Stories From Magic Beach

by Alison Lester and Robert Connelly, with eleven world-class animators

Published by Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781761181559

Ten stories, magical stories, frame by frame illustrations and photos. Action stills are based on the film Paper Planes by Robert Connelly.

It is a different and interesting style of book with a hard cove, for ages 5 - 10, presenting these stories, not quite picture book and not quite graphic novel style, somewhere in between.

Each one begins with a verse, some then continue in pictures only as the reader relates the words at the beginning with the visual story. Some stories include the narratives.

A beach of their own imagination which takes the ten children on adventures where they explore, beneath the surface, the caves, on boats, some talking with the sea creatures, in rock pools, excitedly riding white horses n the waves, building sandcastles and playing. Having fun, enjoying themselves as they discover.

They also encounter pirates who are smuggling treasure into the caves. Incorporating Dreamtime this is or rather these are adventures with interesting illustrations to enhance the mind.

There are some beautiful illustrations and as the pages are turned it is sure to raise questions and thinking of the readers own magical beach.

The stories are based on the work of eleven animators who are all included with their biographies and the ten children who are on a magic beach at the back of the book.

The author

Alison Lester grew up on a farm near Magic Beach and first rode a horse as a baby in her father's arms. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special. In 2011, Alison was appointed Australia's first Children's Laureate with Boori Monty Pryor, a position they shared for two years. She is currently an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Robert Connolly is one of Australia's most acclaimed and best-known filmmakers with an international career spanning thirty years. His films include the box office hit Paper Planes with Sam Worthington, Balibo starring Oscar Isaac and Anthony LaPaglia and the compendium feature film The Turning with Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne. Most recently, Robert wrote and directed The Dry and its sequel Force of Nature based on Jane Harper's bestseller, starring Eric Bana.

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