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by Boomert - The Night We Made the Flag by Carole Wilkinson & Sebastian Ciaffoglone 14 Jan 2010
In her first picture book, award-winning author Carole Wilkinson offers a unique view the Eureka Stockade. While most history books present this event from a male perspective, focusing on the ‘heroic’ miners who participated in the uprising, Wilkinson instead concentrates on the quiet dedication of the women who stayed up all night to sew the Eureka flag. The story is told from the point of view of Mary, a young girl who nobly donates her best petticoat to make the flag’s white stars. The vision Wilkinson extends is female, domestic, and inclusive, as much as patriarchal and political—truly democratic perhaps, in the way the Eureka uprising is often depicted as being. However, The Night We Made the Flag has many other features to recommend it. As well as providing an engaging narrative, it is a valuable source of factual information, with an end-note explaining the historical context. The illustrations are also a delight: warm, rich, and tonal, with Ciaffaglone deftly using silhouettes and shadow to powerfully convey the intimate bond the women share. This book would be an invaluable addition to any primary school library, and could also be used effectively in secondary school classrooms to teach visual literacy. A beautifully crafted book, it would make a wonderful gift for children aged five to eight.

Author Biography: Carole Wilkinson
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