The structure of Australia’s government as a constitutional monarchy is laid out in this illustrated informational book. The conversational style of the author and his pencil drawings which breathe life into portraits and buildings as symbols of how we are governed engage the reader and future citizens as part of the democratic process.
The success of information delivery in the book is assured by Nicholson’s creation and use of iconography for each branch of Australian government illustrating the text. These support the necessarily technical language the author uses to describe procedure and protocols. Most importantly, the repetition of these icons throughout the book ensures that the reader’s understanding of the subject continues to build.
The cornerstone of Nicholson’s talent is architectural forms. An example is his superb reproduction of Walter Burley Griffin’s map vision for Canberra. The contrast between the character of the governments of Victoria and Western Australia is shown with sketches of their very different parliamentary buildings.
Many nonfiction books of the twentieth century used photographs to support the veracity of the text. Nicholson’s fine drawings have transformed these source materials into realistic portraits of (among other things) money, schools, newspaper front pages and a family group watching TV on election night. Delicate colouring of selected elements show the playfulness a child artist might use – the jaunty ties enlivening a Cabinet from 1923 and a fanciful national flag.
The national gun reform which followed the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 is a topical example of the legislative process for the book. Nicholson has chosen to reproduce a detail from a photograph taken by Associated Press’s Jerry Galea. The huge claw grasping the weapons about to be destroyed graphically illustrates the balancing act that is involved in community decision making. Readers can see in this book a demonstration of the value of that rare instance in publishing - one creator responsible for writing, illustration and design.
Shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, 1999
Picture Books for Older Readers
