And the band played Waltzing Matilda. Sophisticated picture book by Eric Bogle illustrated by Bruce Whatley @AllenAndUnwin

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
BY Eric Bogle
Illustrated by Bruce Whatley
ISBN 9781743317051
Allen and Unwin

We all know the famous anti-war song but in this sophisticated picture book format, the song takes on new meaning. It is the story of the battle at Gallipoli and with the 100 year commemorations happening soon, this book is ideal as a talking point at all levels across the school curriculum. I can see primary, intermediate and secondary school teachers and librarians using it to tell students about the Gallipoli Campaign and how even now their are still many lessons to learn. For Australians and New Zealanders, the ANZAC’s and the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign will forever be part of our shared history. This book is a must have for any school library.
It is an iconic song with a powerful message and beautifully illustrated. I have seen and read many of the books Bruce Whatley has illustrated with his humorous style but this book is completely different. The mostly sepia tones of the illustrations help create a mood and feeling that left me quite stunned. The trailer, a combination of the song and the book’s illustrations reflects the images of a war that won’t be forgotten. I was reluctant to return the book to the public library as I wanted to read it over and over again but I have since ordered one for school.

There are teacher notes for classroom use found here.

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Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan @HCBoz another beautiful & moving sophisticated picture book

Rules of summer
By Shaun Tan

I have been hanging out for this book for some months now and when it arrived in the shops this week I didn’t wait. I bought it immediately and I am already in love with it. Shaun Tan is one very talented artist who not only challenges the reader but excites and moves us as well.
The feel of the book, its colours and textures from cover to cover are a work of art but then again you would not expect anything less from Shaun Tan.
This is a story about two boys, either friends or brothers. It is not made clear but it is the relationship between the two on this particular day that is important. There is almost a sense of foreboding and superstition in the “rules” being told about how to deal with life. Terrible things will happen if you break the rules. Tan deliberately adds bizarre characters to the mix and places them in amongst the everyday, asking us to question just what is real and what isn’t.
Tan tempts us to look back on our own childhood and remember the long hot days of summer, the good and the bad and how often what we remember is not what really happened.
This beautifully crafted book can be used at face value or read over and over again on so many different levels. There are teacher notes available for class use which will help unpack this book and lead to an even deeper understanding of this story.
Rules of summer
As with all of Shaun Tan’s work when it comes to the crunch, there are just no rules and that is why he continues to win so many awards. Absolutely love this book!

Unforgotten by Tohby Riddle : absolutely beautiful sophisticated picture book

Unforgotten
By Tobhy Riddle
Allen & Unwin

“Nobody knows where they come from.
But they come.
Impossible birds of the big sky
and the long night…”

I love this book. It is a thought provoking hardback picture/fiction book of few words. The illustrations tell us so much more than words. We are encouraged to be aware of others and to remember them and the impact on our lives or the lives of others. The illustrations are a mix of photographic collage and drawings mostly in darker shades. The choice of shadowy colours suggests so much around us is unseen or un-noticed. Or worse – fogotten! I could spend hours reading and re-reading this book. Something new to look at every time. It is both beautiful and haunting. Definitley a 5 out of 5.
The music for the trailer is perfect for the book.

For teachers there are teaching notes available here.

Sophisticated picture books

Varmints
By Helen Ward
illustrations by Marc Craste
This is a wonderfully illustrated sophisticated picture book just waiting for readers to delve into its beauty and depth. Not strictly a book trailer but a trailer for a short movie of the book but it is a book not to be missed.

The lost thing
Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan

In a similar position as Varmints this is the trailer for Tan’s brilliant book, The lost thing which was also made into a short movie.
In fact the movie actually won an Academy award for the best short animation.