Fluke

Description

IN 2012 A SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE GAVE BIRTH TO A CALF IN SYDNEY HARBOUR, AND THE PEOPLE OF SYDNEY WERE ENTRANCED. THE STORY OF FLUKE IS BASED ON THESE EVENTS. In 2012 a Southern right whale gave birth to a calf in Sydney Harbour. It was only the third time in recorded history that a Southern right whale had been born in the harbour. The mother and calf stayed in the sheltered waters of the city's inlets and bays for several months before heading south to the Antarctic waters. The people of Sydney were entranced by the presence of these whales so close to the city. Since then there have been numerous other sightings of whale calves in Sydney waters, including one which was found nestling next to a boat after being separated from its mother. Lesley Gibbes' text captures the excitement, joy and awe that the presence of these magnificent mammals create among the citizens of Sydney, while Michelle Dawson's tender illustrations bring the character of Fluke and his rich underwater world to life. AWARDS Shortlisted - 2018 Environment Award for Children's Literature Whitley Certificate of Commendation - 2018 Whitley Awards (Young Children's Book)

Lesley Gibbes is an internationally published children's author and primary school teacher. She is the author of CBCA Early Childhood Book Of The Year Honour Book, Scary Night, CBCA Notable Book, Little Bear's First Sleep, Bring a Duck, Quick as a Wink Fairy Pink, Fluke, Bouncing, Bouncing Little Joeys A Bush Christmas and the hilarious CBCA Notable Book series Fizz, illustrated by Stephen Michael King. Michelle Dawson was born in New Zealand, and moved to Australia in 1985. She has been working as a professional artist since 1996 and has studied both in Australia and the UK. In 2009 she illustrated her first picture book How Weird Is That? a fantastic tale (written by Gyan) which features a collection of amazing hybrid beasts woven around the theme of Australian native animals. Both an art book and a children's book, it was subsequently shortlisted for the 2009 Crichton Award for New Illustrator of the Year. Fluke is her third picture book, which follows the very successful bedtime book Let's go to Sleep written by Margaret Wild and published by Working Title Press in 2013. Michelle lives and works in a converted church near the coast in rural Australia.