Did you know? Colin Thiele and his books. (Reviews).

Kelly, Frances Did you know? Colin Thiele and his books Adelaide, Auslib Press 2001 97 pages paper ISBN 1875145494 $36.00 plus $6.60p&h

Available from Auslib Press PO Box 622 Blackwood SA 5051 fax[phone] [e-mail]

Here is a new and different approach to both introducing an author's life and work, and enthusing young readers to follow up the information in order to undertake their own research. Kelly's method has a number of facets. The first is the bringing to life of Colin Thiele by giving details of the author's interests and very personal facts of his life, accompanied by photographs (some in colour), including his beliefs as a `greenie', insights into the writing of such novels as Jodie's journey, and answers to questions that Thiele has frequently been asked. The second is the placing of Thiele's life into historical perspective, some of which takes the form of a comparison of aspects of Thiele's childhood, for example, experiences at school, recipes, favourite books, pets, with those of one Corey Schutz, a boy from Thiele's childhood town of Eudunda, who was aged 12 in 2000.

The third is to quote widely from Thiele's work, especially passages concerned with wildlife, and to compare the same sections in the book and filmed versions of Storm boy and Sun on the stubble. The last is to place a coloured column of text, usually headed `DID YOU KNOW?', `IT'S TRUE THAT ...' or `TRUE OR FALSE', on the outside of each page with interesting trivia concerning Thiele's life, work or times. These columns range in subject matter from the need for writers to have read widely to the remedies that Thiele has tried in order to cure his arthritis.

There is, also, a variety of lists, including a timeline of Thiele's life and publications; a list of the Australian and overseas honours won by his books; and a full bibliography of his work, including all overseas editions and all awards. The book concludes with a `Teachers' guide' of activities by well known Adelaide teacher librarian Fran Knight which follows Kelly's text, chapter by chapter, with suggestions, and finishes with ideas for a class project on Thiele's work.

This is, then, a useful work for teachers and librarians who wish children to gain an understanding of a wide range of aspects of Colin Thiele as a person and as a writer. There are a few drawbacks with it: Kelly's writing style is not always felicitous; there is a dearth of apostrophes, especially for the word `children's'; and there is some repetition, such as the writing of Sun on the stubble on board ship, which is discussed three times, and two listings of works and awards. These points do not detract, however, from the value of this innovative, child friendly and useful book on one of Australia's favourite--and most studied--children's authors.

Dr John Foster
University of South Australia