Ten Pound Pom
Age 8+
History & The Past: General Interest
An important slice of Australia's immigration story, detailing the 1960s push for British migrants.
I don’t want to go to Australia. I have just started grammar school. My best friend Sally goes there too. But it looks like there could be another war and Dad has convinced Mum to go. Because we’re migrants, the voyage is costing Mum and Dad only £10 each. My brother Brian and I are travelling free. It’s a long way to Australia. What if we never come back to England?
In the 1950s and 60s Australia welcomed thousands of British immigrants as part of the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Ten Pound Pom is the true story of award-winning author Carole Wilkinson’s immigration to Australia.
Creators
Carole Wilkinson is an award-winning and much loved author of books for children. She has a long-standing fascination with dragons and is interested in the history of everything. Though Carole has written over 30 books, she did not write her first book until she was nearly 40. Before that she had worked as a laboratory assistant and as a film and television writer and editor.
Illustrator Liz Anelli previously lived and worked in England but now resides in Newcastle, NSW. She has a huge passion for drawing and keeps rows of sketchbooks in her studio. In 2017, her book Desert Lake: The Story of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (written by Pamela Freeman) was a CBCA Notable Book and was short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, NSW Premier’s History Awards, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature and the Educational Publishing Awards. Her latest book with Walker is The Biscuit Maker (2020), written by Sue Lawson.
Reviews
The book is written in the present tense, from Carole’s perspective (of course!) and illustrated brilliantly by Liz Anelli. All of the experiences of long-distance ship travel are captured delightfully and will resonate with many older readers…It has great appeal – there are lots of points of interest, and because of the episodic nature, it can be taken in small doses and thus enjoyed over a longer time.
The Reader
Ten Pound Pom is one of a series of books called Our Stories, which ‘provides digestable chunks of information,’ and is a good tool for sharing history and moving or migration experiences, but just as enjoyable to read for pleasure.
Kids' Book Review
I am a fan of Carole Wilkinson’s work and once again she has written a worthwhile book.
Wonderous Words
This story is a lovely insight into Australia’s history.
Read Plus
The writing is accessible and compelling; the characters authentic.
Reading Time
