This week we have the very talented Mark Wilson with his book 'Flapper VC'. 'Flapper VC' has just been released and is already selling well. Flapper was a big hit at the 2nd Annual Dromkeen Literature Festival last Saturday, and the kids love him (or more precisely, the hand puppet that pretended to be Flapper!).
Based on the true story of
Flapper, a messenger pigeon and his handler, an Australian soldier, during WW2.
Raised and trained in Australia, Flapper survived four
years of warfare in the Pacific, to eventually be pinned down and surrounded by
Japanese troops during the battle for Manus Island in the late stages of the
war. The patrol was almost out of ammunition, many were wounded, and the only
radio they had was smashed by a stray bullet. The only hope of survival was to
get a message through to Headquarters for support. It was up to the messenger
pigeons with the patrol. The first two pigeons released were shot by enemy
snipers, but Flapper, against all the odds, survived the snipers and machine
gun bullets to get a message through that saved the patrol. Flapper was awarded
the Pigeon version of the VC, called the Dickin Medal, for his actions on that
day, and his medal is proudly displayed at the Australian War Memorial in
Canberra, Australia.
Published by Lothian/Hachette Children's Books
Australia.
Recent Children's Books
Beth – the Story of a Child Convict
Hachette
Flapper VC Hachette
Digger - The Dog Who Went to War Hachette
Migaloo - the White Whale Hachette
The Horse Soldier Windy Hollow
Recent Awards
2016 Whitley Picture-book Award Migaloo – the White Whale
2015 CBCA Eva Pownall Notable Book Award The Afghanistan Pup
2014 WAYR Award shortlist Ben & Gracie’s Art
Adventure
2014 CBCA Notable Picture book Award Vietnam Diary
A sneak peak of Mark's display:
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