Rivertime

The Adventures of Clancy and Uncle Egg

by Trace Balla

A gentle and beautiful book about slowing down and growing up, featuring a 10-year-old boy and his uncle

10-year-old Clancy and his bird-watching Uncle Egg embark on a 10-day paddling trip down the Australian Glenelg River. Along the way Clancy learns about different species of birds and is surprised to learn how much he enjoys slowing down in this life-changing and learning experience. Illustrated in the style of a graphic novel, this tender and sweetly drawn tale about a boy and his uncle's canoe trip is sure to inspire a love of nature and the environment in young children.

Genres: Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Animals, Nature, Birds, Environment

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Trace Balla is often found sketching in nature, riding her bike, dancing, and growing vegies in her garden in central Victoria. She loves to illustrate and write songs and stories, and inspire others in their creativity and care for the planet. Her background is in illustration, community arts, art therapy, animation, and writing songs and stories, and she enjoys visiting schools and festivals to talk about her work.

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Clancy reaches the right height, his Uncle Egg decides it is time to take him for a trip along the river. At first Clancy is very reluctant and is determined not to enjoy himself but as the story progresses, we subtly begin to realise that Clancy is enjoying this trip a lot more than he thought he would. The story is told in a graphic novel style approach and at points combines fiction with non-fiction, not just in terms of the annotations of bird names but also the river itself. The river Glenelg is real and so are the people that live along it. We get a great insight into a world we otherwise may never have known about.

Often, the physical shape of a book doesn’t really get talked about, but I think with this book, the fact it is rectangular, and landscape is really reflective of the shape of a river. Sometimes it is even like the book itself is a river, the white space around the illustrations representing the riverbed and the story being told is the flowing water full of adventure and wildlife. Every now and then, the frames of the illustrations are broken or have gaps and to me this is what links the book to the real world, the story we are reading is alive, it's real and I think that is what makes it even more magical.

My favourite quote from the book is; “It makes me feel so small, but part of it all… and I realise how glad I am to be right here” which comes from Clancy at the point in which he realises just how amazing nature is and how much he can learn from it. To me it’s also representative of humanity. Compared to the world, people make up such a small part of it and really, we need to appreciate what we have around us, especially these days. We can learn so much from it and we should respect it because of lot of what we have comes from land and rivers and wildlife. There is a message there for both children and adults to think about, long after reading this book.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you find a soul-mate of sorts with a book? Well, this is close (with A Prayer for Owen Meany never to be toppled). Presented in a beautiful, landscape format, Rivertime tells the story of ten year-old Clancy who, much to his initial frustration, is taken down the Glenelg River in South Australia with his Uncle Egg on a ten-day trip.

The journey starts off cumbersome to the young adventurer but soon the river along with its flora and fauna win him over completely. Clancy's ten days become a beautiful, deeply spiritual journey as he eventually realises that the river belongs to no one and everyone; its waters gifting endless generations of visitors.

The format of the book, a fusion of information text and comic-strip, is crammed full of the external and internal dialogue of Clancy and Uncle Egg and they revel in what the river has to share whilst Balla also labels and points out the various wildlife. As I kept reading this, I found myself wishing someone had done something similar for us here in the U.K.

This book does more than celebrate the outdoors. It also honours the knowledge of elders, respects the idea of who the land has long belonged to, frowns sternly at those who disturb the river's peace and invites each of us to pick up a notepad and pair of binoculars and go explore. I loved it.

[Georgie Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking beautiful , I’d forgotten

[Colleen Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me an inside into nature in the Australian bush and made me appreciate the joy of the outdoors. I loved the little details in the illustrations such as the different birds and creatures, that I did not know about before. The graphic novel style made it easier to read and follow the story and I feel that children would thoroughly enjoy this!

[Miffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I like it a lot, as it reminds me of my childhood, which we spent adventuring to the hills around Dargo, an island in the middle of Bass Strait, camping at Port Campbell, Cape Patterson, Cumberland River and Saltwater, and exploring the bush around my parents property, making 'egg and bacon sandwiches' using Eutaxia Myrtifolia, cutting our legs on the sword-grass, and mashing up the creek to make a mudslide (I'm not proud of that one - my dad was furious!). Uncle Egg is a lot like my Dad, full of knowledge about the flora and fauna, how the tides work and the rivers flow, how ecology makes our world work. Trace Balla's illustrations and observations remind me of my Mum, her ability to really see the world around her and to create a beautiful representation of it.
How many families would take a week to explore a single river? Probably not many these days, but as Clancy discovers, taking time to slow down and SEE the world can be a rewarding experience. There is so much detail in the illustrations that the book will stand multiple readings. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

'All children need an Uncle Egg to open up the magical world of nature... a delightful story about the joy of the outdoors' David Suzuki. We follow Clancy's trip up the river - at first he's not keen at all but as the days go by he gains a different perspective.Reminded me a little of Alison Lester's books (Are we there yet etc) Suitable for all ages - PF.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rivertime is a gentle beguiling book to make us all appreciate the natural beauty of our environment. 10 year old city boy Clancy is initially not thrilled to be going kayaking with his Uncle, but he comes to appreciate the wonderful experience of the trip.

http://astrongbeliefinwicker.blogspot...

[Brodie McGovern · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...must be river time..you know that gap between breathing in and breathing out...It's like that with the tide in this river...There's a time between the turning tides when it's completely still. It's like the whole world has stopped...Even the birds are quiet...I listen...Nothing...Just breathing...It makes me feel so small, but part of it all..and I realise how glad I am to be right here..."

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story/bird guide/travel guide that encourages people to unplug, get outside, and experience nature and its relaxing byproducts for themselves. The illustrations reminded me of Roland Harvey's info-packed work. This is a lovely book! Well done, Allen & Unwin Aus, for taking on a picture book that breaks many of the "rules" to such great effect.

[Stacey Socholotuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started to read the book I wasn't enticed by the illustrations or the text. As the story progressed, I quickly started to enjoy it and loved the message of life's simple pleasures, persistence, and the challenge of being open-minded.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight

[Ellie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balla's story is a beautiful journey of learning to appreciate, respect and feel at one with nature. One that serves as a reminder that whilst we can enjoy the outdoors, we will always be a small chain in a greater network of people and animals that have come and gone, and will continue to come and go in the future. Lovely fluidity in this which would partner nicely with The Forest by Riccardo Bozzi, in the almost eternal presence of nature and mortality of humans.

[Zoe Pluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the style of the illustrations and the internal dialogue of Clancy and Uncle Egg. The simplicity of the storyline is contrasted by the detailed images (I easily spotted something new on every page during a second reading). Clancy's small achievements throughout the journey and his growing appreciation of the simple things in life despite his initial reluctance, is a message we can all learn from.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this graphic novel randomly to read for my reading challenge 2020 and what a pleasant surprise it was. I loved it! A delightful story about the joy of the outdoors, oh I just realised that is exactly what David Suzuki said about this book on the cover. Oh well, he's right!

[Jaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly captivating tale. I loved this tale, with its focus on the journey and the environment. Highly recommended.

[Jesse Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Gets you outdoors. Relevant for when you're on the Glenelg.

[Gervy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, excellent labelling of flora and fauna. Relaxing and soothing reading, good all ages read, according to 10 yo daughter.

[Chenoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so lovely. It meanders and journeys along at a leisurely pace, just like a paddle up a river. It's charming and soothing and I loved all the little details.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this while camping on the Glenelg River. Such a delightful book.

[Susan Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A children's book opening up the magic world of nature.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clancy is ten and it's time to spend some quality rivertime with Uncle Egg. Up the creek with paddles aplenty, Rivertime is jam packed with delight and non-usual suspect birds and animals. The Indigenous constellation "The Emu" even gets a mention. A great way to introduce children to the diversity of creatures in the Australian bush or the simple pleasure of slowing to river pace.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. It was Australian and focused on the Glenelg river. Tags said it was a graphic novel. Query this but it is not in the typical graphic novel format. Great for grade 3 up and god for sustainability / environmental science.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of how life is sometimes to fast and we need to sit back and enjoy it.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely feel of the river throughout and captures an adventurous spirit and the value of nature.

[Central Highlands Libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightful, gentle, amusing

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, I love the simple illustrations and variety of birds.