Migaloo

I do love a Mark Wilson book. His themes, most often of war or our natural world and the environment are important, and his illustrations wonderful. So when I saw Migaloo on the shelf at my bookshop this week I was compelled to buy it then and there.

Migaloo is a fictionalised account of a real whale. Although I've only really heard of Migaloo in the last few years, I now know that he was first seen way back in 1991. The book tells of Migaloo and his mother migrating down the coast of Eastern Australia. Whale watching is now a very popular winter pasttime along our coast. We went whale watching off Newcastle twice in 2012. The first time we didn't see any whales! We went back a few days later and were much luckier. Seeing whales in the ocean, even non-white ones, is such a thrill.

Migaloo himself is somewhat of a local celebrity in Australia. He even has his own twitter feed and Facebook page and website where his movements are tracked. A few years ago a new white calf appeared off Queensland, but it is not known if this new calf was fathered by Migaloo or not.

In the book Migaloo and his mother swim south to the Antarctic waters where they will spend the summer and feed, an extraordinary journey of 12,000 km! They encounter dangers on the way- people and sharks, and also learn of whale song.

Not all the illustrations are in these jewel-like hues,
but I especially love the ones that are. 

Hachette Australia have kindly provided a great Teacher's Guide for Migaloo, which includes a really fascinating section on the illustrative techniques that Mark Wilson used to create the images in the book. Artists are so clever, I would never have thought of dipping a pencil in paint and drawing the paint on, but it makes sense when you think about it. Mark Wilson also shares his strong environmental concerns- the many species under threat in our oceans, and that we need to come together to preserve them. Essential messages for both adults and children alike.

ANZAC Illustrated

When I was in Newcastle recently I made sure I had time to get along to see a special exhibition, Anzac Illustrated, showcasing the work of Australian illustrators and their work on books about war and conflict for children.

Of course April 25 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli and the start of the ANZAC legend. There have been many new books to mark the occasion. Which is good but at times it seems that there are too many to keep up with.

ANZAC Illustrated included many of my favourite illustrators work.

This exhibition celebrates quite unique approaches to creating illustrated books for children on these themes. Tales are told from many perspectives by well-known voices. Illustration mediums and styles are varied and inspiring. There are all sorts of books including picture books for young and old, a graphic novel and illustrated fiction. 

Several illustrators were featured. Greg Holfeld's amazing work on An Anzac Tale (see my review) was featured as the artwork for the exhibition posters. It is particularly striking. And there was a large digital print of the cover artwork as you walked in.

I really love his use of kangaroos as soldiers. It's so visually strong. This interesting choice was explained in the exhibition. 

Click on the photo to enlarge for easier reading. 

I always love seeing glimpses of work in progress. It's so fascinating for a non-artist who has no idea of the process.

There was a large display about several of Mark Wilson's books. I've read a few of his books, and really love his work. 

There were fascinating displays of the research he does for his illustrations.

I just had to search out Digger
(see my review)

Mark Wilson illustrated Jackie French's A Day to Remember (see my review). It was great to see how he did the cover artwork. 

There was only one work from Shaun Tan, an image from his extraordinary book Memorial, which I should probably reread. 

Check out my list of war books for children covering WWI, WWII and other conflicts.

Saturday Snapshot is a wonderful weekly meme
 now hosted by WestMetroMommy

Digger

The 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli on April 25 1915 is just a few days away. Australia and New Zealand particularly still mark this event (I know that at least Turkey and France do too) and of course there is much in the media this week in the lead up to this important Anzac Day on Saturday.

I've been reading some books about Anzac Day this week and particularly wanted to find Mark Wilson's latest book Digger. Digger isn't about the Anzac Campaign, but it is a World War One story.

Matthew lives on a farm in Western Victoria, the farm dog has a litter of pups and he is drawn to Digger straight away. Matthew and Digger form such a bond that Matthew smuggles Digger aboard his troop ship when he leaves the safety of Melbourne for the war in Europe.

Matthew will become a stretcher-bearer on the fields of France and Belgium, and Digger is right there with him. Digger helps catch rats in the trenches and becomes a favourite among the men and helped cheer the injured soldiers.

Matthew knew it cheered the men up when they saw Digger. It was as if the little dog reminded them of home, or just gave them a glimmer of hope. 

I saw the fabulous ANZAC Illustrated exhibition in Newcastle recently, which featured  Mark Wilson's incredible work, and the fascinating research he puts into his books. Mark uses an amazing mix of drawing and painting to illustrate Digger, a story told by a third person narrator, and also with the letters that Matthew sends to his sister Anna at home.

Mark Wilson is an extraordinary talent. He has illustrated many books, such as Jackie French's A Day to Remember (see my review), but I think I prefer the many books he writes and illustrates himself. Digger's story was inspired by the true story of Driver, a puppy smuggled onto an Australian troop ship in World War One. I'm always amazed at the stories told in children's books, Mark Wilson does not shy away from highlighting the tragedy of war (in words or pictures) in Digger- or any of his other books.

Find more war books for kids from my list here.

A Day to Remember

My love affair with both Jackie French and Mark Wilson continues. I've gushed over Jackie French quite a few times here, so much so that she has her own label. I've never blogged about Mark Wilson before, but I've read a number of his books, he illustrated a great series of books on extinct animals with Gary Crew (who also really deserves a presence on this blog- an oversight that I hope to remedy soon). 

I'd seen A Day to Remember around last year, but had not got a copy, then recently I saw a stack in the shops again, and with Anzac Day coming up I knew it's time had come so I bought one. 

Jackie French and Mark Wilson have created an extraordinary book which has rightly been shorlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book Award 2013. 

Anzac Day, April 25, is an important day in Australia (and other places around the world, but I mainly know about Australia). It commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. A Day to Remember traces the history of Anzac Day, from the story of those courageous but hapless young boys in 1915 through to modern times. 

The purpose of Anzac Day has changed over time. On the first few Anzac Days World War I was still going, "floundered in the mud of France and Belgium." The Anzac Day commemoration was to help enlist more young men for the war effort. 

It's fascinating to know that the first dawn service was an impromptu affair  in Martin Place in 1927. 

In the grey light of dawn, in Sydney, an old woman laid a wreath of flowers at the Sydney Cenotaph, not yet finished as a memorial to the Anzacs. A small group of returned soldiers, coming home late after a reunion the night before, joined her.

 They remembered the first dawn landing and the Last Post bugle call played each night, to signal that the night's sentries were on guard, and that the camp could sleep. They promised that next year there would be a service here at dawn. 

A Day to Remember reminds us that of course the War to End All Wars didn't actually end war, and that young lives are still being lost in conflicts around the world. At the end A Day to Remember cleverly looks forward towards those Anzac Days to come, to remembrance ceremonies that will held around the world, commemorating those who served and fell in many lands. 

Interesting to learn that those famous words were written in 1914,
before Gallipoli, in the first months of World War I. 

A Day to Remember is an important book, that every Australian, child or adult, should read and ponder.

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