1. Art techniques
2. Australia
3. Collage
4. Deserts
5. Ecosystems
6. Environmental protection
7. Floods
8. History
9. Introduced species
10. Plants
11. Visual literacy

The Australian desert, for thousands of years, the only changes to the landscape were made by the wind or the occasional flooding rains. Then a woman, a newcomer, a settler from far away makes her home near the usually dry Finke River in Central Australia. She has bought plant seeds with her, seeds of a non-native plant, a pretty plant with lovely red flowers, and it grows well in the harsh arid country. But the river floods, and the seeds of this new plant are scattered far and wide and continue to scatter even further, blown by the wind and the willy-willies.

Introduced flora and fauna species are a major problem in Australia. Rosy dock is one such plant. Planted with the best of intentions these and other introduced plants and animals have enormous unforeseen consequences. Without their normal predators they change whole landscapes and push native plants and animals to extinction.

Jeannie Baker is well-known for the strong environmental messages her unique books contain and she acknowledges the impact the Australian outback and natural world have had on her.

She describes her art as ‘miniature collage constructions.’ Each of the highly detailed collages are created by carefully layering a combination of natural and artificial materials and makes careful use of space to give depth and give an illusion of perspective. The collages in ‘The Story of Rosy Dock’ mirror the country around the Finke River. Each double page spread perfectly reflects the colours and conditions of the Australian desert country of Central Australia. The vivid blue of the sky is easily relatable to those familiar with outback Australia as is the depiction of the sudden and violent flooding events that occur without warning in otherwise dry riverbeds. The result of a flood is clearly shown in the before and after artwork on the book’s endpapers. As with all of Jeannie Baker’s books the artwork invites close inspection to ensure important details are not missed.

‘The Story of Rosy Dock’ was an Honour Book in the 1995 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards and won the Australian Wilderness Society’s Fiction Award for Children’s Books 1996. It was also an American Library Association Notable Book in 1996.

1. National Film and Sound Archive Teachers Notes to accompany the film of ‘The Story of Rosy Dock’ by Jeannie Baker. (A DVD of the film can be purchased from NFSA) http://shop.nfsa.gov.au/assets/files/Story%20of%20Rosy%20Dock_TN.pdf
2. Jeannie Baker’ website - The Collage Artist outlines ‘Learning Opportunities’ based on the book https://jeanniebaker-theaustralianenviro.weebly.com/
3. Jeannie Baker website ‘Technique’ https://www.jeanniebaker.com/technique/
4. https://www.jeanniebaker.com/technique/ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jeannie-baker/the-story-of-rosy-dock/
5. Ausemade ‘Rosy Dock: Non-indigenous Flowering Plants, Central Australia’ https://ausemade.com.au/flora-fauna/flora/rosy-dock-rumex-vesicarius/