Top to Bottom: Down Under (Adventures Around the World) - Softcover

Betsy Lewin; Ted Lewin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620141841 ISBN 13: 9781620141847

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2014

Synopsis

Ted and Betsy Lewin's adventures take them from the northernmost tip of Australia to the southernmost tip. At the top, they interrupt a python's mealtime, encounter a ferocious pack of dingoes, and come face-to-face with a crocodile. Down at the bottom, they dine with rude kangaroos, meet their first platypus, and confront an ill-tempered sea lion! The vivid colors, close-up paintings, and rich landscapes rendered in the Lewins' distinct watercolor styles, combined with action-packed narrative, will make you want to pack your bags and visit the land down under!

About this title

About the Author:

TED and BETSY LEWIN have been traveling the world together for decades and have chronicled many of their wide-ranging adventures in books for young readers. They both have won numerous awards and honors for their books, including Caldecott Medal Honors, ALA Notables, New York Times Best Illustrated Books, and School Library Journal Best Books. When not teaching, visiting with young fans, or traveling, the Lewins are usually drawing and painting in their Brooklyn, New York, home studios.

Review:

An attractive addition to the Lewins' personal adventure series, which includes Gorilla Walk (1999) and Elephant Quest (2000, both HarperCollins). Ted's handsome, realistic watercolors are complemented by Betsy's colorful field sketches as the two explore Kakadu National Park and Kangaroo Island, respectively, in the hot north and chilly south of the Australian continent. Saltwater crocodiles, dingoes, an echidna, and a platypus are among the wildlife observed, as are encounters with some brush-tailed possums and smallish kangaroos that aggressively demand the Lewins' dinner at tucker time (Australian lingo is defined). A few black-and-tan sketches of Aboriginal life are included, oddly labeled 'all circa 1900,' with no explanation. Nonetheless, this eye-catching and informative title is a treat for animal lovers and adventurers alike. --School Library Journal

Where are you if you see 'Danger: Crocodiles (Watch Your Children and Dogs)' signs and lizards that stand on their hind legs? Holy dooley, mate, you're in Australia! The Lewins share their 'top to bottom' journey to the land down under in a fresh, funny, fact-filled travelogue that meanders from Kakadu National Park to Kangaroo Island. Striking, realistic watercolor landscapes are juxtaposed with comical sketches and circa-1900 spot illustrations of Aboriginals killing snakes and riding on paperbark rafts. The pictures catch attention, and the text is intelligently written. However, the notion that toilets swirl 'in the wrong direction' in Australia has been debunked on several Web sites. A brief guide to animal facts rounds out this contagiously cheerful Aussie expedition. And remember, 'salties' (crocodiles) can run as fast as 15 miles per hour, so 'if a salty chases you, run either sixteen miles an hour or in a zigzag fashion. --Booklist

About this edition

• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1620141841
• ISBN 13: 9781620141847
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin