Description
‚Ä¢ Gaolbird is an entertaining children’s/middle-grade non-fiction book set in Australia’s convict era, from Simon Barnard, the 2015 CBCA winner of A-Z Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land ‚Ä¢ An outrageous and unbelievable true story of a convict pirate named Swallow ‚Ä¢ Swallow was a serial escapist, a seaman turned pirate. In Gaolbird, we follow him through various countries and identity changes. From pirating a ship to sailing to New Zealand with fake papers and a stolen ship, he was capable of sweet talking his way out of any scenario ‚Ä¢ Many saw Swallow‚Äôs story as a triumph of the oppressed over the authorities and his bold acts of defiance as inspirational ‚Ä¢ For readers of all ages, Gaolbird is about one of Australia‚Äôs greatest unsung folk heroes, comparable to Ned Kelly ‚Ä¢ A lavish four-colour production, illustrated in cartoon style by Barnard himself
