When review time comes around I am equal parts anxious and intrigued. Obviously I hope that book reviewers will like my book (I would be lying if I said I didn't care) but I am also intrigued to see, sometimes for the first time, an outsiders interpretation of my story. Like a piece of art I suppose, it's interesting to hear what others read into the story and it's layers of narrative. Sometimes I discover things myself that came through the story telling process almost by osmosis, by way of knowing the back story without actually having recorded it in any way. Like the French author and illustrator Hervé Tullet so succinctly describes; 'I don't know everything about the book. To write the book and to read the book are two different things.' I like it when someone really understands what I was trying to do (and I must admit I hate it when they don't!) It's sort of scary when they do - like they have been swimming about in my brain. Either way, you can never get too carried away by them - the good and the bad. They just sort of exist as a general guide. It's the readers at home that I'm most anxious about - those guys tell brutal truths!
Here's one I like from 'The West Australian'.
Here's a review from 'Sydney's Child' (Adelaide/Perth/Brisbane/Melbourne etc.)
One from 'Magpies Magazine'.
And lastly from 'The Canberra Times'. Here Rosie is a goat!
Like The Fantastic Flying Books, Herman and Rosie (Penguin. 32pp. $24.99) has a very American vibe. Set in New York, it is an urban love story which touches the heart and stirs the imagination. Herman and Rosie lead ordinary lives. Herman, a crocodile, lives in a small apartment, works in a call centre, plays the oboe and watches films about the ocean. In the building next door lives Rosie, a goat who works in a restaurant, sings jazz songs, and watches films about the ocean. Will these characters, who are so obviously meant to be together, ever actually meet in this big, bold city?
Gus Gordon, an Australian author-illustrator, has skilfully brought the buzz and sensory overload of New York to life in this soulful tale about overcoming adversity and following your dreams. His multimedia illustrations - which include cartoon-style drawings and collages made from photographs, documents, postcards and newspapers - are visually arresting and highly appealing. Full of rich cultural and musical references, this is a clever and vibrant tale, which, like a catchy jazz riff, lingers in the mind.
Friday, January 4, 2013 at 4:10PM 
This illustration is loosely based on a photo my wife took years ago (back when we used to travel to adventurous destinations) of a small boy in a remote impoverished Ecuadorian village in the Andes called Zumbahua. The boy was happily flying his plastic bag on a string, up and down the street. Probably didn't know kites existed and wouldn't have cared anyway. One of those images that stays with you.
