Lively artwork adds to tale of childhood trips

Local author-illustrator Kerry Anne Jordinson has brought a tale of memory to life in a new children’s book to be released this month.

I Remember, written by Geraldton author Joanne Crawford, tells the tale of an elderly woman remembering her childhood camping trips.

The book, published by indigenous publishing house Magabala Books, has been described as “an evocative and beautiful story of reminiscence and cherished memories of family journeys through the vast Western Australian landscape.”

Ms Jordinson, an artist living in Broome since 1996, said she was privileged to have been invited to be the illustrator of I Remember.

“To work with such a renowned and professional publishing house like Magabala was just wonderful,” she said.

“They provided so much guidance and support and I thought the way they approached the book was very professional.

“It was also lovely working with Joanne (Crawford) despite never actually communicating.

“It was very important that Joanne liked my illustrations because it’s her story and for her to react so positively to my work, it definitely made me feel at ease.”

Ms Jordinson also said creating the illustrations allowed her to show her versatility as an artist.

“(Magabala Books) asked me to paint the illustrations using pastels which is a medium I haven’t used in a long time,” she said.

“It was challenging but it was also great to expand my creative abilities in that medium.”

Magabala Books chief executive Anna Moulton said Ms Jordinson’s selection as illustrator was one of the rare occasions a non-indigenous illustrator worked on one of their books.

“While it is not common, Magabala Books has a longstanding policy where a non-indigenous illustrator may be invited to collaborate with an indigenous author on a children’s picture book,” she said.

“With I Remember, we consulted with the author and collectively felt that Kerry’s lively illustrative style would be a perfect match for this joyful, and yet poignant story.”

Ms Jordinson said it was very exciting for the book to have received so much praise already.

She said Broome will always be the greatest inspiration for her work.

“I have moved around Australia over the years and I tend to base my work on the places I’m living in and Broome is definitely my favourite place to base my artwork.”