Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner illustrated by Tom Jellett

 

Australians all let us rejoice, 

For we are one and free; 

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; 

Our home is girt by sea; 

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts 

Of beauty rich and rare; 

In history’s page, let every stage 

Advance Australia Fair. 

In joyful strains then let us sing, 

Advance Australia Fair.

Our home is 'girt' by sea is so confusing - what does this mean? Daisy thinks the words are 'our home is dirt by sea'. Dad realises that because they live inland in Australia Daisy has no sense that Australia is an island continent surrounded by water - girt by sea. So, Daisy and her dad set off on a journey around Australia leaving their home in outback Queensland just after Christmas and returning home about 4-6 weeks later. 

Places they visit:

• Airle Beach, Queensland
• Great Barrier Reef Queenland
• Northern New South Wales - Byron Bay
• Sydney
• Southern New South Wales
• Wilson's Promontory Victoria
• Melbourne
• Freycinet Pennisula Tasmania
• Great Ocean Road Victoria
• Adelaide
• Eyre Peninsula South Australia
• Nullabor National Park South Australia
• Bunda Cliffs South Australia
• Eucla Western Australia
• Perth
• The Kimberley Western Australia
• Broome Western Australia
• Darwin

On the cover you can see Daisy and her dad in their Combi van. You do need to notice the number plate which says Sarah. Sarah is Daisy's mum, and she has sadly died but the lovely thing is she is very much with this father and daughter on their journey because Dad and Sarah made this same journey many many years ago. Now turn to the end papers. They are different front and back and they are brilliant showing a child's drawing of the map of Australia. 

I love the way Daisy and her dad have such a warm relationship. They are so easy in each other's company with lots of shared jokes and little sayings. There is a touch of sadness over the loss of Daisy’s mum, but this is handled so beautifully. I love the emotional intelligence of young Daisy. 

As you turn the pages the background colours change reflecting each of the different environments we have in Australia and the page of repeated strips as they drive across the Nullabor is perfect – it feels like a welcome break after previously hectic paneled pages. The graphic novel/comic format works perfectly for this story as a way to convey the enormity of their journey across time and place and this format also allows the writer/illustrator to zoom in on more intimate father/daughter moments. 

Dirt by Sea manages to be quite informative about our country as well as a thoughtful portrayal of a loving father and daughter having a great holiday together. It would be a great gift for an overseas visitor or an at home armchair traveller and deserves to be in every school library. Storylinks

Dirt by Sea will charm a large audience, from young to old. Kids' Book Review

The obvious companion text is Are we there yet by Alison Lester.

See more books by Michael Wagner here. I loved a really early book by Michael Wagner - The Undies. And here are more books by Tom Jellett. Here are some detailed teachers notes for Dirt by Sea.