Derek by Anne Donaldson

Derek by Anne Donaldson

Derek is a delightful story about a very curious goldfish who has lots of questions about the world. It explores themes of loneliness and family that will resonate with children and parents alike.

Derek was a fish with many questions. Why is the universe round? Where do bubbles come from ? And why does food rain down from the sky? But there was one question that Derek asked himself more than any other: 'Why am I alone?'

Derek tried to find answers to his questions. He tried to talk to a shell, but they didn't have much to say. He tried to speak with a rock, but it didn't do anything at all. He tried to contact the big creatures beyond the edge of the universe, but he couldn't reach them at all.

Derek's questions grew bigger and bigger until one day he took a leap of faith and travelled beyond his universe. Perfect for readers aged 3 to 6.

If a writer, a lawyer and a scientist walked into a children's bookshop, that would be Anne Donaldson. Two not-so-small boys and one chocolate brown cat also claim Anne as their mother. When she’s not creating children’s stories, Anne gets to work at a university, where she helps inventors to bring cool, new technologies into the world. Anne has lived on four continents, in a stable, a chocolate factory and a church, and on a road named after the original ‘nosey Parker’.

Matt Shanks is an internationally published and critically acclaimed author/illustrator of over twenty picture books, several of which have been awarded the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books. Simplicity, humour and the art of the unseen are strong themes in his illustration work, and he works primarily in watercolour. Matt has collaborated with some of Australia's most loved writers including Jackie French, Peter Helliar and Jimmy Barnes. He is a two-time fellow of the May Gibbs' Children's Literature Trust and an Australian Literary and Numeracy Foundation ambassador. Matt lives on Boon Wurrung land with his partner and cat.