The Watertower

The Watertower stands as a unique picture book that blends science fiction and gothic elements in a small rural Australian town called Preston. At its core is a mysterious watertower looming over Shooter's Hill, which draws the attention of two teenage boys. Steven Woolman's striking illustrations employ chalk and pencil on black paper, paired with acrylic paint on textured board. The minimal text works in concert with complex visuals to build the story, while a recurring watertower symbol appears throughout the pages. This award-winning 1994 book earned both the CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award and the Books I Love Best Yearly Award. The narrative centers on exploration, mystery, and the intersection of past and present in a small community. The book tackles themes of technological advancement versus rural tradition, while examining how seemingly ordinary structures can harbor deeper significance. Its unique format challenges conventions of both picture books and science fiction storytelling.

Readers describe The Watertower as an unsettling and haunting picture book that leaves much open to interpretation. Many note that it works well for both children and adults, with layers of meaning that reveal themselves on multiple readings. Readers appreciated: - Gary Crew's subtle build-up of tension - The detailed, atmospheric illustrations - How it respects children's ability to handle complex stories - The way it encourages discussion and different interpretations Common criticisms: - Too scary/disturbing for young children - The ambiguous ending frustrates some readers - Text can be hard to follow in places Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ ratings) Several teachers report it works well for classroom discussions about inference and visual literacy. Multiple reviewers mentioned their children requested repeated readings despite finding it "creepy." Some parents note needing to discuss the themes with children afterward to process the story's darker elements.

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🏆 The Watertower won the 1995 Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award, marking a significant achievement in Australian children's literature. 🎨 Illustrator Steven Woolman's unique technique of using chalk and pencil on black paper creates an inverted effect that adds to the book's eerie atmosphere and has influenced many contemporary illustrators. 📚 Author Gary Crew is renowned for pioneering the "hybrid novel" format in Australia, blending traditional storytelling with experimental visual narratives across more than 40 published works. 💧 Water towers, like the one featured in the book, played a crucial role in Australia's rural development, with many historic towers still standing as landmarks in small towns across the country. 🌡️ The book's setting in the Australian summer, where temperatures can reach over 40°C (104°F), authentically captures the harsh climate conditions that shape life in rural Australia.