1. Capitalism
2. Citizenship
3. Climate
4. Economics
5. Environmental destruction
6. Families
7. Greed
8. Human rights
9. Politics
10. Pollution
11. Poverty
12. Social justice
13. Visual literacy

This book (first published in Italy under the title L'eredita) laments the global role that corporations play in not only destroying the environment but also in destroying millions of people’s lives. The inequality engendered by corporate greed, in which corrupt governments and other institutions are complicit, have wrought ravages in creating widespread poverty, ruined landscapes, and failing to address climate change. It makes clear that the issues explored are systemic. Although media reports might focus on one magnate, one company, or one sector of the economy, this intricate global web is far more complex.

In this text an industrialist is accorded a state funeral attended by the Prime Minister, and military and industry leaders, at which the archbishop, the deceased man’s old friend, officiates. This book suggests that corporations, governments, religious and cultural institutions are locked into an endless cycle of greed and corruption which has had disastrous effects on the population and on the environment.

An elderly industrialist dies and his three sons meet to discuss their inheritance. A state funeral is held and his daughter arrives home and questions her brothers’ intentions to carry on as their father had been doing. ‘Then she asked them: ‘What will become of our children? ‘What about them?’ they replied. ‘they will inherit the corporation. So what is the problem?’

This exchange is followed by a graphic series of wordless frames depicting the world’s problems in horrendously blasted landscapes. Greder uses ‘compressed charcoal and pastel on paper’ to create his atmospheric images in an extremely free hand. The word ‘inheritance’ is a dual-edged sword here. For it literally refers to the wealth these four siblings and their children have inherited but also to the dubious inheritance bequeathed to the world by those who are wealthy. Shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award 2022, it concludes with a devasting final frame depicting a totally white/grey landscape with a child in a gas mask operating an automatic toy car.

1. Allen & Unwin 2021. Teaching notes by Robyn Sheahan-Bright for ‘The Inheritance’ by Armin Greder https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/dimo.allenunwin.com/assets/teaching_resource/9781760526788.pdf
2. CBCA Awards 2022 Shortlist ‘The Inheritance’ by Armin Greder. https://cbca.org.au/book/the-inheritance
3. Read Plus 16 August 2021. Review by Fran Knight of ‘The Inheritance’ by Armin Greder https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/the-inheritance
4. Just Imagine UK 30 December 2020. ‘Armin Greder – Creating books about the way the world is, not the way it should be. (Interview with Nikki Gamble) https://justimagine.co.uk/podcast/6329/
5. Sly, Cathy (2022) SPaRK – “The Inheritance’: considering the effective nature of visual narrative – Stage 5 English in Scan 41(3) https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/scan/media/documents/vol-41/Scan_41-3_April2022_AEM.pdf
6. ‘Meet Armin Greder’ Reading Time June 26, 2015 http://readingtime.com.au/meet-armin-greder/
7. Kiddle. Kids Encyclopedia Facts ‘Capitalism Facts for Children’ https://kids.kiddle.co/Capitalism
8. The Guardian 30 October 2021. George Monbiot- ‘Capitalism is killing the planet- it’s time to stop buying into our own destruction. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/capitalism-is-killing-the-planet-its-time-to-stop-buying-into-our-own-destruction