I feel I should have blogged about this book much sooner and I'm sure many of you already have it and/or know about it but William Grill's 'Shackleton's Journey' is a must have. Poppy remembered learning about Shackleton in primary school and I know she was quite fascinated by this explorer. Even if Shackleton's adventures didn't interest you before I think they will now. The book rightly won the Kate Greenaway medal this year and if you click on the link you can read all about the author and see many more of his fine illustrations. The book is full of tiny, intricate details which give it a kind of sketchbook, journal feel, drawing you into reading more. For example there are tiny drawings of the crew and then of all the dogs on board the Endurance.
This is the perfect book for inspiring young explorers and readers to finding out more and once again confirms that you dismiss 'picture books' at your peril. Books with words in and or pictures are great-please don't dismiss picture books as babyish. I did have a recent conversation with somebody who said their grand daughter was way beyond picture books now as he spurned the array laid out before him and only sought the books without pictures at all. Oh dear I said (and a lot more besides) and promptly picked up 'Flotsam' by David Wiesner for starters.
If you 'd like to browse through Shackleton or , let's face it just pop in and READ the whole thing at FOLK EAST this weekend that's where this book-and many others besides-will be so come and find STORYSHACK and read for yourself.