Gold!

Title

Gold!

Author

Jackie Kerin

Illustrators

Annie White

Publisher, Date

Ford Street Publishing, 2020

Audience

Primary, Upper Primary

Curriculum Codes

AC9E5LA01 , AC9E5LA02 , AC9E5LA03, AC9E5LE01, AC9E5LE02, AC9E5LE03, AC9E5LE04, AC9E5LE05, AC9HS5K01, AC9HS5K02, AC9HS5K03

AC9E5LA01 , AC9E5LA02 , AC9E5LA03, AC9E5LE01, AC9E5LE02, AC9E5LE03, AC9E5LE04, AC9E5LE05, AC9HS5K01, AC9HS5K02, AC9HS5K03, AC9HS5K04, AC9AVA6E01, AC9HP6P01, AC9HP6P04, AC9HP6P05, AC9HP6P06, AC9HP6P10, AC9E6LA01, AC9E6LA02, AC9E6LA03, AC9E6LE01, AC9E6LE02, AC9E6LE03, AC9E6LE04, AC9E6LE05, AC9HS6K01, AC9HS6K04, AC9HS6K05

ISBN

9781925804522

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Subjects
1. Artists
2. Cultural diversity
3. Exploration
4. Friendship
5. Goldmining
6. Historical fiction
7. History
8. Migration
Annotation

Robbie, Jim, Sam and Charlie arrive in Australia as part of the 1850s gold rushes that changed the country forever. What makes their true story so remarkable is they unearthed a nugget ‘bigger than a leg o’ lamb!’ The ‘Blanche Barkly’ nugget weighed nearly fifty kilograms and was at the time the biggest single piece of gold found in Australia.

In concise and energetic text author Jackie Kerin portrays the multicultural mix of the diggers arriving in Victoria, the hardship many endured, and the four men’s remarkable fortune. Illustrator Annie White researched the artists of the day (including ST Gill and Eugen von Guérard) to create images that bring the goldfields to life.

Without impeding the main narrative, Gold! provides contextual information about the gold rush era. In addition to being an engaging and surprising true story, the book will be a foundation for topics including the Eureka Stockade, the Chinese experience on the goldfields, the Indigenous peoples’ presence in the region and the environmental impact of mining.
Teaching Resources
1. Ford Street Publishing Teaching Notes for ‘Gold!’ by Jackie Kerin and Annie White https://fordstreetpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Gold-Teachers-Notes.pdf
2. Jackie Kerin Blog 15July 2020. Jackie Kerin reads from ‘Gold!’ https://www.jackiekerin.com.au/blog-1/euoys9rh68fq7wsdufo9y3pste2lkf
3. Annie White Illustration website 2002 Sample pages and reviews of the book ‘Gold!’ https://www.anniewhite.com/books#/gold/
4. Goldfields Guide 2022 ‘Gold discovery sites in the Victorian Goldfields. https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/blog/172/gold-discovery-sites-in-the-victorian-goldfields
5. SBS Learn. ‘Daily Life on the Diggings’ includes information on the Indigenous experience of the Goldfields. https://www.sbs.com.au/gold/daily-life-on-the-diggings/
6. State Library of Victoria Exhibition 17 July -October 25, 2015. ‘Australian Sketchbook: Colonial Life and the Art of S. T. Gill. https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/galleries/australian-sketchbook-st-gill
7. State Library of New South Wales ’Eureka! The Rush for Gold. Eugene von Guérard -an artist on the goldfields’ https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/eureka-rush-gold/eugene-von-guerard-artist-goldfields

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