The River

The River is presented in different voices and in different times. It deals with the continuity of life as represented by the river, which provides a guide for a young Chinese girl, Xian, on her journey to her  grandparents’ home. The setting in China and the portrayal of a different culture, traversing both modern and old, introduces Australian students to Asian images and customs. The visual images complement the text and heighten understanding.

Drawing on the power of the imagination, The River presents characterisation (resourcefulness, determination, resolve) and life in China (religion, ways of living) in words and pictures to provide a rich reading experience.

The River is a starting point for numerous questions and discussion topics in the classroom, such as what images convey; the importance of history; belonging and fitting in; design, layout and placement of text; use of contrast; the wisdom of older people; atmosphere and mood; writing style. The wider concepts of visual literacy can be discussed to ascertain what and how they contribute to the overall reading of a book.