Patricia Mullins – Aussie Reviews

Sam Tully eyed the brumbies at the muster in the park
and among them as they galloped he saw one that stood apart…
a stallion, black as midnight, on his brow a jagged blaze.
A giant horse, a midnight horse,
A horse called Lightning Jack.

When Sam sees the wild black brumby he is determined to ride him – and he does, donning oilskin and boots before rounding up stampeding cattle, flying him, Pegasus-like, through thunder clouds, evading bushrangers, and even winning the Melbourne Cup against Phar Lap. Through these fanciful adventures we see Sam riding triumphantly, joy on his face. But, at last a gentle voice brings him back to the present – and we see Sam slip from a carousel horse and return to his real life, until in bed that night he once again hears Lightning Jack coming close.

Lightning Jack is a wonderful new picture book offering from one of Australia’s most loved chidlren’s authors, Glenda Millard. The ballad-style text sweeps the reader along on Sam’s adventures, and makes a perfect read aloud offering. The illustrations are an added delight – carefully crafted in collage using layers of tissue and papers. Readers will be fascinated with an examination of the individual elements and the fabulous whole they create.

Text and illustration together create a sumptuous offering which will please adult and child reader alike.

Lightning Jack, by Glenda Millard & Patricia Mullins
Scholastic, 2012
ISBN 9781741693911

This book is available in good bookstores or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

When Hattie the hen sees a nose in the bushes one morning, no one else seems to do anything, but when she adds two eyes, two eras, two ears, a body, four legs and a body to the list of what she can see, the other animals realise it’s a fox and everybody panics – everybody, that is, except cow, who moos so loudly that the fox is frightened and runs away.

Hattie and the Fox is a long-time favourite with young readers, and their parents and teachers, with the repetitive text:

‘Good grief!’ said the goose.
‘Well, well!’ said the pig.
‘Who cares?’ said the sheep.
‘So what?’ said the horse.
‘What next?’ said the cow

encouraging youngsters to join in, and the delightful watercolour and collage illustrations, b Patricia Mullins, bringing the story to life.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary in print, Scholastic have rereleased the title, providing a chance for a new generation of readers to connect.

Hattie and the Fox, by Mem Fox & Patricia Mullins
This edition Scholastic 2011
ISBN 9781741698206

This book can be purchased in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond