Gandali the Whale

Meredith Hooper wrote this story after watching a young humpback whale and its mother off the coast of America; and seeing humpbacks in Antarctica, where she has travelled as a writer selected by both the Australian and the American Antarctic programes.

Anita Mertzlin studied drawing at Prahran College from 1978 to 1980 and also completed a Diploma in Art and Design at Swineburne Institute in 1982. She was artist-in-residence for the Victorian Education Department in 1983-84, this was followed by a position as illustrator and designer for Country Road from 1986 to 1989. Throughout this time she painted numerous private commissions and also created murals (some can be seen in a couple of Melbourne cafes). She has been regularly commissioned to draw book covers for such popular authors as Carmel Bird and John Marsden. She exhibits in several group shows each year and has had four solo exhibitions since 1991. ‘The Cassowary’s Quiz’ (published early 2000) was her first children’s picture book for Random House.