After writing six adult novels, Tim Winton, named a Living Treasure by the Australian National Trust, wrote his first book for children, Jesse, in 1988. Winton has since been shortlisted twice for the Mann Booker Prize for his adult fiction. But other children’s books also followed, including three silly-wise coming-of-age books (1990-1997), about 13-year-old Lockie Leonard that were recently made into an Australian television series. The first in the series, Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo (1990), won the Western Australia Premier’s Award for Children’s Fiction. It was adapted for theater and had a successful national tour. Here’s an article about Tim Winton and his home town of Albany, in Western Australia, where the series is set and was filmed. (Winton is known for his lovingly depicted Western Australia settings and characters.) In addition to the two books mentioned, Winton’s other books for children are The Bugalugs Bum Thief, 1991 (yes, this thief steals human bums!); Lockie Leonard, Scumbuster, 1993; Lockie Leonard, Legend, 1997; and The Deep, 1998 (illustrated by Karen Louise).
At PaperTigers, Chris Cheng recently took a larger look at Australia’s environment through children’s books, including Winton’s Lockie Leonard, Scumbuster.
You've sold me on the Ingo series. I'm adding them to the ol' TBR pile. Thanks for featuring Helen Dunmore this week - it's been great getting to know her.
Thanks, Eisha. This week has been fun. I hope you enjoy "Ingo."