It's difficult to believe a children's book about Canberra called Our Bush Capital hasn't been done before, so perfect is the idea. But it is happening and it's already exciting parents.
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And the fact the idea came to author Samantha Tidy while she was riding the Civic merry-go-round with her two children, is just the cherry on top.
"Before they started school, we used to make a day of going into town and riding the carousel. I realised that the experience would likely become a beloved childhood memory for them," Samantha said.
"I thought about how blessed we are to live in this city. The book will hopefully document that for them and for other Canberra kids.”
The book features many typical Canberran childhood experiences. Early morning adventures to the Parliamentary Triangle to watch balloons take off; visits to our national institutions; spotting snow on the Brindabellas – even the Floriade ferris wheel gets a mention.
The book is completed, with illustrations by Juliette Dudley, and being crowd-funded as a means to being published via Pozible until May 5. Should the crowd-funding campaign be successful, the book will be published on February 1, 2020, and celebrated at a launch at the National Capital Exhibition at 10am that day. Like a child, parents are prepared to wait nine months for the book.
"What I love is that people are writing a personal note, on the crowd-funding, or the Facebook page or sending us messages going, 'Oh my God, I'm so excited!'," Samantha said, with a laugh.
There are also sponsorship opportunities to help get free copies of the book into every school in the ACT, as well as to 150 daycare centres and to every federal senator and MP.
Getting the book to politicians was about helping to change perceptions of Canberra.
“Sam and I wanted to make this a passion project that Canberrans could embrace,” Juliette said.
“It’s not just about the final book - it’s about the process of celebrating our community. It’s about getting people talking about Canberra, and showing others that we are proud of all it has to offer.
"With this book, we remind Australians that their politicians actually live with them in their electorates. Canberra is not just the Australian parliament. It’s a passionate and diverse community of people who are proud to call it home.”
Samantha's most recent children's book, The Day We Built the Bridge, published by MidnightSun Publishing, was released in February. The first print run of 4500 copies sold out within three days.
A mum to Grace, seven, and Reuben, five, Samantha also works in educational tourism in cultural institutions, currently the Mint but previously the Australian War Memorial, National Library and National Archives. She writes when the kids go to bed.
She wanted to team up with Juliette after seeing her work in Sean Costello's Capital Yarns.
"I really liked her illustrative style," Samantha said. "It's quite modern and I liked that idea because it brought the book into the present."
