South with the Seabirds

Follow four remarkable scientists to the edge of the world

By Jess McGeachin

Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray

Non fiction picture books are having quite a moment right now, and South with the Seabirds is a wonderful addition from author and illustrator Jess McGeachin. Supported by an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship, McGeachin was able to visit, research and sketch his findings at Macquarie Island – an uninhabited, UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting between New Zealand and Antarctica. The resulting picture book shares the history of the island, from ‘discovery’ to exploitation to successful case study for pest eradication. The narrative focuses on four women scientists who made significant contributions during a research expedition in 1959, then looks forward and back from their experiences to create a fuller history.

The four remarkable scientists were Mary Gilham (naturalist and conservationist), Hope Macpherson (malacologist – a new word to me!), Susan Ingham (biological secretary for the Antarctic Division) and Isobel Bennett (marine scientist). Each was an innovator, activist and feminist, in their own way, who fortunately documented their experiences in scientific documentation as well as personal diaries. They were the first women given permission to explore the region.

McGeachin deftly blends these women’s stories with beautiful spreads highlighting the wildlife diversity of the region in the ‘50s. Birds, animals and sea creatures are identified and named – at once a nod to the scientists’ process of documenting their findings, but also a sort of spotter’s guide for young readers interested in zoology and the natural world.

The story is complicated by the fact that earlier waves of visitors had introduced pests (like rabbits) whilst hunting seals and penguins for oil and fur, necessitating complex pest management activities in the 2000s. This book will be useful across a range of classroom conversations and curriculum areas – but is also simply an interesting snapshot for any reader unfamiliar with the island’s history. The endpapers include maps and there are ‘Tips for a young naturalist’ to guide extension activities.

 A & U Children 2024  (with teaching resources)

Jess McGeachin 

Lara Cain Gray is the author of The Grown-up’s Guide to Picture Books