CLARK, Mavis Thorpe - The Min-Min - [Award Winner] - (Hardcover in Wrapper)

Book and wrapper still very good - "The Children's Book of the Year" by The Children's Book Council of Australia in 1966-67.  >>>    This is another Australian book that seems to embody what I think is slightly different about Australian literature for children. There are two major themes that seem to stand out for me: 1) the love of place and 2) the love and support of family.  The outback is so lovingly described that you can almost feel the land and the people who live there, with their deep connection to it.  Even the places that they hate (the siding for Sylvie) are places you want to see.  And it all is so seamlessly integrated into the story that you don't even think about it. It isn't the "Oooh, aaah, look at the sunset!" type of description, but rather, Mrs. Tucker and Sylvie taking something to cover their heads and dancing in the rain.  And Reg going after a bird that couldn't quite make it to the wall between the rain and the sun, because of the wind.    -    But better even than the love of the land is the obvious support of family and friends. The complicated and sometimes resentful relationship of Sylvie to her family members is always underscored by her love for them.  And the Tucker family embodies the trust of parent in child, child in parent, parent in parent, and child in child.  Each relationship isn't just simple, but complex and supportive at the same time.    -    This is an older book, the copyright says 1966, and it is a bit dated in terms of the technology used, but the story is still a good one.  (Goodreads)   *  Award Winner *