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  • Published: 23 July 2014
  • ISBN: 9780670077571
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $35.00

The Soldier's Gift




The Soldier's Gift is a moving story of one family's courage and endurance during the First World War, the terrible losses at Gallipoli and a time that changed Australia forever.

Emily knows her big brother, Tom, wants to leave Hillside Farm and go overseas to the war, but Emily doesn't want him to go.
'Everyone else is going,' said Tom to Emily when their uncle was gone. 'That's not a good reason,' said Emily.

The Soldier's Gift eloquently and beautifully encapsulates a time in Australia that was pivotal to changes in our culture and psyche, within the context of the nation itself and as it stood in the world. The first world war was devastating in it's wholesale destruction of human life, and for a fledgling nation like Australia, this mortal loss was to have far reaching effects. The Soldier's Gift is an intimate window into that time, as portrayed by a young girl and her father, as their lives change and shift to accommodate the intrusion of world politics and the very personal loss of family.

  • Published: 23 July 2014
  • ISBN: 9780670077571
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $35.00

About the authors

Jane Tanner

Jane Tanner completed an Associate Diploma of Fine Art in Printmaking and Painting and a Diploma of Education. She taught for several years in Victorian secondary schools before taking up full-time illustrating in 1984.

She is the acclaimed illustrator of the best-selling picture books There's a Sea in my Bedroom, Drac and the Gremlin, The Wolf, The Fisherman and the Theefyspray, Lucy's Cat and the Rainbow Birds and The Soldier's Gift.

She is the author and illustrator of Playmates, Isabella's Secret, Ride with Me, Just Jack, Love from Grandma and Lilly and the Fairy House.

She has won or been shortlisted for many prestigious awards, including the CBCA Book of the Year Awards in the categories of Picture Book of the Year, Younger Readers' and Early Childhood.

This much-loved author/illustrator is one of Australia's outstanding picture-book creators.

Tony Palmer

After graduating from Monash University in 1985 with an honours degree in Graphic Communication Tony Palmer has worked full-time as a book designer for various publishers. He has also been a part-time typography teacher at Victoria University and is currently undertaking a Masters in Art and Design at Monash University focusing on the aesthetics of typesetting in Mandarin. As a long-time enthusiast of Australian History Tony wrote his first novel for teenagers, Break of Day which was published in 2007. Following this he wrote The Valley of Blood and Gold, published in 2011.

Awards & recognition

CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Notable Book  •  2015  •  Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

WAYBRA Children's Choice Awards

Shortlisted  •  2016  •  Picture Books