HONOUR BOOK: CBCA Picture Book of the Year, 2019With eloquent and devastating imagery, the creator of the multi-award-winning book The Island again asks us to examine our responses to the plight of refugees. How long will we remain silent witnesses?'After finishing this book, I imagined a different story, one recounting the journey of a family with an entry visa, setting out on an aeroplane or a ship, landing or docking safe and sound in a country where they can make a new start. These are known as "safe and legal pathways" and Amnesty International calls on the international community to provide them to those fleeing war, torture and persecution. Routes over land, air or sea that would save people having to entrust their lives to crime rings, which is otherwise the only possibility that remains open to them. I imagine Armin Greder would enjoy writing it but he cannot. Because today he needs to tell the story of that shared sea that has become a mass grave: the Mediterranean.Unfortunately, there is also a third story to tell: a story of silence, one with no protagonists. That is how it will be if the European Union succeeds - through "cooperation agreements" with African countries - in moving its sea borders much further south. Then there will be no more deaths (at sea). And we will eat our fish in peace.' Riccardo NourySpokesperson, Amnesty International Italy

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book has been graded for interest at 12-18 years.

There are 40 pages in this book.

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).

This book was published in 2018 by Allen & Unwin .

Armin Greder was born in Switzerland. In 1971 he migrated to Australia where he worked as a graphic designer and later taught design and illustration at a tertiary art institution. Books he has authored and illustrated include The Island, The City and Australia to Z. His work, in which charcoal is prominent, reflects his European background. He is the recipient of a number of international recognitions such as the Bologna Ragazzi Award and has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize. He now lives in Lima, Peru.