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Flood
This is a story that shows how strong and devastating flood water can be to homes and livelihoods. It is inspired by the 2011 Queensland floods but it could be about any of the disasters that strike our land, and the events that turn everyday Australians into heroes. Flood depicts water mercilessly ripping through Queensland towns and then receding, leaving destruction and devastation in its wake. Told from the perspective of a cattle dog who is separated from his family, Flood helps children to understand the affects of a traumatic natural disaster without being too confronting, while the story of the little tugboat that pushes a boardwalk out to sea, staving off further disaster, gives smaller children a hero they can relate to. Flood is a beautiful and timely expression of the strength of the Australian spirit during times of adversity.
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http://www.thebookhouse.com.au/_produ...
32 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
321 books870 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 8, 2015
Inspired by past Brisbane floods, in particular, the 2011 flood, this picture book is a record of these experiences. It is subtle and informative, touching on the emotional impact of a natural disaster of this sort. It introduces the reader to some of the roles people undertake to move forward after such an event. The narrative does not exploit typical plot structure, in that there is no climactic high-point or dramatic resolution, and not much in the way of interpreting or inferring, either. French's written language is descriptive and is well-complimented by Whatley's watercolour illustrations. The text is appropriate for Stage 4 students and it offers something useful in terms of written and visual language study. The nature of its subject-matter makes it a bit difficult to place in a unit of study, however.
November 4, 2012
Flood by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley – beautiful survival story of flooding in Australia, touching story with a powerful appreciative message as well
March 5, 2014
A pretty literal story. The story of the 2009 Brisbane floods. Nothing to really infer here... It just tells it as it is. The illustrations go well with the story though!
January 26, 2018
Heroes rose with the flood waters too many to count.
Bravo
Bravo
October 25, 2024
I can see why this book, and the series that it belongs too, has been winning awards, as its a very powerful book, even if a Children's picture book.
I admit, I didn't think much of this book, when the first time I read it. But, deliberating on the book, I have come to really enjoy it. Since, book explains the hardship of living within the Aussie Bush. Since, often its dry, but then the Rain comes, and never stops, brining about a major flood. But, this is often with communities come together, especially when the clean come begins
The Pictures are done in a watercolour, but is allowed to run making the illustrations into a bit of a mess, giving this book, some extra meaning to it.
Thus, this book is great for parents to read to kids, to show them the good and bad things of living here in Australia, that is often dry, but when the Rain, it pours.
I admit, I didn't think much of this book, when the first time I read it. But, deliberating on the book, I have come to really enjoy it. Since, book explains the hardship of living within the Aussie Bush. Since, often its dry, but then the Rain comes, and never stops, brining about a major flood. But, this is often with communities come together, especially when the clean come begins
The Pictures are done in a watercolour, but is allowed to run making the illustrations into a bit of a mess, giving this book, some extra meaning to it.
Thus, this book is great for parents to read to kids, to show them the good and bad things of living here in Australia, that is often dry, but when the Rain, it pours.
January 22, 2024
Jackie French has created the anguished story that people in Brisbane went through during the floods.
My son lives not far from the river and he watched the boardwalk pontoon float down the river.
Bruce Whatley showed the floods in watercolour images with the paint dripping down the pages. So touching are these images, with the dog in the tray of the ute, then on the roof. The little tug pushed the pontoon till it was in the current and swept away.
This piece of living history is of people helping each other, giving their time and effort to clean out the mud-ravaged homes, share food and care.
As always the collaboration between Jackie French and Bruce Whatley is wonderful.
My son lives not far from the river and he watched the boardwalk pontoon float down the river.
Bruce Whatley showed the floods in watercolour images with the paint dripping down the pages. So touching are these images, with the dog in the tray of the ute, then on the roof. The little tug pushed the pontoon till it was in the current and swept away.
This piece of living history is of people helping each other, giving their time and effort to clean out the mud-ravaged homes, share food and care.
As always the collaboration between Jackie French and Bruce Whatley is wonderful.
December 18, 2020
A dog watches as the rain comes and then the floods, causing chaos across the land.
Based on floods that happened in QLD in 2011, it captures the devastation of any flood. It focuses a lot on the hero's who band together to help. It is a well written story that I think is important to share with our children, for flooding happens a lot in many places around Australia.
Bruce Whatley's pictures are beautiful, made with running paint to capture the essence of a flood.
I highly recommend it.
Based on floods that happened in QLD in 2011, it captures the devastation of any flood. It focuses a lot on the hero's who band together to help. It is a well written story that I think is important to share with our children, for flooding happens a lot in many places around Australia.
Bruce Whatley's pictures are beautiful, made with running paint to capture the essence of a flood.
I highly recommend it.
June 28, 2018
This is a beautiful picture book about the tragedy of a flood, and how a community works together to get through it. The illustrations by Bruce Whatley are poignant, and the language French uses is both poetic and concise. An important book for Australians, where flood so often occurs.
November 25, 2018
Whilst this book can be about any flood, it does take inspiration from the devastating 2011 floods in Queensland. Beautifully written and illustrated, and great story bringing home the story of what happened and making the events come alive again. Excellent book.
February 23, 2021
Flood is an excellent accessible companion piece to Fire - both which offer an excellent relationship between image and word, using texture rhythm, juxtaposition to create an emotional path Into and beyond these environmental and social events.
April 21, 2022
Amazing, beautifully illustrated and told. It was moving without being overly moralising. It was lyrical without being flowery, a truly excellent story of the 2011 floods and human nature in catastrophe.
January 25, 2026
Tale of the Brisbane floods of 2011. Good art style with running wash and left-handed illustration by Bruce Whatley adds to the sense of water and flood. Good use of simile, metaphor and personification in Jackie French's storytelling. The dog is cute and a good linking device.
July 3, 2019
I love everything about this series of natural disaster picture books!
January 5, 2025
Beautiful illustration . Easy read at the meantime, reflective and emotional.
August 19, 2011
Flood
Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781742830728
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Release Date: 01 August 2011
Format: Paperback
RRP: $16.99
A Bug in a Book review by Angela Hall.
In the words of Anna Bligh MP Premier of QLD:
“Congratulations to Scholastic Australia for producing Flood. This book was printed in Queensland, a copy will be donated to every Australian primary school, and profits will go to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. Thank you Scholastic Australia – well done!”
This book helps to fill the gaping void between news and events and children understanding and coping with these visions and experiences. The Queensland flood took more than the nations breath away through media coverage, it stole homes, jobs, livestock and lives. It is hard for us adults to comprehend, it is hard to explain to a child, thankfully this book is here to help.
The story Flood is told in the perspective of a cattle dog who is misplaced by the disaster. It shows the community spirit, the overview of the events that occurred and how those effected coped. This book made my heart heavy as I recalled watching those very same events on TV and all those feelings of shock and amazement at the power and suddenness of the flood. Today people just kilometres north of our home are still putting their lives back together after this disaster.
This is also the story of the little tug boat who could. Do you remember when the boardwalk broke free from its floating home on the Brisbane River? The very heavy boardwalk was being swept away in the torrent and turned into a dangerous weapon of destruction. Then along comes a tiny little tug boat, it shoves and guided and never gave up despite everything being against it. That little tug boat is a hero and a source of hope. There were many heroes in the floods and we will not forget it.
Flood bring tears but it also warms the heart.Jackie French
Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781742830728
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Release Date: 01 August 2011
Format: Paperback
RRP: $16.99
A Bug in a Book review by Angela Hall.
In the words of Anna Bligh MP Premier of QLD:
“Congratulations to Scholastic Australia for producing Flood. This book was printed in Queensland, a copy will be donated to every Australian primary school, and profits will go to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. Thank you Scholastic Australia – well done!”
This book helps to fill the gaping void between news and events and children understanding and coping with these visions and experiences. The Queensland flood took more than the nations breath away through media coverage, it stole homes, jobs, livestock and lives. It is hard for us adults to comprehend, it is hard to explain to a child, thankfully this book is here to help.
The story Flood is told in the perspective of a cattle dog who is misplaced by the disaster. It shows the community spirit, the overview of the events that occurred and how those effected coped. This book made my heart heavy as I recalled watching those very same events on TV and all those feelings of shock and amazement at the power and suddenness of the flood. Today people just kilometres north of our home are still putting their lives back together after this disaster.
This is also the story of the little tug boat who could. Do you remember when the boardwalk broke free from its floating home on the Brisbane River? The very heavy boardwalk was being swept away in the torrent and turned into a dangerous weapon of destruction. Then along comes a tiny little tug boat, it shoves and guided and never gave up despite everything being against it. That little tug boat is a hero and a source of hope. There were many heroes in the floods and we will not forget it.
Flood bring tears but it also warms the heart.Jackie French
November 15, 2012
I really thought this book should have won the CBCA award. It's about a topic most kids are familiar with right now (and I assume places won't stop being flooded in the near future, so it will remain somewhat topical as time goes by) and it's soooo Australian and it's by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley! All the kids I've spoken to thought this one was the best as well.
I'm disappointed that Goodreads doesn't list the illustrator, Bruce Whatley. He really made this book the #1 choice for me by a wide margin. Also, he did the illustrations with his left hand instead of his right because he felt it made the pictures more emotional. I think he did a fantastic job.
All in all, it's a great little story about Australians coming together after a natural disaster. People here talk a lot about the extreme weather they get in different parts of the country, and they talk about it as something personal to them even if they've never been to that area of the country. Endurance in the face of extreme environmental challenges is a top Australian value, and this book captures (and perpetuates) it extremely well.
Circulates very well at my library, but of course I'm constantly putting it on display because I know it will go if I do. A good one for a wide age range. Kids in grade 4 classes I spoke to loved it, but it would also be good for younger kids who hear about natural disasters on the news and become obsessed with or anxious about the horror of it all. This is a nice story about the positive aftermath that might help shift their focus away from the fear-based stuff they see on the news.
I'm disappointed that Goodreads doesn't list the illustrator, Bruce Whatley. He really made this book the #1 choice for me by a wide margin. Also, he did the illustrations with his left hand instead of his right because he felt it made the pictures more emotional. I think he did a fantastic job.
All in all, it's a great little story about Australians coming together after a natural disaster. People here talk a lot about the extreme weather they get in different parts of the country, and they talk about it as something personal to them even if they've never been to that area of the country. Endurance in the face of extreme environmental challenges is a top Australian value, and this book captures (and perpetuates) it extremely well.
Circulates very well at my library, but of course I'm constantly putting it on display because I know it will go if I do. A good one for a wide age range. Kids in grade 4 classes I spoke to loved it, but it would also be good for younger kids who hear about natural disasters on the news and become obsessed with or anxious about the horror of it all. This is a nice story about the positive aftermath that might help shift their focus away from the fear-based stuff they see on the news.
August 7, 2016
Based on the 2011 flood in Brisbane, Australia, writer Jackie French and illustrator Bruce Whatley created an amazing book for young children of all ages. Jackie's matter-of-fact succinct style is complemented by fifteen emotionally expressive acrylic wash and pencil images with running paint that conveys the atmosphere over those days perfectly. The story largely observes the events unfolding from the perspective of a dog. On the one hand, it illustrates that singular efforts can make a huge difference in the episode of the little tugboat maneuvering the snapped boardwalk through the bridge. On the other hand it highlights the communal spirit it dealing with the crisis. French's writing style perfectly conveys the matter of fact approach of ordinary Australian citizens dealing with catastrophes by rolling up their sleeves and helping each other out. As a result, the devastated city turns into a "town of mud and friendship".
After the event, a copy of this book was donated to every Australian primary school by Anna Bligh, the Queensland Premier of the time. One would hope that teachers incorporate this book into HaSS unit plans and shared reading exercises, focusing on the excellent illustration of interdisciplinary skills such as 'empathy' and 'taking action'.
After the event, a copy of this book was donated to every Australian primary school by Anna Bligh, the Queensland Premier of the time. One would hope that teachers incorporate this book into HaSS unit plans and shared reading exercises, focusing on the excellent illustration of interdisciplinary skills such as 'empathy' and 'taking action'.
October 29, 2011
Beautifully executed, and beautifully motivated. Jackie French was born and bred in Brisbane, so followed the recent Queensland floods with eyes concerned about her family and friends as well as more generally. This wonderful book is a response to the floods. A copy has been donated to every primary school in Australia. My son's school already have theirs, and he read it before I did. It shows the devastation of the flood, but also the community spirit that emerged during and after the floodwaters. Astonishing watercolour illustrations from Bruce Whately, which in his note at the back he explains that he illustrated the book with his left hand, his non-dominant hand, to make it more expressive and emotive! How incredible to be so talented that you can get published even by using your nondominant hand!
January 23, 2013
Such a beautiful and touching book for australians that were effected by this disaster. I herd that the illustrator actually drew the pictures with his left hand ( he is right handed) so that they had the washed kind of look they did. I don't know how he thought of that but it seemed to work they added the emotional aspect to the story.
August 13, 2011
The water colour illustrations of Bruce Whatley are just as murky and messy as flood water can be. I particularly liked Jackie's use of the working dog in many of the pictures as the witness to the enormity of the Queensland floods.
August 1, 2011
Evocative picture book, wonderful images, well done!!
August 31, 2011
made me cry, although that's not hard. lovely illustrations that show the brown water so well.
October 22, 2011
A beautiful book for children and adults alike. The pictures are fabulous. The proceeds from this book go to such a good cause. A true Aussie story. Beautiful.
April 29, 2012
2012 CBCA
August 15, 2012
A beautifully illustrated book that explaines easily about the queensland floods without being overwhelming to kids
November 5, 2013
Beautifully told with evocative illustrations.
March 3, 2014
Beautiful soulful book for children about Queensland floods and all the everyday heros.
May 10, 2017
A favorite of mine, based upon the 2011 Brisbane floods.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews