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Author, Illustrator, Artist
Latest News...
Four new picturebooks for 2012 ... it's been a busy christmas!
Exhibition: Ben and Gracie's Art Adventure & Angel of Kokoda at Stonington Library, 340 Toorak Road, for all of term two (April 16 - May 31). A CLAN (Children's Literature Australia Network) activity, through Literature Live 2012.
Exhibition: A Day to Remember - The Story of the Anzacs featuring llustrations from my new book with Jackie French, is on at the Dromkeen Centre for Picture Book Art in Victoria. It will be up for all of term two (April 16 - June 29). All the artwork, roughs, sketches and my notes on each illustration can be viewed there. The brilliant staff there also lead educational sessions & tours for school and community groups. So all my fans out there who have not yet booked to see it, get onto your teachers and book it in! I will be there in person on June 17 to meet & greet and do workshops.
Exhibition: Journey of the Sea Turtle will now run throught term two (April 23 - July 6) at the Fremantle Literature Centre in W.A. (teacher's notes are printed at the end of this page). I want to thank Leslie Reece and all the staff there. They work so hard bringing the joy of picture books to thousands of children every year, but quietly stay in the background while we, the presenters, take all the glory! We would be nothing without them.
Author in Residence - I want to thank the staff and students at St. Pauls Anglican Grammar School, Traralgon Campus, for making my residency in term 1 a great success, especially Susan and Bec, who remind us all of the important role librarians play in our schools. Couldn't live without them!
Children's Book Festival 2012 - State Library of Victoria. Thanks everyone who came along to my workshops this year. It was a lot of fun and the festival was a huge success.
I was recently awarded the Dromkeen Medal, Highly Commended Award 2011, for Services to Children's Literature, but I want to emphasise that t his also belongs to the many librarians I have had the pleasure to work with throughout Australia, far to many to name here. It also belongs to Helen Chamberlin, Pam Horsey, Kevin Bergameester and Jeff Prentice. These people work tirelessly to bring literature to disadvantaged children in Australia and overseas through CLAN (Children's Literature Australia Network). I thank them now for their hard work and for a bright future in our endeavours.
Inside the World of Tom Roberts - Ben and Gracie's Art Adventure, is book two in the Ben and Gracie’s Art Adventure series. It's out now through Lothian/Hachette. Tom Roberts is a great Australian artist and it was a lot of fun interpreting his paintings for my picturebook!
A Day to Remember, The Story of the Anzacs is my new book with Jackie French (Harper Collins) and is available now. Jackie is one of my favourite authors, and it was an absolute pleasure working with her on the book. The artwork, sketches and roughs for A Day to Remember, The Story of the Anzacs will be exhibited at The Dromkeen Centre for Picture Book Art during term two.
The Yea MARC Literature Festivals each year have been a huge success. Libby Ahern and I set them up after to 2009 bushfires, and now they are an annual event! Many thanks to Libby, Ross (at Flowerdale), the author/illustrators Corinne, Claire, Marjory, Diana and all the teachers and volunteers for their hospitality and a great festival.
The Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature in September was fantastic! I have never had so much fun and also met up with so many old friends. All my sessions were booked out, so I want to thank all my fans for the great turnout! Also a huge thanks to Jenny, Shirley and all the other volunteers for a brilliantly run festival. I saw my first baby Green Tree Snake thanks to Shirley, and also my first sighting of a baby Figbird.
Voices on the Coast, Youth Literature Festival in Qld. was also brilliant! Thanks to all those who came along, and especially the organisers. Great job!I want to thank everyone who has supported my book Journey of the Sea Turtle, which has now sold about 10,000 copies. Lothian/Hachette Australia have done a third print run, so the message is still out there - we must save the sea turtles. All six species living in Australian waters are threatened and desperately need our help. The Workshops at t he Fremantle Literature Centre in W.A., featuring Journey of the Sea Turtle, were a lot of fun too. I want to thank everyone for the great turnout to my workshops, and also the exhibition of illustrations for My Mother's Eyes and Stranded.
A third edition of I Saw Nothing - The Extinction of the Thylacine has just been printed and will be available soon.
Angel of Kokoda has been awarded a CBCA Honor Book 2011 in the picture book section, and is also shortlisted in the 3rd C. J. Picture Books Awards International. Let's see what happens next.The exhibition at The Dromkeen Centre for Picture Book Art in Victoria was a huge success, so thanks to all involved for a great show.
Journey of the Sea Turtle won the 2010 Whitley Award for Children’s Literature . My third Whitley Award, and no, my mum is not on the selection panel!(teacher's notes at the end of this page)
My Mother’s Eyes - The Story of a Boy Soldier became an honor book in both the 2010 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards, and the 2010 CBCA Eve Pownall Awards.
New picturebooks, 2012
Inside the World of Tom
Roberts, book two in the
Ben and Gracie's Art
Adventure
series, will be out early in 2012 (Lothian/Hachette
Australia).
A
Day to Remember (the ANZAC story),
my new picturebook with Jackie French, will be out in March, 2012 (Harper
Collins).
Deep Sea Whale Rescue, my new picturebook with Jan Ramage , tells the true story of the rescue of a Humpback whale and her calf. It will be out in April 2012 (Sygnet Books).
The Timor Sparrow, my new picturebook in Tetum, the native language of Timor Leste , will be out later in the year, and will be distributed free to children in Timor Leste by CLAN (Children's Literature Australia Network).
All books are available (including signed copies) through Robinsons Bookshop (Frankston Br.) on 03 9783 6488 or enquiries@robinsonsbooks.com.au
Woooohhh! Things are already rockin' this year...
In The Beginning...
I was born in Brunswick, Victoria, just up the road from the Carlton Football ground. I loved drawing from a very early age. My brother Leigh and I spent most evenings drawing on huge sheets of paper on the kitchen table. I also loved comics, especially The Phantom, and a long forgotten western hero called Kid Colt. The drawings in both were brilliant! I would copy them over and over, which is really how I learnt to draw.
I had my first part-time job when I was 14, delivering bread and milk (I was allowed to take home as much bread as I could carry on my bike, and free bread and milk helped mum out a lot in those days). After that, I worked as a petrol jockey on weekends (as soon as I started my shift on Saturdays, my brother and his mates would pull into the servo trying to get free petrol for his old FJ Holden!).
But as fate would have it, my older brother Leigh was a good drummer and taught me how to play (just to stop me using mums pots and pans as a drumkit-very noisy). After school each day, I'd play along with songs by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, The Beatles and the great Bob Dylan. I went on to spend most of my teenage years pretending to be a drummer in various rock bands, and trying my hardest to sing like John Lennon.
I started studying art in year ten and went on to study mural design and painting at C.I.T. (now Monash, Caulfield Campus). I skipped classes two days a week to work as a cleaner to pay my way (somehow I still managed to pass though). I remember a few of us in the painting group were invited to lunch by the late great Fred Williams (at his house/studio). It was just amazing to see the paintings and prints he was working on, to see how he worked and to have a chat. He was a really nice guy and a great influence on me as a young painter.
Off to Work ...
After art school, I did National Service for two years, serving with Survey Corps and then Training Command (a slouch hat on my strange looking head wasn't a good look!). After the army, I did a Diploma of Education, but by now, the band was doing some good gigs, so my choice was to work for a living, or live the rock'n'roll dream. Not a hard choice. What a life! For one gig, we were flown to King Island and you could see the giant waves in Bass Straight not far below us. The pilot let our crazy guitarist take the controls for a while-what a buzz!
In the mid seventies, I thought I should get a 'real' job, and landed a position as designer and illustrator for The Education Magazine and Pursuit Magazine ( still playing drums though, in the bands Centerfold and Piranha. You can never get drumming out of your blood once it's in there!). I also started writing songs for the band and still write today.
In 1981 started freelance illustration for various other publishers including Penguin, Rigby, Brooks Waterloo and Reed Publishing in Australia, and Shortland in North America. My friend Ann James gave me my first picturebook to illustrate at the time, called Drenched. A great little story about a little boy caught in the rain after school. From that moment on I was hooked on picturebooks!
At about the same time, I became involved with various wildlife conservation groups like the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Wildlife Protection Council of Victoria. I did a lot of illustration work for these groups and others, which led me into writing my own stories concerning conservation and protecting native species. It has now become a lifelong passion. Prayer for the Animals (Lothian) was the first book, and I worked for the first time with the brilliant editor Helen Chamberlin, who has been my editor ever since.
In 1982 I held my first solo exhibition of paintings and drawings,at the Artists Proof Gallery in Richmond. I love painting and still paint and exhibit every couple of years (see the painting link at the top of this page). I still get the same buzz as I did as a little kid at school, opening the paint pot and just getting stuck into it!
My absolute passion though, is writing and illustrating children’s books. This also takes me all over Australia doing presentations and workshops in schools and at literature festivals (this fits in nicely with my eternal quest to find the best coffee shop in Australia!).
What A Year...
I have now passed on the Grand Dragon of Dromkeen crown after a wonderful year. I enjoyed my part in a great tradition, started by Graeme Base and the people at the Dromkeen Centre for Picture Book Art in Victoria. It was a great honour, and I hope I served my subjects well (they had no idea how much drawing they would be doing).
I have also been doing volunteer work for a charitable group called CLAN (Children's Literature Australia Network ). Our aim is to publish books and to get them to disadvantaged children/schools when and wherever we can. The first book is The Timor Sparrow , and is one of six books I have written for the project. The Timor Sparrow is being printed in the Tetum Language of Timor Leste. It will be off to the printer soon, as we have finally secured some funding! It's a huge project and we are just getting started, but there are some wonderful people I'm working with, so wish us luck!
I have also been working on three other picture book projects this year (see New Picturebooks below). I love writing and illustrating my own stories, but I still love to work as an illustrator with other writers. This year, it is with Jackie French on A Day to Remember, and Jan Ramage on Deep Sea Whale Rescue. Both fantastic stories and a joy to work on.
My current band, Chucka-Tanti is taking a break for a while, and my blues band The Dodgy Chairs (featuring guitarist Ken Spencer) will be recording over Christmas. Also see the Australian feature length movie Now and Then, for a brief peek at illustrations from my picture book with Tim O'Brien, The Penguin Shore.
Take a Moment...
I know it's a busy life we all lead, but if possible, try to put some time aside to do a little for the environment. This in turn helps our wild creatures. Remember, the smallest things are the most important and together, we can change things.
I want to thank all the schools and festivals that have kindly invited me along to do workshops and presentations this year. In particular, Victoria Vaughan and the teachers and students of Mount Eliza North Primary School, for their wonderful enthusiasm and support over the last few years.
Good luck to all the budding writers and illustrators out there, and especially to all the people who read our books. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to write, illustrate and enjoy children's books.
Picturebooks
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Hachette Australia Ben and Gracie's Art Adventure Join Gracie and Ben on a magical adventure as they discover the world of the early settlers, through the paintings of the famous Australian artist Frederick McCubbin. His paintings have been faithfully Interpreted by arguably his greatest fan, me.
Teachers notes are available from Hachette Children's Books. |
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Windy Hollow Books
The Little Wooden Horse-Children of the First Fleet is a story that begins in northern England in 1777. Elizabeth and Tom are destined to become two of the first convict children to sail to Australia with the First Fleet. We learn of their friendship, as we discover the circumstances that lead to their imprisonment, and eventual transportation to Botany Bay. Their story also tells us of the triumphs, trials and tragedies of that epic journey.
Teacher's notes are available at marklwilson@optusnet.com.au |
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Angel of Kokoda is the second book in the Children in War Trilogy. 3rd CJ Picture Book Awards International-Shortlist 2011 CBCA Notable Children's Picture Book 2011 Angel of Kokoda tells the story of Kari, a free spirited mountain boy, living in Papua New Guinea during WW2. When he finds a wounded Australian soldier lying in a ditch, he knows he cannot leave him. Together they embark upon a perilous journey along the Kokoda Track... Teachers notes for Angel of Kokoda and My Mother’s Eyes, The Story of a Boy Soldier are available through Hachette Children’s Books. |
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My Mother's Eyes, The Story of a Boy Soldier is book one in the Children in War Trilogy. CBCA Notable Children’s Picture Book 2010 CBCA-Eve Pownall Award, Notable Children’s book 2010 My Mother's Eyes-The Story of a Boy Soldier tells the story of William, a young sixteen years old boy, who enlists in the Australian Army during the first world war. Like many other underage boys, William is accepted into the AIF and sent to the battlefields of France during the Battle of Bulliecourt. His letters home from the front reveal how, for the boy soldiers, the 'great adventure' was both a triumph and a tragedy.
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Stranded With Jan Ramage, Black Dog Publishing. It is based on a true story.
Environment Award for Children's Literature 2011 Wilderness Society, Picture Book Section, Shortlist. Stranded tells of the stranding of a pod of False Killer Whales on the Western Australian coast line. A massive rescue attempt is undertaken to save them when a young boy and his father raise the alarm. The fate of one baby whale is held in the balance as the boy struggles against the elements to save him... Teacher's notes are available at marklwilson@optusnet.com.au |
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The Last Tree, Lothian (Hachette Children's Books Whiteley Award for Children's Literature 2007 Environment Award for Children's Literature 2008 Wilderness Society, Picture Book Section, Shortlist Our forests are being decimated at an alarming rate and we must do all we can to protect them. The Last tree is a story about one of our forests, and how nature has a way of surviving against all odds! Teacher's notes are available at marklwilson@optusnet.com.au |
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Whitley Award for Children’s Literature 2010 Journey of the Sea Turtle highlights the fragile existence of our Loggerhead Sea Turtle population, and is available through Lothian (Hachette Australia). It follows a Loggerhead Sea Turtle from its nest on a Queensland beach, to the dangers of the open sea. Sea turtle populations are in decline all over the world and desperately need our help to survive. Journey of the Sea Turtle, Lothian (Hachette Children's) Teacher's notes at the end of this page.
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Prayer for the Animals, Lothian/Hachette We need to preserve and protect the natural environment if we have any regard for the wonderful wildlife that inhabit this planet. This book celebrates just some of those wild and beautiful creatures, and we know that time is running out for many of them. It's not only the time to pray, but the time to act! Teacher's notes are available at marklwilson@optusnet.com.au |
Other Picture Books
Carpet of Dreams, author, Tessa Duder, Harper Collins 2007Fortuyn's Ghost, author, Mark Greenwood, Cygnet Books 2006
Young Murphy, A Boy’s Adventure, author: Gary Crew, Lothian/Hachette 2005
Rodeo Darcy, author, Alison Gregory, Cygnet Books 2005
I Saw Nothing – The Extinction of the Thylacine, author; Gary Crew Lothian 2003
I Said Nothing – The Extinction of the Paradise Parrot, author; Gary Crew, Lothian 2004
I Did Nothing – The Extinction of the Gastric Brooding Frog, auth., Gary Crew, Lothian 2005
Castaways of the Charles Eaton, author; Gary Crew, Lothian 2002
Yellow-eye, author; David Spillman, ERA Publications 2001
Valley of Bones, author; Gary Crew, Lothian 2000
Rupert Goes to School, author; John Parker, Shorthand, Denver, USA 1999
The Penguin Shore, author; Tim O’Brian, The Five Mile Press 1995
“Hello, Barney!”, author; Mary K. Pershall, Penguin Books 1988
Books with Colin Thiele
The Fiery Salamander, author, Colin Thiele, Lothian 2007
Mr. Dumby's Duck, author, Colin Thiele, Lothian 2006
See Children's Books link at the top of this page for more images from these and other titles, also publishing details.
All Marks books are available (including signed copies) through Robinsons Bookshop (Frankston Branch) on 03 9783 6488 or enquiries@robinsonsbooks.com.au
Picture Book Workshops
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The past twelve months have been a lot of fun doing workshops at very different places, from Ipswich Children's Lit. Festival, the CYA Conference and the The Somerset Lit. Festival in Queensland, to the Dromkeen Centre for Picture Book Art in Victoria. The Author in Residence at Mount Eliza North Primary School kept me busy, especially the mentorship program. There will also be workshops at Fremantle Children's Literature Centre in W.A., and I recently did workshops at Cube at Frankston Arts Centre, the Mornington Peninsula Writers' Festival and the Hastings Literary Festival, not to mention all the great schools I visited! A very busy, rewarding and enjoyable year, which seems to have flown by!
In the 50-60 min. workshops we discuss my picture books and how different writers and illustrators approach their own picture books. There are creative writing and drawing exercises, then we work together exploring line, shape and texture to create illustrations. The students work along with me as we discuss and draw characters from my books, including endangered Species and their habitat. The focus is to encourage students to have confidence in developing their own style.
Secondary school workshops feature the award winning picture book, Angel of Kokoda, and includes motivation, research techniques, including the use of maps, photos, journals, documents, the internet and copyright issues (but they still have to draw with me!)
Workshop Feeedback from Schools
Marks workshops are most enjoyable, addressing environmental issues in a fascinating manner as well as encouraging the students to look more deeply at their local surroundings. Anne van den Blink, teacher, Parktone Primary School, Victoria
The session with Mark was fantastic. His approach to the students and his presentation were excellent. He tapped into their interests to really engage them. Tony Patterson, teacher, Newman College, W.A.
The children were really engaged with Marks wonderful picture book workshops. We can’t wait to see him again next term. Victoria Vaughan, teacher, Mount Eliza North Primary School, Victoria
It was interesting, funny, cool and Mark is a talented and exciting author/illustrator. Great stories.
Year 6/7 students, Booragoon Primary School
Mark was a fascinating speaker who really kept the kids engaged. A very successful presentation and enriching day. Keep up the good work! Parents group, Newman College, W.A.
Students, teachers and parents left Mark’s sessions with a thorough understanding of and respect for the processes involved in the making of a picture book. To complete the sessions, Mark’s step by step instructions resulted in all students creating some amazing work. Jenny Doust, Education Officer, Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre
Phone Simon at 'Booked Out' on (03) 9824 0177 for workshop bookings.
Most Asked Questions by Students:
1. Who is your favourite author? Conn Igulden ('Emperor' series). Close second is Leo Tolstoy.
2. What is your favourite picture book? Fiona The Pig, by Leigh Hobbs & Little Captain, by Claudio Munoz.
3. How much money do you earn? Not enough.
4. What is your favourite band? Greenday,The Small Faces, The Beatles, Pearl Jam, and the Rolling Stones (plus many, many more,
5. Who is your favourite singer? Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, John Lee Hooker and many other great artists).
6. What is your favourite song? Tin Soldier, by the Small Faces (& Positively 4th Street, by Bob Dylan).
7. Do you have a pet? We have two dogs. Kouta, a Sydney Silky Terrier and Toby (I'm not sure what he is) and my sons dog Melvin is also staying with us at the moment, and they all actually get along okay. We have a pond with seven fish and the odd frog drops by now and then, and trees full of Rainbow Lorikeets, Eastern Rosellas and Honey-eaters!
8. What are your hobbies? My Hobbies are playing drums, singing in my band and writing songs. I also love reading Historical fiction.I love Ausi rules football and follow the mighty Saints. I also love walking on the beach and finding old pieces of driftwood and things.
9. How did you become an Illustrator? Very good luck! I had a folio of very strange surrealistic B&W drawings (bodies without heads and strange looking people) and applied for an illustrator job on the student Magazines in Melbourne. Walla! I got the job.
10. What is the best thing about your job? Going for a walk on the beach or playing drums whenever I want to.
11. What's the worst thing about your job? Going for a walk on the beach or playing drums whenever I want to, which means I don't get much work done!
(The List looks impressive, but that's because I've put it in big letters!)
Dromkeen Medal, Highly Commended Award, for Services to Children's Literature 2011
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Picture Book 2011
Angel of Kokoda Lothian/Hachette Australia
Environment Award for Children's Literature 2011
Stranded, Black Dog Books, Wilderness Society, Picture Book Section, Shortlist.
3rd CJ Picture Books Awards International - Shortlist 2010
Angel of Kokoda, Lothian/Hachette Australia
Whitley Award for Children’s Literature 2010
Journey of The Sea Turtle, Lothian/Hachette Australia
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Picture Book 2010
My Mother's Eyes, The Story of a Boy Soldier, Lothian/Hachette Australia
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Book, Eva Pownall Award 2010
My Mother's Eyes, The Story of a Boy Soldier, Lothian/Hachette Australia
Environment Award for Children's Literature 2008
The Last Tree, Lothia, Hachette Aust. Wilderness Society, Picture Book Section, Shortlist.
Whitley Award for Children's Literature 1008
The Last Tree, Lothian/Hachette Australia
CBCA Notable Australian Children’s Book 2006
Young Murphy-A Boy's Adventure, Author; Gary Crew, Lothian/Hachette Australia
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, Shortlist 2005
Rodeo Darcy, Author; Alison Gregory, University of Western Australia Press
Whiteley Award for children’s literature, 2004
I Saw Nothing, The Extinction of the Thylacine, Author; Gary Crew. Lothian/Hachette Australia
I Said Nothing, The Extinction of the Paradise Parrot, Author; Gary Crew. Lothian/Hachette Australia
Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature-Series 2004
The extinction series - I Saw Nothing, The Extinction of the Thylacine
I Said Nothing, The Extinction of the Paradise Parrot, I Did Nothing, The Extinction of the Gastric Brooding Frog. Author; Gary Crew. Lothian/Hachette Australia,
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Australian Children’s Book 2004
I Saw Nothing, The Extinction of the Thylacine, author; Gary crew, Lothian/Hachette Children's Books
Wilderness Society Environment Award for children’s literature 2003
Yellow-eye, author; David Spillman, ERA Publishing
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Australian Children’s Book 2003
Yellow-eye, author; David Spillman, ERA.
CBCA Book of the Year Award: Notable Australian Children’s Book 1996
The Penguin Shore, author; Tim O’Brien, The Five Mile Press
Rotring National Art Award for Drawing 1990
Westernport Art Prize 1989 (painting)
Attellier National Art Award 1988 (painting)
Undine Award, Melbourne Town Hall Collection 1988 (painting)
Applied Chemicals Australia Art Award 1987 (painting)
This is me painting the mural on the YEA MARC Library truck last year (I've lost a bit of weight since this photo.Yea!). It was great fun, as mural commissions don't come along that often, so I really enjoy them when they do. Just have to watch those ladders!
Illustration
Published fiction
Published Educational
Sailing for Egypt Training in Egypt
Through the Mud and Rain
Over the Top
Limited edition prints from My Mother's Eyes, The Story of a Boy Soldier
are available by emailing marklwilson@optusnet.com.au
The prints come in a set of four A3 prints, or
can be bought individually. Each print is signed by the
artist.
Prints and original illustrations from Mark's books are available by contacting; marklwilson@optusnet.com.au
Contact...
Teachers notes: My Mothers Eyes-The Story of a Boy Soldier and Angel of Kokoda are available at mymotherseyes.com.au or Email: marklwilson@optusnet.com.au for teachers notes for all titles.
Book Sales: All Marks books are available (including signed copies) through Robinsons Bookshop (Frankston Br.) on 03 9783 6488 or enquiries@robinsonsbooks.com.au
Workshop Bookings: Email Mark at marklwilson@optusnet.com.au or phone Simon at 'Booked Out' on (03) 9824 0177
TEACHERS NOTES
Journey of the Sea Turtle
by Robyn Sheahan-Bright
Introduction
Themes & Curriculum Topics
Study of history, society and environment
Science.................................................
English language and literacy..................
Visual literacy.......................................
Creative
arts.........................................
Learning technologies............................
Mathematics.........................................
Further Topics for Discussion
& Research
Conclusion
About the Author/Illustrator
Bibliography
About the Author of the
Notes
Introduction
‘Many began the journey across the open beach, but
the shadow birds were waiting.’
Journey of the Sea Turtle highlights the fragile existence of the loggerhead
turtle population, in a story which explores the migratory habits
of sea turtles and the challenges they face to survive.
This
is the story of a turtle which returns to the beach where it was born, to
find that not only are the predatory shadow birds not there anymore but
that the beach itself is now densely populated and built upon.
It is
beautifully illustrated and sensitively told by author/artist Mark Wilson
whose impressionistic images sing a lament and ultimately celebrate the
resilience and instincts of wild creatures in their environment.
Where
to now for the turtle? Will she find a place to lay and bury her
hatchlings? What further challenges will she face? And will she survive?
Themes & Curriculum Topics
This
picture book might be used in conjunction with themes and curriculum
topics (with lower, middle and upper primary level school students) in the
following suggested areas:
Study
of History, Society and Environment
Turtles, including sea turtles, freshwater turtles,
terrapins and tortoises, are reptiles belonging to the Order Chelonia
(also known as Testudines). They are known to have first appeared on earth about
200 million years ago, during the Triassic period. They may be recognised
by the hard shell which protects their internal organs. And there
are 250 species of turtle!
All types of turtle are threatened in some way, but
the sea
turtle is the most vulnerable. Sea turtles face threats mainly from
fishing activities, but also from poaching, destruction of their habitats,
and climate change. Hence, they are rated amongst the most endangered
species on the planet. There are seven different
kinds of sea turtle: Green Sea Turtle, Kemp’s Ridley, Hawksbill, Olive
Ridley, Leatherback, Australian Flatback and Loggerhead. This story is
about a loggerhead.
‘Some turtles
that live on land are called tortoises. A terrapin is a turtle that lives
in or near freshwater or partly salty, coastal water. The name terrapin is
only used for a group of North American turtles... Turtles can be grouped
into seven main types: (1) mud and musk turtles, (2) pond and marsh
turtles, (3) sea turtles, (4) side-necked turtles, (5) snapping turtles,
(6) soft-shelled turtles, and (7) tortoise.’ (42eXplore Project The Topic:
Turtles and Tortoises. http://42explore.com/turtle.htm)
Activity:
Research sea turtles.
Activity: Study
the loggerhead turtle. In this story there are facts at the end of the
story about the plight of loggerheads in our waters.
Activity: Study
the flatback turtle. ‘perhaps most distinctly the flatback is the only
marine turtle to call one nation home. The flatback forages, mates, and
lays eggs along Australia’s coasts; its penchant for swimming, rather than
riding oceanic currents, keeps it from migrating across oceans as other
turtle do.’(Hance 2009)
Discussion Point: How
are sea turtles different to freshwater turtles?
Test your students’ knowledge by visiting
Kids Questions About Turtles
http://www.turtlepuddle.org/kidspage/questions.html
[See also Creative Arts
below.]
Environmental Degradation and Pollution
During the last 150 years, the world’s population has
grown from one to almost seven billion. The resulting pressure on the
environment has caused a range of environmental problems including
depleted natural resources, overcrowding, and displacement of, or
destruction of, natural habitats. Commercial fishing, for example, creates
hazards such as the depletion of food supplies or the dangers of tangled
nets and lines such as the one which captures the turtle in this story.
To add
to this, the cycle of climate change makes the lives of creatures in the
wild often very tenuous.
Activity: Research the effect of population growth and urban
sprawl on the migratory habits of species such as turtles.
Activity: Research why sand temperature can affect sea turtle
populations around the world. [Answer: If the sand is too hot, more
females are born, if it’s too low in temperature, more males are born.
Global warming may cause an imbalance in male/female ratios.]
Question: Why are plastic bags a major threat to sea turtles?
[Answer: They look like jellyfish drifting in the ocean, so that turtles
often swallow them and die. Such bags take approximately 1000 years to
break up.]
Activity: Compare the environmental message of this book to
that of Jeannie Baker in Where the Forest Meets the Sea, Window and Belonging.
Survival of Species
This story traces the cycle of life in nature where
‘the survival of the fittest’ is contingent on chance, individual
strengths and on the nature of the ecosystem in which animals and plants
co-exist.
Discussion Point: The shadow birds are described as both symbols of
danger and of hope. What do the birds signify in this story?
Activity: Discuss the variety of threats which most reptiles
confront in their life cycle.
Science - Biology and
Zoology are areas which might be studied in relation to this text.
Activity: Create a taxonomy listing the species,
genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain and life of the
turtle (or of one type of turtle).
Question: What type of bird is the shadow bird likely to be?
English
Language and Literacy
The
text of this book might be used to encourage creative writing.
Activity: Have
your students write their own story of a journey by a sea turtle from any
region to any other region. Ensure that they research the regions and
underpin their creative writing with factual information. Impress on them
that they don’t need to include every detail of what they’ve learned, but
that they should make sure that the story is factually correct in the
obtuse details suggested.
Activity: The
sstructure of this narrative is underpinned
by the widely used traditional trope of the journey or rite of passage. In
this story the sea turtle travels away and then returns to the beach of
her ancestors to find it unrecognizable. The turtle then encounters a
variety of hazards before finding a new home for its nesting. Write a
cumulative version of this story based on the folk tale structure in which
a repeated sequence of events is foregrounded by a repeated statement or
question, and then ends in a climax. e.g. And then the
turtle splashed and dived but was stopped by a [?] which [?].
Activity: Write
another description of the events in this book, which are described in
third person, in the ‘first person’ voice of a sea turtle.
Activity: The
language used in the book contains a series of verbs describing the turtle
or the birds in movement. e.g. ‘hovered, swooped, crept, dig, splashed, swam,
drifted, diving, looked’. Ask the students to make up a sentence
describing the turtles’ or birds’ movements using another verb or verbs.
Visual Literacy
The
visual text of a book must work in tandem with the written text to tell
the story using the design of the other parts of the book outlined below:
Activity:
The cover of a book is an important part of its
message. Read the cover and discuss its impact. The title page of the book
repeats the same picture of the turtle swimming in a sea with shadow birds
hovering over her. What idea does this picture convey? Discuss the
impressions each painting in the book gives you.
Discussion Point: The
format of the book is square, and the layout of the storyboard contains a
range of double page and single page images — some framed and some
bleeding off the edges of the pages. How does the format of, and design of
the book, influence your reading of it?
Activity: The
book is illustrated in a variety of mixed media, including oil or acrylic
painting on canvas, watercolour, pastel crayons, and black and white
sketching. (All illustrations except the oil and acrylic are finished in
Derwent coloured pencils, the same ones students use in school.) The
paintings are often very impressionistic. Discuss the style used in the
book by the artist. Then create your own paintings in these media,
depicting scenes from this text.
Question:
Colours used in this book are richly vibrant. How does colour affect your
interpretation of this work?
Question: The
endpapers in the book depict two different beach scenes. What do they say
to you as a reader?
Creative
Arts
Celebrate World Turtle Day. This annual event was
established in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue, an organisation
founded in 1990, and based in Malibu, California. The official date for
WTD is May 23rd, and it is intended to
invite people all over the world to register their appreciation for
turtles and tortoises. For example, The Humane Society of the United
States carries out observation and surveys to record how well turtles are
thriving (or not thriving) in various parts of the world. There are many
creative activities you could take part in on WTD, or on any other day in
conjunction with your curriculum planning:
If
there is a wildlife area or national park near you where turtles can be
viewed, take the class on an excursion to observe them.
Visit: Ten
Tips for Safe Turtle Watching on World Turtle Day http://www.ecotouirmlogue.com/marine-ecotourism/ten-tips-for-safe-turtle-watching-on-world-turtle-day.html
Dress
up as turtles!
Find cards online to email to friends to celebrate WTD. Visit the
website: 123
Greetings Free Greetings For the Planet ™
http://www.123greetings.com/events/turtle_day/
Colour in the sea turtle found at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook/sea_turtles.html
Examine the postage stamps featuring sea turtles at: Sea Turtle Postage Stamps of the World http://www.2xtreme.net/~nlinsley/ Then design your own stamp!
Make a Model Sea Turtle.
Visit the
following website to find out how to do it: Williams, Tracia Ledford Sea Turtles:
Hands on Craft for Kids http://www.craftsforkids.com/projects/seaturtles.htm
Make up your own dance to appropriate music, depicting some of the issues you’ve learned about in this unit of study. Watch Lekelia’s ‘Sea Turtle Conservation Dance’ on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Z8zASUnlg It should give you some idea of how to go about this exercise.
Watch a script for a documentary about turtles.
Create a play which explores some of the issues covered in this
book. Your play might include music or dance.
Create your own Turtle Display.
Create a Diorama of a
beach and of turtles nesting.
Learning Technologies
Information on turtles, conservation and the
environment is widely available not only in libraries but on the internet.
Activity:
Research sea turtles on the internet. [See Bibliography
below.]
Mathematics
The
study of statistics relating to turtle numbers in particular regions or
countries could be undertaken.
Activity:
Create a table of the major turtle populations in
Australian waters.
Further Topics for Discussion & Research
·
Research the work of Mark
Wilson.
·
What were the main points
raised by this book? Have students summarise them and then deliver a short
address to the class based on the impressions gleaned from the text.
Conclusion
This work should encourage students to read more widely about the environment and how wild creatures, such as turtles, are affected by the behaviour of the other animals and people who share the planet with them.
About
the Author/Illustrator
Mark Wilson is an international author/illustrator
with
23 national and international awards for children’s literature. He took to
drawing from a very early age, and also loved comics and went on to spend
most of his teenage years ‘pretending to be a drummer in a rock band (and
trying my hardest to sing like John Lennon)’. He studied mural design and
painting at C.I.T. (now Monash, Caulfield Campus). He also did National
Service, followed by a Diploma of Education. In the early seventies, he
became designer and illustrator for Pursuit
Magazine, and also started illustrating for various
publishers including Penguin, Rigby and Brooks Waterloo. In 1981 he held
his first solo exhibition of paintings and drawings.
Recently, he has focussed on writing and illustrating children’s books and
also picture book presentations in schools and at literature festivals.
Awards include five Whitley
Awards for Children’s Literature,
six CBCA Highly Commended Awards and four
Wilderness Society Awards for children’s Literature.
Bibliography
Fiction and Poetry
Adams, Patricia Harriet’s Race to
the Reef. Ill. by Lynne Wilson. Knowledge Books and Software, 2005.
Mattingley, Christabel. Chelonia Green:
Champion of Turtles Allen and Unwin, 2008.
Plater, Inge and Pearson, Sue
The Green
Turtle HarperCollins, 2001.
Non-Fiction Books and Articles
Dunbier, Sally Sea Turtles:
Animals of the Oceans Lothian, 2000.
A Matter of Time: Sea Turtles of Queensland. Qld Turtle Research, Qld Dept of Environment and Heritage, 1994.
Hance, Jeremy ‘Little-known flatback sea turtle receives extra attention at symposium in Australia’ February 17, 2009 Mongabay.com http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0217-hance_flatback.html
Hatzakis, Maria ‘Researchers
fear hotter temperatures threaten sea turtles’ ABC News Online
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/27/2502760.htm
‘Journey Of
A Green Turtle From Indonesia Into Australian Opens Mystery Of 'Oceanic
Superhighway'’ Science Daily January 7, 2009
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090104094116.htm
Noonan, Diana The Green Turtle Macmillan Education, 1999.
Pyers, Greg Green Turtle Echidna Bbooks, 2002.
Recovery Plan for
Marine Turtles in Australia(Online) Prepared by the Marine Species Section
Approvals and Wildlife Division, Environment
Australia in consultation with the Marine Turtle Recovery Team
July 2003 Environment Australia, 2003. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/27/2502760.htm
Plays and Films
‘Green Sea Turtle on Heron
Island, Queensland Australia’ Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfA0RCaI5rs
General Information Websites
123 Greetings Free Greetings For the Planet ™
shttp://www.123greetings.com/events/turtle_day/
42eXplore Project The Topic: Turtles and Tortoises. http://42explore.com/turtle.htm
Bundaberg Coral Coast & Country ‘Turtles’ http://www.bundabergregion.info/turtles/
Cornish, Jim Elementary Theme Pages Sea Turtles 2002. http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/sturtles.htm
Defenders of Wildlife: Sea Turtles http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/sea_turtles.php
Earthwatch Institute Conserving
Turtle Populations on World Turtle Day
http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/newsroom/science/news-3-worldturtleday.html
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) http://www.australianfauna.com/greenseaturtle.php
Green Sea
Turtles http://www.earthtrust.org/wlcurric/turtles.html
Green Sea Turtles Print ’N’ Go Coloring Book http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook/sea_turtles.html
International Sea Turtle Society http://www.seaturtle.org/ists/
Kids Questions About Turtles http://www.turtlepuddle.org/kidspage/questions.html
Kidz Korner: Sea Turtles for Kids http://www.turtles.org/kids.htm
Loggerheads in
Australia
http://www.seaturtlefoundation.org/biology/loggerhead-turtle/loggerheads-in-australia/
Project Global Global Bycatch
Assessment of Long-Lived Species: Sea Turtles
http://bycatch.env.duke.edu/species/seaturtles
Queensland Government
Environmental Protection Agency Turtles
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/watching_wildlife/turtles/
Sea Turtle Encounters On
Western Australia’s Coral Coast
Sea Turtle Foundation http://www.seaturtlefoundation.org
Sea Turtle Net
http://www.seaturtlenet.com/index.html
Sea Turtle Postage Stamps of the World http://www.2xtreme.net/~nlinsley/
Sea Turtle Restoration Project http://www.seaturtles.org/
Sea Turtles http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/sea-turtle/index.htm
Sea Turtles
A Kids Heart: A Play and Learn Site with Resources for Children and their
Teachers http://akidsheart.com/animals/sea/seaturtles.htm
Ten Tips for Safe Turtle
Watching on World Turtle Day
http://www.ecotourismlogue.com/marine-ecotourism/ten-tips-for-safe-turtle-watching-on-world-turtle-day.html
Tracking Sea
Turtles http://www.gma.org/space1/turtles.html
Turtle Nesting in
Mackay http://www.mackayturtles.org.au/nesting.htm
Turtle Time
Inc http://www.turtletime.org/
‘Turtles.’ KidsConnect.Com
http://www.kidsconnect.com
Williams, Tracia Ledford Sea Turtles:
Hands on Craft for Kids http://www.craftsforkids.com/projects/seaturtles.htm
World Turtle
Trust http://world-turtle-trust.org/
About the Author of the Notes
Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright operates justified text writing and publishing consultancy services, and is widely published on children’s literature, publishing history and Australian fiction. She also teaches writing for children and young adults at Griffith University (Gold Coast) where she gained her PhD for a thesis on the development of the Australian children’s publishing industry. Her latest publications are Paper Empires a History of the Book in Australia 1946-2005 (co-edited with Craig Munro) (UQP, 2006) and Kookaburra Shells Port Curtis Literature (justified text press, 2006).