Wild and Woolly by Nan Hunt & Noela Hills

Wild and Woolly by Nan Hunt is a very off-beat little book about Mr Martin, who just can't get to sleep. His wife suggest he try the age old solution of counting sheep. Instead of nodding off to sleep Mr Martin begins the arduous task of buying sheep from an auction, rounding them up and generally coping with the workload a big flock brings. He is getting anything but a good night's sleep. "He almost went to sleep pondering the problem but he was a persistent man so he stayed awake." All of the  illustrations by Noela Hills are double page spreads and are very striking and detailed. This hardback edition is signed by Nan Hunt and Noela Hills as well as other Australian authors who were at the launching of this book in 1983. It is a beautiful addition to the Little Library of Rescued Books.

Phoenix by Nan Hunt

This is a very philosophical book and will have some readers wondering what it is that they have just read.  It is about a young girl  called Roli who lives in the Australian outback. She has failing eyesight and must make a decision soon about a possible but very risky  eye operation.  She befriends a phoenix which is afraid of fire. Both the girl and the bird are faced with difficult choices. Author, Nan Hunt, is one of Australia's best loved writers of picture books and novels for young readers.

The artwork by Junko Morimoto is just stunning. Each double page is embellished by captivating prints such as the two above. Junko is a survivor the the nuclear bomb which was dropped on her city, Hiroshima. She came to live in Australia in 1982 and has emerged as a well-known illustrator. This video clip about her experiences is well worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4gRroXNFG8

Never Tomorrow by Nan Hunt

There is an explosion in a church, a young girl runs and then faints. When she comes to, she can't remember anything about her life, not even her real name. Virginia has an American accent but she is alone in Sydney. Where are her parents? Why was she outside the church when the bomb went off? She does know that her life is in danger. There are people in strange clothes who are trying to kidnap her, and then someone sends her a letter bomb. The only comfort she has is the mare from the bay.