One would think
illustrating and describing a seemingly lifeless world cloaked in ink would
be an exercise in futility. Unless of course you are an inhabitant of the
fathomless depths. Or Andrew Plant.
Plant’s latest author
illustrated title, Stardiving is more than a clever oxymoron. It is a
foray into the unknown. A daring and sublime exploration of a world visited by but
a few, all rendered in a rigorously limited yet serenely darkened colour
palette.
The front cover endpapers of this inspired picture book begin with a stunning visual and expository breakdown of the great sperm whale.
Don’t be tempted to skip this read through. We are introduced to terminology and several unique attributes of this mighty mammal before moving through an ocean of blues and teals to young Fluke’s story and thanks to this brief exposition, it feels as though we are already better acquainted with Fluke’s beguiling ways.
Plant gives you a moment
to ponder that which you’ve just learnt with a wordless spread depicting Fluke’s
ocean home; a wide sweeping vista of rolling waves and sunlit waters in which
Fluke’s pod linger and laze. Fluke’s mother watches as he and his young friend,
Amber frolic among the whitecaps, exchanging taunts with the capricious
dolphins.
It is they who sow the
seed of wonder and yearning in him and soon Fluke is daydreaming about the
stars above. He longs to see them, to experience their beauty, believing that
in doing so, his knowledge of the world will swell like an ocean current. But
while waiting in vain one cloudy night, Fluke is visited by the great bull
whale, Cachalot who admonishes his daydreams as folly. ‘Dive. Dive into the
dark and cold’, advises Cachalot if it is stars Fluke hopes to see. So,
Fluke does. And what he discovers is stellar to the nth degree.
The deep trenches of
Earth’s magnificent oceans are darker than night. And yet, life exists in a
myriad of wonderous, bio-luminescent forms. Eerie and enticing. Frightening and
fascinating. Astonishing and twinkling and, starlike. Fluke’s first star
dive is illuminating on many levels. It allows him to fulfil a dream but also
permits a discovery not just of what lurks in the depths below but of himself
and his astounding capabilities, unharnessing a skill set (being able to dive deeper
than any other mammal) peculiar to a few like him. The moment of self-discovery
is as momentous as the discovery of the deep-sea creatures themselves. And all this
occurs in a dense sea of acute perspectives and dark acrylics and watercolours;
50 shades of beautiful black as it were. Pure magnificence.
Soothing language,
descriptive restraint and considered text placement ensure the reader’s journey
with Fluke to the ocean’s mysterious abyss is unhampered and memorable. The
grandeur of this experience will no doubt urge you to stardive over and over
again. And what of the back cover endpapers? Well, you’ll have to dive deep to
uncover those marvels for yourself. Just ask Fluke. He’ll show you the way.
Stardiving is a must for oceanographers and
marine scientists in the making or anyone who just loves the magic of star
gazing. Highly recommended.
Title: Stardiving
Author Illustrator: Andrew Plant
Publisher: Ford St Publishing, $24.95
Publication Date: April 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922696014
For ages: 6 – 12
Type: Picture Book
