you wish and help us celebrate a century of friendship, imagination and kind-hearted adventures.
narrm ngarrgu Library - Thursday 30 July, 4pm to 5.30pm.
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Oh Brother: Telling real stories through graphic novels
Speaker: Georgina Chadderton.
Join artist Georgina Chadderton, author of Oh Brother: A Graphic Memoir (Penguin Random House), for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of making a graphic novel. You’ll hear how she went from working on photocopied minicomics in Adelaide to being internationally published in four countries.
Georgina will talk about how friendship, family, disability and Vegemite toast have all played a part in creating her graphic memoir. She’ll share early drafts, childhood photos, and the complicated feelings that come from growing up with an autistic sibling who requires substantial support.
City Library - Friday 31 July, 4pm to 5pm.
Dates
Sunday 26 July 2026 - Friday 31 July 2026 (UTC+10)Location
Various libraries
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