This picture book, in the style of a graphic novel, is an engrossing account of young Clancy’s adventure with Uncle Egg, around Gariwerd (the Grampian mountains in Victoria), to find the source of the Glenelg River. The story flows in a meandering way, much as a river might, at times reflective and gentle and at other times rushing ahead. At first Clancy is distracted by his heavy backpack and sore feet but eventually finds himself pausing to examine insects, small animals and the surrounding wildlife.
Young readers will also find themselves pausing to linger over the detail in the comic-style, often humorous, illustrations. Readers will feel they are there with Clancy and Uncle Egg, huddling by the warmth of a fire, staring up at the sparkling night skies, and drinking cool fresh water from the river. The labelling of flora and fauna is reminiscent of a school project and prompts curious young readers to conduct further research.
Clancy’s independence grows, highlighted in the scenes when he gets separated from Uncle Egg but manages to find shelter and light a fire. The bond between Clancy and Uncle Egg is particularly strong as they rely on each other for companionship and sharing of stories.
There are gentle messages that flow through this story of adventure, including the way in which taking a detour can lead to unexpected surprises and discovery – such as the huge lake that Clancy and Uncle Egg come across, where they delight in swimming and drinking the fresh water. Here Clancy observes that ‘…I’m part of the lake and it’s part of me….’ – reflecting on our oneness with nature and the importance of being in harmony with our environment.
This book is ideal for a classroom setting to explore themes of caring for our environment, original Indigenous and traditional place names, sports and physical activity, different artistic devices, and many other topics.
‘Rockhopping’ is a stand-alone sequel to Trace Balla’s award-winning book, ‘Rivertime.’
Picture Books for Older Readers
