Former local boy Sam Duncan has released his first children’s book titled In the Land of Every Animal.
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Duncan chose to write the stories in rhyming verse, a style he’s enjoyed since reading his grandmother’s and renowned local poet (Audrey Duncan’s) books as a child growing up in Yarrawonga.
The children’s book is a collection of rhyming stories, set in a land of every different kind merged to form as one, to create an animal kingdom of happiness and fun.
Throughout the book, readers will meet the vibrant animal and bird characters and learn of their lives, occupations and eccentricities.
“Many of the stories are based on childhood pets and life growing up in a country town such as Yarrawonga,” Sam Duncan said.
Duncan explains there are little things in the book locals may relate to.
“The story about Spot the Wonder Dog is about our family pet. Spot was very well known around town due to the fact he’d wander around everywhere.
“Neighbours used to feed him, other dogs (mentioned in the story) used to join him on his adventures and we used to muse that he was more well-known than any of his owners.
“Polly the Cat is inspired by our pet cat who I always suspected was a witch.
“Kevin the Kookaburra is inspired by the kookaburra’s that used to wake us up when we stayed at our Nan’s place in Sturt Street, Mulwala.
“And Keith the Koala drives a yellow tractor which is inspired by my brothers little tractor he used to get around in when he was a toddler. I’m not sure why I thought of the yellow tractor when I was writing that story, but it just popped into my head, so I included it.”
Now living in Melbourne and working as a Lecturer, Bachelor of Sports Media and Bachelor of Sport Business at Holmesglen, Duncan is also a regular contributor to the Age newspaper, Ten Daily, New Daily and the AFL Record. But still loves visiting Yarrawonga Mulwala when he can.
“My parents, Peter and Margie Duncan, live in the town. I still travel to Yarrawonga on a very regular basis and have many friends in the Yarrawonga Mulwala region.
“Many locals will know my grandmother, Audrey Duncan, who is a well-known identity and poet around the town, and her work has been published four times before.
“I’ve always liked writing. I was far better at english than maths when I was at school (Duncan attended Sacred Heart Primary and Secondary College before going on to Galen College in Wangaratta for year 11 and 12) and I also particularly enjoyed writing rhymes and poetry.
“That style of writing was inspired by my grandmother, Audrey who we all call ‘Gorgie’.
“I loved reading all of her books when I was young. Her style of writing has such an infectious rhythm and beat where the words bounce off the page at you. It made reading a lot of fun.
“Her poems also have great emotion. She’s got a great ability to leave you feeling what she felt when she wrote – be it happy, sad or something in between.
“I still refer to her books all the time. They act as a certain reference point for me in my life. She’s a very intelligent person and her poems offer great stories, but also a lot of brilliant advice.
“She also wrote a collection of rhymes based on animals and birds for the family, which are brilliant and acted as source of inspiration for my book. Mine are longer poems, but they’re written in a similar style.”
The book marks Duncan’s third published book and his first foray into the children’s book genre.
His first was ‘Rolling with the Punches: ‘Tales of an Aussie Traveller,’ which is a collection of rhyming stories about his adventures when he backpacked through Europe in 2007. They are yarns about the people he met, the places he visited, the good times he had and the challenges any traveller faces when abroad. It was published in 2009.
The second was ‘Footy Grounds to Grandstands’: ‘Play, Community and the Australian Football League,’ which is an adaptation of his PhD thesis which explores the transformation of the play element in sport and the impact this has on the community. Duncan used the AFL as his case study. It was published in 2016.
In his new book the stories are suitably illustrated by emerging artist, Grace Wilson, who according to Duncan played a vital role in bringing the stories and characters to life.
“Grace has done an outstanding job with the illustrations. She’s perfectly captured the colour, movement and spirit of each story and character,” he said.
For Duncan, writing In the Land of Every Animal was “fun.”
“The characters are relatable to kids, they’re fun and funny and I think parents and grandparents will get a kick out of the stories too,” he added.
“Rhyming verse is perfect for children’s books. Not only does it make for a lively read, but kids can also learn about the beat, bounce, rhythm and sounds of words, which will help improve their literary skills.
“Plus, they get to use their imagination. In a world where we’re encouraged to think creatively and to innovate, it all starts with our ability to imagine what could be.”
Duncan wrote the book for his son, Jack, who was not yet born when he put pen to paper.
“At 11 months he’s still a fair way off reading, but I’m looking forward to reading the stories too him. He’ll probably be able to recite them before he learns to read,” he said.
“It was something I thought I’d do after watching the movie ‘Goodbye Christopher Robin,’ which was about the story of Winnie the Pooh, and in particular, author AA Milne and his son, Christopher Robin.”
So, does Duncan have a favourite character?
“There’s two characters based on our family pet dog, Spot and cat, Polly, so they’re pretty important. And I also have a soft spot for Peter Possum the Third who has built a theme park of games and rides in the roof of a house.
“We’ve all heard possums in the roof before, now we know what they’re doing!”
Duncan said so far the reviews for his book have been positive and admits that he would like to write another.
“I wrote this one for our first born so if we have another child, I just may have to write another book!”
In the Land of Every Animal is available for purchase for $18 via the Ginninderra Press website www.ginninderrapress.com.au or by contacting Sam via his email address: Sam.Duncan@holmesglen.edu.au