Congratulations to Johanna Bell and Dion Beasley on their win in the category Book of the Year: Early Childhood. I can see why this won in its category, the story is impacting and the illustrations are on a whole other level, their childlike nature is mesmerising. The pictures give me a real sense of Canteen Creek and those cheeky animals.
It’s a little big silly, a little bit funny, there are dinosaurs and ginormous pumpkins and wobbly teeth, all the things children 6 years of age love.
I see this book as a thing of beauty. You’re probably asking why? Or maybe you see the beauty in it too. I see beauty in inclusiveness, in access for all, in all society having access to books. I love that the book is about cars, tractors, planes and helicopters just as books for seeing children would be.
