This chapter will look to examine the construction of gendered representation in Alison Lester’s Horse Crazy: The Complete Adventures of Bonnie and Sam (2007-2008). Lester’s work has been chosen as a case study for this dissertation because she is the inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate for the Australian Children's Literature Alliance, a title she retained from 2011 to 2013. Her work is also focused on human characters and interaction, instead of animals and nature themes that continue to dominate in contemporary Australian children’s literature.
Lester is an Australian author and illustrator, whom began illustrating in 1979. Her first book, Clive Eats Alligators, was published in 1985 and she has since published twenty-five children’s books and two young adult novels. She is most well-known for her book, Are We There Yet? (2004), which won the CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 2005. Lester is not only one of Australia’s most well-known children’s author, however, as she is also a prominent advocate for Australian literary programs in …show more content…
Her work is often praised for not taking an explicit stance on theme of gender, but still seeking to normalise untraditional representations of gender. This is affirmed by Lester, who states that using stereotypes prevents individuals from considering another’s “special, very independent characteristics” (151). Consequently, the Bonnie and Sam series seeks to re-work, if not avoid, overtly stereotypical representations. Whilst, the Bonnie and Sam series is marketed as a series that would be of interest to all children, it was written to encourage girls to be “adventurous and do exciting things … and that it is okay to be different” (Alison Lester, n.d.). Lester’s comments are in line with beliefs that children’s literature needs characters that are strong “and reflect the real experiences of children” (Alison Lester,
Lester is an Australian author and illustrator, whom began illustrating in 1979. Her first book, Clive Eats Alligators, was published in 1985 and she has since published twenty-five children’s books and two young adult novels. She is most well-known for her book, Are We There Yet? (2004), which won the CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 2005. Lester is not only one of Australia’s most well-known children’s author, however, as she is also a prominent advocate for Australian literary programs in …show more content…
Her work is often praised for not taking an explicit stance on theme of gender, but still seeking to normalise untraditional representations of gender. This is affirmed by Lester, who states that using stereotypes prevents individuals from considering another’s “special, very independent characteristics” (151). Consequently, the Bonnie and Sam series seeks to re-work, if not avoid, overtly stereotypical representations. Whilst, the Bonnie and Sam series is marketed as a series that would be of interest to all children, it was written to encourage girls to be “adventurous and do exciting things … and that it is okay to be different” (Alison Lester, n.d.). Lester’s comments are in line with beliefs that children’s literature needs characters that are strong “and reflect the real experiences of children” (Alison Lester,