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Felice Arena Felice Arena i(A49123 works by)
Born: Established: 1968 Kyabram, Rushworth - Kyabram - Tongala area, Goulburn - Campaspe area, Northern Victoria, Victoria, ;
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Felice Arena grew up in Kyabram, Victoria, and undertook an education degree at La Trobe University (Bendigo Campus). He taught for a year landing a regular role (Marco Alessi) on soap opera Neighbours; he went on to appear in numerous British, US and Australian television programs and in stage shows in London's West End. He began writing while working as an actor in England, and his first work was published by a British publishing house.

Arena was an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012 initiative, and has been an ongoing ambassador for the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge. He regularly makes use of his theatre background in presentations at festivals and schools, incorporating interactive and improvisational theatrical components to help spark a love of reading in children.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Pasta! Mulgrave : Affirm Press , 2023 25660882 2023 single work picture book children's

'These pasta words are fun to say …

Spaghettini

Fagottini

Ditalini

More Grattini?

Manicotti

Agnolotti

That’s a lot-ti!

'Pasta tastes delicious, but do you know that pasta names are also fun to say? Grab your fork and spoon and get stuck into this rhyming feast. It’s enough to make anyone hungry for PASTA!

 'From bestselling author Felice Arena and award-winning illustrator Beatrice Cerocchi comes a joyous ode to the food that everyone loves to eat.' (Publication summary)

2024 longlisted APA Book Design Awards Best Designed Children's Illustrated Book designed by Sasha Beekman.
y separately published work icon The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan Melbourne : Puffin , 2022 23954167 2022 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction

'Another crowd-favourite from the number-one bestselling author of the Specky Magee series!
'This is Specky Magee meets The Boy and the Spy - a funny, entertaining and moving story set against the backdrop of the Second World War in Australia, the women's movement and the little-known history of women's football.
Another funny, fascinating and heart-breaking historical novel by one of Australia's most-acclaimed authors.

'The war seems a long way away to Maggie Flanagan. Her brother is somewhere across the sea, flying to protect England from the Germans and the Italians. But Maggie is more interested in kicking the footy and finding out who's going to play for St Kilda this season.

'But when the war comes to Australia and Maggie sees what she's sure is a Japanese spy plan in the skies of Melbourne, it all gets very real. The Japanese attack Australia up north, raining bombs on Darwin and Broome, and American soldiers start appearing on the streets. Worst of all, it looks like the football season will be cancelled!

'When Maggie decides to stage an all-girl football game to raise money for the troops, she's breaking all the rules. Everyone knows that girls can't play footy! But the rules aren't going to stop the unstoppable Flying Flanagan . . .' (Publication summary)

2022 longlisted HNSA Historical Novel Prize Children and Young Adult
y separately published work icon A Great Escape Melbourne : Penguin , 2019 15639146 2019 single work children's fiction children's

'It’s a great escape, but will Peter survive it? When Peter’s family leaves for a trip across the border, he stays behind. So when the government builds a wall through the city, guarded by soldiers, tanks and ferocious dogs, he’s trapped.

'Everyone says he might never see his family again. But Peter has a courageous plan…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2021 shortlisted Book Links Award for Historical Fiction
2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Younger Readers
Last amended 26 Jul 2018 07:59:49
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