Dust

by Colin Thompson, Tom Byrne (Illustrator), Terry Denton (Illustrator)

In a perfect world, this book would not exist. But we do not live in a perfect world. At any given moment of any given day, there are people dying from natural disasters over which we have no control. Beyond natural disasters we add disasters of our making, but even if we all learn to live in peace, there will still be millions of people who need help. the illustrators who have contributed to this startling book have all done so for free. All royalties earned will be donated to the Save the Children organisation in Australia. Illustrations by Colin thompson, tohby Riddle, Gaye Chapman, Richard Yot, Kim Gamble, Judy Horacek, tom Byrne, terry Denton, Emma Quay, Bruce Whatley, Dee texidor, Anna Pignataro, David Legge and Chris Mould.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Young Adult

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Since he started writing and illustrating children's books in 1990, Colin Thompson has had more than 50 books published. He has received several awards, including an Aurealis Award for the novel HOW TO LIVE FOREVER and the CBC Picture Book of the Year in 2006 for THE SHORT AND INCREDIBLY HAPPY LIFE OF RILEY. He has been shortlisted for many other awards, including the Astrid Lindgren Award - the most prestigious children's literature prize in the world.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Colin lives in Bellingen, Australia. His books with Random House Australia include HOW TO LIVE FOREVER, numerous picture books, THE FLOODS series, THE DRAGONS series, THE BIG LITTLE BOOK OF HAPPY SADNESS picture book, which has been shortlisted for the 2009 Children’s Book Council Award for Best Picture Book, and FREE TO A GOOD HOME.

Reviews

[Miffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most moving picture book I've ever read. I cried when I received it in my CBCA box. I cried when I wrote my judges report for it. I cried when it was read out aloud at the judges conference. And I cry every time I open it and show it to anyone.

Colin Thompson's simple, straitforward text belies the emotion-packed illustrations from reknowned international and Australian artists. Its tale of poverty, of grief, of death, of hopelessness, of our indifference to our fellow human beings, is a tale that is at once striking and poignant.

I recommend you read this book. And share it with everyone that you know.

[SBC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very confronting picture book and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The author's note at the beginning explains that in 2005 millions of people in Niger were affected by a famine and he wanted to bring attention to it and raise money for them through this book. He approached other illustrators and each spread in the picture book has a different illustrator. It was published by ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and supported by Save the Children - Australia.

I wouldn't want to share this book with my child - I consider it more a wake up call for Western adults.
David Legge's illustration of a business man throwing his leftover dinner into a garbage on top of a newspaper picture of the famine alongside an article about a 2 million dollar wedding is the most sardonic.
Colin Thompson's image of the Earth as the head of a match struck me as the cleverest (pun intended).
The others were all striking in their own way - Richard Yot's opening spread of an angel; Gaye Chapman's illustration of vintage children's book characters carrying a swaddled infant corpse; Emma Quay's chalk outlines illustrating how the hunger and the cold made them feel transparent; the vultures waiting to eat.

[Jonele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but essential; the illustrations are gorgeous and hard-hitting.

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, impactful illustrations and text highlight a disturbing problem.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I died last night. Seventy years too young." Certainly the most powerful two sentences I've read in a very long time. Thus begins a haunting, disturbing and incredibly sad story of the death of a fictional child, inspired by the 2005/06 food crisis that occured in Niger.

Each double-page-spread was illustrated by a different illustrator. The talent collected in this book is amazing, with some of Australia's best known picture book illustrators among the contributors (e.g. Bruce Whatley, Judy Horacek), along with numerous professional artists. I think David Legge's illustration was particularly poignant: It shows a Western kitchen bin, with a newspaper open to an article on a famine (and a rediculously expensive wedding), with the owner of the bin throwing half his dinner away - with the text "The world has shut its ears and moved on."

A 'feature' of having so many illustrators is that there is little linking the illustrations together except the theme of famine and children dying.

While a picture book this is certainly not for young kids - the central theme of young kids dying would be pretty disturbing for them.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was short-listed for the Children's Book Council of Australia awards. It's an interesting collaboration between 13 artists who tell the story of an African boy dying of starvation. All royalties from sales of the book are donated to Save the Children and the subject matter comes straight from the newspapers, Colin Thompson having been inspired by a recent famine in Niger.

The subject matter is tough but the illustrations, which range from Gaye Chapman's delightful and soft evocation of characters from childhood literature to the simplistic crude and colourful lines of Terry Denton to an amazing evocation of starving people's transparency in chalk on black by Emma Quay to the hyper-realism of David Legge's ironic touch of a man sweeping his leftovers into the garbage on top of a newspaper photograph of a starving child holding out an empty bowl. The book finishes with Colin Thompson's photographic depiction of Earth at the head of a burning matchstick.

Sad and beautiful but an important read, if only to let people know that for every child that is well-fed and clothed and sheltered, there are a hundred who waste away to nothing.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dust the book is very touching. It explains the kids who are suffering.The pictures relate to the book well. It is sad on the first page where it says "I died last night". As it says through out the book how the mum Had no energy and couldn't move her arms but He didn't have the strength to move out of them. this is a very good book.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dust is an incredibly moving book. It tells you about the suffering of children in third-world countries and how they have nothing and no-one. The pictures are very good, and the realte to the story well. They are all different, and they are very interesting.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really pretty illustrations. But this book is really sad. It's about a boy who died from hunger. If you purchase this book you will help the people who don't have any food to eat or a home to live in. Ever since I read this book I want to help them now!

[Nicole Sandford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very deep powerful message. Too scary for younger children. Grade 5-6.

[Kymmw · Rating 5 out of 5]

One to buy!

[Marni Bos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to say you like a book that is based the preventable death of the young and innocent, but in reference to the way it was presented it was done with amazing grace and dignity.

[Tem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sad book i read it on the 15th of september 2010 and i nearly cryed me eyes of!