The Great Expedition

“Tongue in cheek” - that’s the idiom children will easily understand when they read Australian writer/illustrator Peter Carnavas’s latest picture book, The Great Expedition.

Adults will likely identify their childhood selves in this book, (except for the water bottles that are now an obsessed-over part of any child’s outing, even the briefest ones). This reviewer remembers her carefully-planned treks across the back lane, carrying a salami sandwich wrapped in wax paper and a soft drink bottle filled with milk, stopped up with more wax paper that was held in place by an elastic. My destination was the oak tree that grew beside the back lane - right across my house.

My trusty dog didn’t steal my sandwich, even though it was laid out on the grass. Why? Because she had visions of capturing the squirrel that chattered above us, nattering and taunting her, as it did every day. She kept a careful watch on the branches until the picnic was over and we crossed the lane back to our own yard again. What an exciting way to eat lunch!

That regular trek across the lane is etched in my memory as one of the great adventures of my childhood.

So it is with Robert and his crew of experts as they navigate a treacherous jungle to deliver a precious gift. Their struggles are many, and serious:

The explorers trudged on

But they found their water supplies had run dry

The desperate travellers turned to Will.

Only he could lead them to water.

…which is a water fountain in the playground. Kids today are anything but dehydrated.

Roberts’ crew of six diminishes to two by the end of their sorté, the four others encountering mishaps, mothers and a play structure. The remaining two hardy souls manage to get across a playground to their destination and are welcomed by their loving grandmother.

Carnavas has a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. His characters are typically overly prepared, with big hats to keep off the sun, maps to guide them, nets to capture insects and their dog, who will certainly protect them. Their water bottle is always present. There’s a lot of hilarious motion in his drawings, such as when Ivy, their botanist, is unceremoniously whisked away by her mother, off to her ballet lesson.

Carnavas’ art is reminiscent of the warmth, fun and cheek of Kady MacDonald Denton in such books at A Second is a Hiccup, A Visitor for Bear and You’re Mean, Lily Jean.

Carnavas has many picture books to his credit, both as author/illustrator (The Children Who Love Books, Jessica’s Box) and illustrator. He has also written two novels for children.

The Great Expedition will delight young children and may inspire them to embark on important, dangerous expeditions of their own. It will make a great read-aloud and is sure to prompt the adults reading it to recount their own childhood adventures.

Have I told you about my adventures in the jungle (which resembled my living room) where I jumped from tree to tree (sofa to chair) ….??