Show Day

Penny Matthews (author)

Andrew McLean (illustrator)

Omnibus Books, Scholastic, Australia: March 2012

ISBN: 9781862916890 

Genres: picture book, realistic fiction

Issues: family, rural

It's Show Day and Goldie the heifer is being entered. Dad's made some marmalade, Mum's hoping to win for the Biggest Pumpkin. Everybody's joining in. But Goldie is spooked by the noise and the crowds. Will she win a prize?

A story about a country community and the annual show that brings them together, this simple story underlines the importance of involvement. Not everybody wins a prize but they all have fun; attitude and participation are what really count.

Andrew McLean is an award-winning illustrator who has a real connection to the land and to country communities. His gentle illustrations capture the 'child's eye view' of the world – the simple joys (and tragedies), the love of family and friends, and friendships with animals. McLean says of illustrating for children: 'I like drawing for young children. I am attracted to the simplicity, honesty and directness of picture books. Simplicity requires a lot of hard work. I like developing the characters and using movement, gesture and facial expression to convey feeling. This is one reason why there are so many animals in our picture books. I like to work with different media. I use ink, coloured pencils, pastels, water-colour and gouache.'

Same illustrator: My Country; Reggie, Queen of the Street