Go, Jojo, go by Tessa Bickford
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781 74331 017 5
(Ages 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Antarctica. A wonderful
companion picture book to Alison Lester's One small island
and Sophie Scott goes south, this book tells of a baby
penguin growing up on Macquarie Island, south of Tasmania, halfway
to Antarctica. Tessa Bickford spent two summers on Macquarie Island,
allowing her to get to know the fauna and flora, and take
photographs of the penguin chick as it developed.
The sequence of photographs show the chick growing up once out of
the egg, developing its feathers, looking all the while out to sea,
where it must eventually go. Each page depicts its surroundings, the
other animals, and the ever present sea. Some pages are a full
colour photograph, allowing the students to look more closely at
Jojo, while other pages have a number of smaller photos, showing a
sequence of events. Each page has a stimulating, fascinating
background, one which will draw readers in to look at what is
depicted.
Several pages are standouts in photography, one depicting a skua
bird about to possibly grab a penguin chick, amazing in the
closeness of the beak preparing to attack, while the double page
with four photos in a sequence showing the little animal as it takes
to the water, is one of those moments that brings the book to life.
This is a beautiful picture book, encouraging students to know more
about Antarctica, revel in the antics of these small animals and see
for themselves the place parental love and companionship has in
developing babies to a time where they leave home.
Fran Knight