1. Australia
2. Convicts
3. History
4. Social life and customs
5. Tasmania

This large-format book is full of detailed illustrations that take the reader on a journey through the histories and daily lives of the men, women and children transported to the penal colony, Van Diemen’s Land between 1803-1853. The book’s information is full of meticulously researched details, facts and figures. There are maps, a glossary, table of weights and measures, select bibliography, and reference to online teaching notes.

The A-Z format provides coverage of rarely discussed aspects of convict life such as prostitution and homosexuality. The reader discovers that the convicts worked mining the poor-quality Tasmanian coal as it was cheap and in high demand, and at roadmaking where the work of removing trees, boulders and other impediments had to be dealt with using basic tools and brute strength. The book is full of interesting facts, illustrations and details of little-known information about the life of convicts.

The illustrations of convicts are based on contemporary records that detail their physical features such as height, hair colour and tattoos. Architectural plans, written descriptions and surviving artifacts were used as the basis of other illustrations.

While there is humour the book does not gloss over the hardships and cruelty as evidenced by the page on Punishment. The rich historical details and the compelling true stories are accompanied by the extensive illustrations. The book brings a depth and life to a fascinating part of Australia’s history.

‘A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land’ was the 2015 winner of the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books in The Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards.

1. Simon Barnard ‘A-Z of convicts in Van Diemen’s Land’, includes the illustration process and additional information about terms https://www.simonbarnard.com.au/product/a-z-of-convicts-in-van-diemens-land/
2. Text Publishing Teaching Notes for ‘A-Z of convicts in Van Diemen’s Land’ by Simon Barnard https://d2wzqffx6hjwip.cloudfront.net/text-publishing/assets/3a/3b610049d111e49d8bf9a34ac5f060/Barnard_A-Z_Teachingnotes.pdf
3. Reading Time January 30, 2015. Roslyn Kirk reviews ‘A-Z of convicts in Van Diemen’s Land’ by Simon Barnard https://readingtime.com.au/z-convicts-van-diemens-land/
4. ABC News September 27, 2014. ‘Artist Simon Barnard recreates grisly history of Van Diemen’s Land convict era. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-26/history-of-convicts-in-van-diemens-land/5771658
5. Gould Genealogy & History. A video reading of ‘A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land’ by Simon Barnard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1J76suSro