Goodnight Truck

Sally Odgers’ first book was written in three basic exercise books with a dying ballpoint pen. Most of the writing took place in the barn, out in the paddock – wherever she could find somewhere peaceful. The writing was illegible, so she taught herself to type. Her next effort, written when she was 12, was a collection of short stories, composed on a portable typewriter. Two unicorn fantasies and a half-finished cat fantasy followed. After producing something like 80 000 words, she wrote another collection of short stories during her final year at school. This was published in 1977.

Heath McKenzie is a much-loved and highly successful Melbourne-based children s book illustrator whose work ranges from early childhood picture books to YA novel covers. The funniest illustrator not on the stand-up circuit, and much in demand for his school appearances, Heath learned the alphabet a little while ago and can still remember it all to this day!