1. Animals
2. Art techniques
3. Book design
4. Cruelty
5. Extinction
6. Historical fiction
7. History
8. Imagery
9. Literary techniques
10. Perspectives
11. Poetry
12. Thylacine
13. Visual literacy

‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ is a sad yet powerful insight into the plight of the last known thylacine or Tasmanian tiger in Australian. The text, a mere 130 words, is an extended metaphor, a lament for what is and what has been. The lyrical language is strong and forceful capturing the pain of its imprisonment, of its isolation and its cries of what its life was ‘see me hunt through bracken and bush, see me swagger across the wild lands.’ These words conjure clear images which illustrator Ron Brooks has translated perfectly. We see the hunt, the swagger of an animal exulting in its freedom.

Illustrator Ron Brooks used acrylic on board and mixed media to create the two differing styles in the book. The text is seen overlaid on black and white photographic stills taken from the 1937 BBC film of the last confirmed remaining thylacine, which died in Hobart Zoo in the late 1930s. This technique reinforces the sadness and tragedy of the plight of the thylacine. In contrast are the colourful double-page spreads portraying the ‘dreams’ of the thylacine. The images present a different perspective to the sad creature trapped in a cage. We see the thylacine in the wild, the animal’s figure dominating the illustrations as it once dominated its landscape. This contrasts strongly to the black and white zoo images, there his figure is pale, shadowy and diminished on the page.

The endpapers provide contrasting views through a wire fence which begs the question as to their meaning. Are we inside looking out or outside looking in? The way differing fonts and font sizes are used is also important, some words being boldly emphasised, beating their message out loud. The later text lines, in a handwritten style font, are quieter, gentler in tone and alone on a cream-coloured page. The opposite pages have strong coloured images, one of the thylacine howling, and the other of the animal lying eyes closed and seeming to be one with the landscape accompanying the text ‘Dreaming am I.’ You sense that the Thylacine has gone to the place of its dreams.

‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ is a work of art. The concise lyrical text and the powerful visual imagery tell a tale of human failure in protecting Australia’s environment and unique wildlife. However, it is not just the thylacine; this is the story of any hunted or caged creature capable of running free and living their true birthright. A beautiful and important book that bears multiple readings and serious discussion about humanity’s responsibility to look after our natural world.

Another excellent book about thylacines is ‘One Careless Night’ by Christina Booth. Information about this book can be found in this database.

1. Allen & Unwin Teachers Notes by Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright for ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/dimo.allenunwin.com/assets/teaching_resource/9781742373836.pdf
2. Erth Visual & Physical Inc 2013. ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ A theatre production based on ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks https://www.erth.com.au/dream-of-the-thylacine
3. Allen & Unwin [n.d.] Reviews of ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ compiled and provided by Allen & Unwin https://year8picturebook.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/7/2/21723022/book_reviews.pdf
4. what swerves Blog August 15, 2011. Mike blogs about ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ and illustrator Ron Brooks. http://whatswerves.blogspot.com/2011/08/dream-of-thylacine.html
5. A Strong Belief in Wicker blogspot January 19, 2012, review of ‘The Dream of the Thylacine’ http://astrongbeliefinwicker.blogspot.com/2012/01/dream-of-thylacine.html
6. Thylacine Awareness group of Australia Tas Inc. [n.d.] ‘DOCO: ‘LIVING…the Thylacine dream’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMDu6nr1ms
7. The Conversation February 1, 2013. Maree Attard “Why did the Tasmanian Tiger go extinct?’ https://theconversation.com/why-did-the-tasmanian-tiger-go-extinct-11324
8. Smithsonian Magazine August 19, 2022. Sarah Kuta “Why the idea of bringing the Tasmanian Tiger back from extinction draws so much controversy’ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-want-to-bring-back-the-tasmanian-tiger-extinct-since-1936-180980604/