1. Adventure
2. Anxiety
3. Book design
4. Fear
5. Horror
6. Mystery
7. Perspectives (Art)
8. Science fiction
9. Supernatural
10. Surrealism
11. Symbolism
12. Visual literacy

The mystery of this town begins on the title page, with both text and illustration that feel other-worldly or alien. Two boys, Bubba and Spike, decide to go for a swim in a mysterious watertower that stands on a hill overlooking a remote outback town. One boy is bold and daring, the other more cautious and vulnerable. It is summer and the heat itself feels almost like an additional character in the story. Bubba is not keen on swimming, so after a short time he leaves Spike. As he climbs out, Bubba discovers his shorts are missing and all he has are his towel and t-shirt. Spike offers to race home. Bubba, now alone at the watertower, is hot and afraid but when Spike returns Bubba is a different boy. What has happened while Spike was away?  

To read this book you physically twist and turn following the illustrations around the tower itself turning the book 360 degrees. There are mysterious pictures of sinister water currents swirling inside the tank. Eyes play a very important role and the townspeople stare into the distance as though they are under some unearthly influence. The broken circle logo on the watertower is also a clue to an alien presence. In this book, more questions are raised than answered. The chilling final words leave room for readers to create their own ending. The illustrations for ‘The Watertower’ use a combination of chalk and pencil on black paper, and acrylic paint on textured board. The text is simple and intriguing, while the complex illustrations create an eerie atmosphere. The sequel, ‘Beneath the Surface’ is also available in this database.

CBCA Picture Book of the Year 1995

1. Kirkus review, ‘The Watertower’ posted online 20 May 2010 https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gary-crew/the-watertower/
2. Lifetime Literacy review by Katherine Fisher of ‘The Watertower’ 8 Apr 2014 http://lifetimeliteracy.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-watertower-by-gary-crew-illustrated_8.html
3. Visual Literacy Teaching Guide including notes from the illustrator about ‘The Watertower' https://exploringnarrative.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/6/5/22651516/the-watertower-study-guide-complete_copy_2.pdf
4. MULTIMODAL ME Teaching and learning strategies for all modes of English, ‘The Watertower — Suspense and Belonging in a Small Town’ 27 Oct 2013 https://multimodalme.blog/2013/10/27/the-watertower-suspense-and-belonging-in-a-small-town/
5. YouTube ‘The Watertower’, sample illustrations and edited text from the book read by Brendan Brumby 10 May 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2EXWWfA1KQ