Australia
26
Grant, Joan (text)
Curtis, Neil (illus.)
Cat and Fish
South Melbourne, Victoria : Lothian, 2003. – [32] p.
ISBN 0-7344-0481-6
Differentness – Friendship – Tolerance
Normally, cats and fish belong to different worlds. Yet, when this book’s
two protagonists meet, they immediately become close friends and venture out
together. After a while, Fish starts feeling homesick for the sea. Since Cat
does not seem too enthusiastic about living under water, they simply decide to
settle at the shore where both worlds meet and to await their next adventure.
This poetic story of two unlikely friends is beautifully expressed in
Escheresque black-and-white illustrations. The dream-like pictures with their
varied patterns, rendered in pen-and-ink technique, offer readers a humorous
and imaginative interpretation of the enchanting text. (3+) <>
27
King, Stephen Michael (text/illus.)
Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat
Crows Nest, NSW : Allen & Unwin, 2003. – [32] p.
ISBN 1-86508-748-3
Girl – Talent – Imagination – Self-confidence – Differentness
Milli, an exceptionally creative and skilled girl, lives in a village where
people are only interested in practical, useful things and therefore do not
appreciate her special talent. To please them, shy Milli works as an ordinary
shoemaker until one day, Jack and the Dancing Cat arrive. The two unusual
wandering minstrels entice her imagination and give her the courage to pursue
her dreams. Vivid watercolours with fine black outlines, reminiscent of
Quentin Blake’s pictures, accompany the humorous text and perfectly capture
the beauty of the whimsical shapes Milli creates out of discarded everyday
objects. This light-hearted tale easily persuades readers to believe in their
imagination – and in themselves. (4+) <>
28
Lawson, Sue (text)
Magerl, Caroline (illus.)
My Gran’s different
South Melbourne, Victoria : Lothian, 2003. – [28] p.
ISBN 0-7344-0500-6
Grandmother – Grandson – Alzheimer’s Disease
Charlie is aware that his grandmother is different from those of his friends
and classmates. She doesn’t bake cakes or sell flowers, she doesn’t knit
scratchy jumpers or travel all around Australia, nor does she visit football
matches or work in the garden. All she ever does is sit in her rocking chair
and stare out of the window – because »she can’t remember who she is.«
Nevertheless, the young boy completely accepts her as she is and clearly
doesn’t love her any less for it. The delicate washy watercolours in subdued
tones and the sparse text written in a quiet, repetitive style create a moving
story of a child’s love for his grandmother who suffers from Alzheimer’s
disease. This courageous picture book is a true gem for young and old readers
alike – which may also spark off discussions about and provide understanding
for a serious problem. (4+) ¤
Special
Mention
29
Malbunka, Mary (text/illus.)
When I was little, like you
Crows Nest, Australia : Allen & Unwin,
2003. – [32] p.
ISBN 1-86508-903-6
Australia/1960s – Aboriginals – Mission settlement – Childhood
In 2000, students and members of staff at Papunya School got together to
create the award-winning Papunya School Book of Country and History.
Now, one of them, Aboriginal artist Mary Malbunka, returns to tell readers
about her own childhood at Papunya. In a simple and engaging style,
interspersed with Luritja expressions – Mary’s mother tongue – she
recalls arriving at the government settlement as a five-year-old. She shares
memories of everyday life at the settlement such as going to school, searching
for sugarbag (i.e. wild honey), climbing trees, and listening to the stories
of the elders. Her short tale is accompanied by colourful acrylic and
watercolour pictures, carried out both in traditional and in European styles
of art, that conjure up a lively picture of an Aboriginal childhood in the
1960s. The short appendix includes a note on the various Aboriginal languages,
a short explanation of the language of symbols used in many traditional
pictures, and a Luritja-English glossary. (6+) <> ¤
30
Norrington, Leonie
The spirit of Barrumbi
Norwood, SA : Omnibus Books, 2003. – 213 p.
ISBN 1-86291-552-0
Aboriginals – Whites – Intercultural education
In this sequel to her highly praised first novel The Barrumbi Kids,
Leonie Norrington describes everyday life in a small Aboriginal community and
discusses the conflicts children have to come to terms with if they live in
two different cultures at once. The inhabitants of Long Hole still cherish
their traditional culture and are taught to respect the ways of the elders.
Even though Dale and his parents and siblings have lived there for many years
and are regarded as kin by Tomias’ family, tensions between the Aboriginals
and the white family suddenly rise when Dale’s headstrong older brother Sean
stupidly breaks one of the elders’ important rules and thus almost causes a
catastrophe. (10+) <>
31
Stevens, Leonie
The Marowack Two
Camberwell, Victoria [et al.] : Penguin Books, 2003. – 250 p.
(YA fiction)
ISBN 0-14-100661-7
Search for identity – Fear – Friendship – Environmental destruction –
Resistance
Every time Kira is struck by lightning – 14 times so far – she wakes up in
a different hospital bed with no memory of her previous life. To escape this
mysterious and terrifying curse, mother and daughter move to Marowack, a small
goldmining town in the middle of nowhere, supposedly free of thunderstorms.
When the small village forest is in danger of falling prey to greedy
politicians, Kira joins forces with 17-year-old Hector and the two troubled
outsiders get entangled in a web of political intrigues. Told from alternating
points of view, this fast-paced powerful novel traces the story of two scared
and angry teenagers who desperately try to come to grips with life’s
challenges while they are struggling with their fragile love-hate
relationship. (14+)
32
Wilkinson, Carole
Dragonkeeper
Fitzroy, Vic. : Black Dog Books, 2003. – 346 p.
ISBN 1-876372-19-2
China – Dragon – Slavery – Escape – Journey – Danger – Search for
identity
When a brutal dragon hunter suddenly appears at the secluded imperial palace
and threatens to kill the last imperial dragon, young slave girl Ping
spontaneously helps the threatened creature escape. This marks the beginning
of a long, perilous journey across the country to mysterious Ocean during
which Ping slowly learns to accept her new duty as true dragon-keeper and to
trust in her inner strength. Set in ancient China at the time of the Han
dynasty, this engaging fantasy novel about friendship and betrayal portrays
the metamorphosis of the shy insecure protagonist into a courageous
trustworthy young woman. The powerful narrative with its traditional fantasy
elements immediately captures the readers’ imagination and does not release
them until the very end. (12+)