Sand Swimmers: the secret life of Australia's Dead Heart

Narelle Oliver (author/illustrator)

Lothian Books, Australia: 1999

ISBN: 0734403178

Genres: animal stories, non-fiction, picture book, Science

Issues: adaptations, observation

A truly outstanding picture book that explores Australia's deserts and range of life forms that populate their seemingly barren surrounds, this is a great teaching tool.

An award-winning writer of books with environmental themes, Narelle Oliver has excelled herself in Sand Swimmers, conveying a significant amount of information in a remarkably concise text. Illustrations that echo the rust tones of the desert provide images of the creatures that have adapted to the arid environment, as well as pictures of the very different approaches of early white men and aboriginal tribes to the harsh environment. Through text and image, Oliver shows readers the geological and climatic changes that caused the deserts to form, as well as insight into the problems that Sturt and his team encountered in their explorations.

Oliver has created a book that can be used for several subjects – Australian history, Science (biology, adaptations) and cultural studies (relationship with environment). There is much here to be observed, discussed and researched. Although the book is complete in itself, for advanced readers it could be a starting point for further reading, as Oliver provides a detailed biography.

Highly recommended.