The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) teamed up with children’s author, Alison Lester (pictured) for a story time with a difference during the Australian Antarctic Festival in Hobart, Tasmania, last week.
The leading Australian author gave a reading from some of her best known stories, two of which were inspired by her trip to the continent as an Antarctic Arts Fellow in 2005.
During Ms Lester’s voyage on Australia’s icebreaker, Aurora Australis, she shared stories with school children, encouraging them to draw what she was writing about.
Thousands of children followed her journey, sending in colourful paintings, which resulted in the Kids Antarctic Art exhibition. Works from the exhibition were on display during the festival.
Ms Lester’s book Sophie Scott Goes South tells the tale of nine-year-old sailing south on Australia’s icebreaker, the Aurora Australis.
Along the way she spots some of Antarctica’s most loved animals, gets to know the crew of the ship and spends time with expeditioners heading to Antarctica to live and work on the icy continent.
One Small Island, co-authored by Ms Lester with Coral Tulloch, is about sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, its unique geological history and the impact of humans on the environment.
Ms Lester also took part in book signings at the festival, held at Princes Wharf 1.
