City of light by Julia Lawrinson, Heather Potter & Mark Jackson

On 20th February 1962, the first American astronaut to travel around the earth passed over Perth, Western Australia. This stunning picture book celebrates that event, sixty years ago.

The children are in awe that an astronaut will pass overhead, and wonder if he will be able to see them. They will be able to see him as a small speck of light travelling across the night sky, but they are told that from that height only the big things like the pyramids or Amazon River or the Grand Canyon can be seen. But what if we leave our lights on the children wonder. And so they do. Their little idea takes root. They tell everyone in their street and suburb and city to turn on their lights. Sheets are hung on clotheslines with lamps to reflect the white light, veranda lights are switched on, torches used and apartment and office block lights turned on. All over Perth light can be seem, and more importantly can be seen by John Glenn, the American astronaut. John Glenn was pleased to report that he could see the lights of Perth from his amazing position as he orbited the earth, calling it the City of Light and thanking the people of Perth for their efforts. 

Graphite pencilled and watercolour was used to create the atmospheric illustrations. The images in outer space of John Glenn are astounding, bringing the reality of his tiny capsule into focus. What a joy it must have been for him, alone in space to see the people of Perth signal him with their lights. He was not alone.

The images of 1960’s Perth brought back lots of memories to me and will educate younger readers about how differently we lived only sixty years ago. Clotheslines, outside toilets, a tiny TV with its aerial, girls only wearing skirts, dad smoking a pipe, old Holden cars, delivery trucks, the streets of Perth, all create an atmosphere of the ‘olden days’ which will initiate lots of discussion and thought. The illustrators must have had a great deal of fun seeking out 1960’s dinner ware, flights of ducks, wallpaper, clothing, furnishing fabric. It all gives a great sense of the times.

More about Julia Lawrinson can be found here, and the illustrators, Mark and Heather here. 

Other books from this publisher can be found here.

Themes: STEM, Science, Space, Space travel, John Glenn, Australia -1960’s, Universe, Australia - History.

Fran Knight