For over 35 years, Alison Lester’s brightly illustrated Magic Beach has enchanted readers of all ages. Today, it is still one of the most loved Australian beach books filled with adventure and possibility.
Stories from Magic Beach is the book of the film adaptation that was directed by Robert Connolly and it captures the joy of the original story and the magic of its reimagining in film and animation.
Join 10 children as they explore a magical beach where imagination comes to life and stories dance across the sand. Stories from Magic Beach incorporates live action stills from the film which was created by 11 animators, their work, and illustrations and verses from the original book.
The beauty of this book is that it is without words, so that you can create your own words for the stills. Especially fun after watching the film.
It’s also a wonderful act of the power of imagination and what it means in our lives. How we bring our stories to life, and who we tell our stories to. This reminds us that we all connect to books, particularly picture books, in different ways. Because books mean something different to everyone, even when it is the same story.
These creators have taken what Magic Beach means to them in Stories from Magic Beach, and given it new life. It’s about the memories we make in the small, quiet moments in nature and our childhood lives.
Reviewed by Ashleigh Meikle
Age Guide 5+
Alison Lester
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
Alison Lester grew up on a farm near Magic Beach and first rode a horse as a baby in her father’s arms. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special. In 2011, Alison was appointed Australia’s first Children’s Laureate with Boori Monty Pryor, a position they shared for two years. She is currently an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Robert Connolly is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and best-known filmmakers with an international career spanning thirty years. His films include the box office hit Paper Planes with Sam Worthington, Balibo starring Oscar Isaac and Anthony LaPaglia and the compendium feature film The Turning with Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne. Most recently, Robert wrote and directed The Dry and its sequel Force of Nature based on Jane Harper’s bestseller, starring Eric Bana. In television, he directed the International Emmy-nominated The Slap and Barracuda for NBC Universal. As a producer and executive producer, Robert’s credits include The Boys, Romulus My Father, The Warriors, Gallipoli and Chasing Asylum.
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