The International Cartoon Exhibition “Children in War 2” in Drøbak, Norway opened on June 13th.
“Children in War 2” is part of an international traveling exhibition. Its first stop opened in Torhout, Belgium, on May 8, 2026, where it will remain on display until September 30. The Norwegian edition continues this humanitarian journey, presenting artists’ shared opposition to war and violence against children.
Here is my cartoon for the exhibition.:
The ‘Swiss Cheese’ safety model. One of the cartoon illustrations developed with Dr David Low for the Australian Pollution Research Network report Improving Child Safety in Public Parks and Playgrounds: a case study on hazardous chemical use in the City of Clarence, along with other cartoons used in their anti-pesticides campaigns.
Sweet and Sour is a children’s story by David Novak – A Telling Experience. He brings his story to life in his wonderful way. The illustrations were first drawn as cards to tell the story using a kamishibai, a Japanese paper theatre stage. The story was inspired by the stories David read to his son Jack, ‘especially the tale of Momotaro and the evil Oni (ogres)’.
I met David Novak at the 2016 Sydney International Storytelling Conference and we met up again in 2018. We talked about a simple animation of one of his stories. It was only recently, with the help of a grant David received for the kamishibai stage and pictures, that we got it together.
The Storytelling Conferences are wonderful events attracting storytellers from around the world – creating a feast of stories and presentations. And great inspiration for pictures! I have cartooned at a number of the conferences – see posts from 2025 and 2016.
some of the kamishibai cards …
The Australian government’s social media ban for under 16 year olds began this week.
Some of the cartoons drawn at the UNICEF -Pacific Early Childhood Development (ECD) forum, 22-25 February, Nadi, Fiji.
Simon Kneebone - cartoonist and illustrator 