The Watertower by Gary Crew illustrated by Steven Woolman

 

In 2023 our National Centre for Australian Children's Literature will release a new database of Australian picture books for older readers. I was excited to be part of this project. One of my assigned books was The Watertower.

Here is my annotation for the new database:

The mystery of this town begins on the title page, with both text and illustration that feel other-worldly or alien. Two boys, Bubba and Spike, decide to go for a swim in a mysterious watertower that stands on a hill overlooking a remote outback town. One boy is bold and daring, the other more cautious and vulnerable. It is summer and the heat itself feels almost like an additional character in the story. Bubba is not keen on swimming, so after a short time he leaves Spike. As he climbs out, Bubba discovers his shorts are missing and all he has are his towel and t-shirt. Spike offers to race home. Bubba, now alone at the watertower, is hot and afraid but when Spike returns Bubba is a different boy. What has happened while Spike was away?  

To read this book you physically twist and turn following the illustrations around the tower itself turning the book 360 degrees. There are mysterious pictures of sinister water currents swirling inside the tank. Eyes play a very important role and the townspeople stare into the distance as though they are under some unearthly influence. The broken circle logo on the watertower is also a clue to an alien presence. In this book, more questions are raised than answered. The chilling final words leave room for readers to create their own ending. The illustrations for the Watertower use a combination of chalk and pencil on black paper, and acrylic paint on textured board. The text is simple and intriguing, while the complex illustrations create an eerie atmosphere.

The Watertower was the Australian Children's Book Council Picture Book of the Year in 1995. The Watertower was published in 1994 with the paperback edition in 1999. I picked up a copy at a charity book sale today for just $2. This book is still in print and easily available and it is also sure to be found in most Australian primary school libraries.

Here is the Kirkus review. This review (Lifetime Literacy 2014) gives a very detailed exploration of the plot and it also contains quotes from other reviewers. When you dip into the NCACL database next year you will find other resources to explore for this book. In the meantime take a look at their Verse Novel database - this is a wonderful resource for all teachers and Teacher-Librarians.

I highly recommend The Watertower for senior Primary groups and junior high school. It is a gripping mystery with amazing illustrations by the late Steven Woolman. Here is the sequel:

Here are a couple of other books by Gary Crew that I have shared with my senior primary students:

Cat on the Island