Each year two children’s book authors and illustrators are invited to undertake a short writer’s residency at Bundanon on the Shoalhaven River of the south coast of N.S.W. as part of an education program for schools coinciding with Book Week for Schools.

Local Public Schools are targeted and invited to attend day sessions with these writer/illustrators during this time.  A short program is designed in collaboration with the resident for the visiting group.

Both text and illustration are featured, highlighting the skills of these selected authors and illustrators.  Areas of professional experience, competency, articulation, diversity and imagination in literacy for young students are addressed.

In August of 2007 publisher/writer David Reiter was a guest resident and presented two sessions from his residence to two schools.

David’s presentation involved quite an expressive and intimate reading of his work; The Greenhouse Effect and audience response to his recently completed book; Young Guns, which deals with quite an extreme but believable set of circumstances exceeded the expectations of all staff present at the session. 

This was particularly interesting to watch in progress as it was especially relevant to one of these schools, being families from the Naval Base division at Nowra, the message was especially topical.

Prompted by David and with the assistance of the school teachers present, the students displayed a very mature and intelligent level of understanding of the context and message in the story. The students hung onto every word and nuance, exploring the story in incredible depth and with great enthusiasm. It was obvious in their answers to questions raised, that they were able to identify the more subtle clues given in the illustration of the story and clearly were impressed by the integrity of the author’s intention. 

On speaking to the school staff afterward, their degree of satisfaction with David’s presentation was very high and developed the student’s skills of articulation and reason.  I personally feel that the intimate nature of the reading which David gave, also added to the degree of comfort experienced by the students, allowing them to investigate the contentious and challenging nature of the subject matter.

Gaillyn Cooper
Education Manager (acting)
Bundanon Trust (New South Wales)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

Woven into this sobering story are the serious issues of gun control, gun safety and the pervasive effects of war on returning soldiers and their families. It has wide curriculum applications in both Studies of Society and Environment (Time, Continuity and Change; Levels 3 – 4) and Health and Physical Education (Promoting the Health of Individuals and Communities; Levels 3 – 4).

When Jon discovers a loaded gun under his parents’ bed, he is mesmerised by its cold, hard, metallic reality. The gun, already a source of conflict between his parents, is accidentally fired by Jon, starkly confronting all family members and prompting them to assess their own contribution to the potentially fatal accident. Underlying themes include the adult’s role of responsibility in parent-child relationships, gun usage, post-traumatic stress disorder, war and father-son relationships. The intentionally simplistic and stylised illustrations focus the reader on the issue being explored on each page and simultaneously convey the subtexts of parallel stories. While a loaded a gun left within reach of a child may seem so irresponsible as to undermine the plausibility of the story, it serves to illuminate the seemingly inexplicable behaviours sometimes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Rich in its understated complexity, this book offers wide scope for discussion and reflection on the serious and contentious issues raised.

© Education Queensland, Review, January, 2008

Real Guns is not an anti gun story but it teases out the idea that guns exist in our society, are in some instances a necessity, but must always be treated in a safe manner. They are real.

The text has almost a conversational quality which leads perfectly into being able to open dialogue about guns, their place in society and the sometimes blurred ideas that children have about what is a real gun, a toy gun or a game.
  
Patrick J Murphy’s illustrations compliment the text and are presented in a bold, simple style with vivid colours.

After reading Real Guns, author David Reiter speaks with children, not at them, allowing them to discover and articulate their point of view. He offers insight into why he chose the topic of gun safety.
 
As a publisher, he is also able to demystify the publishing process, explaining how books are selected or rejected for publication, how an illustrator is found to compliment the text, etc.

A valuable experience for children.

– Andrea Anderson, Librarian, Seven Hills and Cannon Hills State Schools (Queensland)

Michael wanted me to let you know that he really liked the book (although it did make him cry a little —I don't think I was supposed to notice that!)
 
He said, "Guns make people want to kill other people.  It must be scary being a soldier."  And then, "can I get a big water pistol for my birthday?"

– email from Leanne Hansen, mother of eight year-old Michael.