A boy is preparing a billy full of Christmas to send to his father who is a soldier in WW1.
Each day he places an article in the tin to form a connection to home. There is
butterscotch and a tin of fish, the last walnuts from their tree, a bar of
chocolate and a pair of hand-knitted socks.
Saturday mum’s contribution goes
in: a razor, safety pins and soap for his undies. Sunday is for Nanna’s. She
puts handkerchiefs, and a pencil and paper for his letters home.
Although they prepare the Anzac billy for the dad, there are so many billies
being loaded onto a ship, nine billies to
a layer, three layers to a box,
and so many soldiers, the boy understands that his particular one might not
reach his dad. He doesn’t mind. It’s the importance of his letter reaching his
dad in time for Christmas that matters the most.
Claire Saxby has as always, researched her subject
thoroughly to create a moving tale of love, longing and the loneliness of being
far from your loved one.
The exquisite illustrations are in watercolour and
pencil. The same combination of colours - delicate shades of brown, bluish
green and white are used throughout the book. This uniform approach corresponds
with the constant hope and yearning the family has for the father’s return.
Most of the illustrations are presented in full
page double spreads where the reader is part of the scene being played out. I
felt like I was standing in a corner observing, and feeling the same emotions
washing over the two mothers and child as they stay busy to fill in time till
they are reunited with their loved one.
It is obvious that the illustrators have immersed
themselves in the text to have provided such an impressive and realistic visual
interpretation of the author’s words.
This is a divine publication full of movement and
nostalgia, beautifully reflecting the daily lives and thoughts of people during
the War years. I adored the image of the rows of soldiers standing on the deck
looking out to sea, all lost in thought. The crests of waves appear wild and white-tipped
matching the men’s mood, perhaps their heartbeat. In the corner of the opposite
page, a soldier sits with his Anzac billy open reading a letter.
Both end pages in blue background and items, depict
the contents of the boy’s Anzac billy.
Title:
The Anzac Billy
Author:
Claire Saxby
Illustrator:
Mark Jackson & Heather Potter
Publisher:
Walker Books, $24.99
Publication
Date: 1 April 2019
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925126815
For
ages: 5+
Type:
Picture Book