These reflections are the result of a fascinating expedition that the two creators took as Arts Fellows with Australian Antarctic Division. They have also been tourists, but the experiences related in this beautifully presented book go far beyond those of the average Antarctic tourist.
The 96 page treasury includes snippets written by both author/illustrators as well as sketches, drawings and photographs created by them. Historic photos and extracts from diaries and poems combine to explore every facet of Antarctica – the history of exploration, the tempestuous journey, the isolation, the icebergs and the wildlife. At times the writing is very poetic and it is clear that both Lester and Tulloch have been deeply moved by the environment at the bottom of the world. In many cases, text from 100 years ago has been juxtaposed with modern clippings to reveal that over time, Antarctica has changed little and leaves a strong impression on all who venture there.
Each page offers new insights. When crossing the Antarctic Circle (and, by the way, the Arctic Circle) it is traditional to conduct a “Neptune ceremony” with a bow to King Neptune, a dunking and a kiss of a stinky fish. One of my favourite pages is the illustration of “South Polar Sea Dog Names” which invites readers to construct the name they would be given were they to participate in a Neptune ceremony by crossing the Antarctic circle. As well, pages 24-27 are fine examples of each author/illustrator’s work, with a typical Alison Lester illustration depicting the richness of the Antarctic environment (pp 24-25), followed by a vividly coloured Coral Tulloch illustration of a whale (pp 26-27)
Visitors to Antarctica experience an overwhelming sense of power conveyed by the immensity of the icebergs and a profound appreciation of the tremendous silence as well as true joy at the antics of the wildlife. All these aspects have been brought vividly to life in this amazing book, which crosses a boundary between illustrated non-fiction for children, and a sophisticated compendium for any age.
