Don’t judge a book by its cover

By Meg Kennedy

A debut author’s picture book has been published in England, but its beginnings stem back locally.
Ballan resident Heather Anthony’s debut book ‘Mouse Sprouts – A Tale About Being Different’ was recently published in the UK and is about to hit shelves back at home.
Mouse Sprouts follows Albert and Daphne, the youngest mice from two very large families.
Although their siblings have dreams of fame and fortune, Albert and Daphne feel different. It’s not a difference people can see on the outside – it’s one they feel from within.
Ms Anthony says the theme of her story is about ‘feeling different’ – a universal theme that appears itself in many forms; from education, class, sexual identity, disability, religion or ethnicity.
It’s a theme that Ms Anthony has experienced herself as a “child of two cultures”, growing up in the 60s and 70s to English and Chinese-Malaysian parents.
“My difference was on the outside,” said Ms Anthony.
“I think I was the only Asian-looking child at my primary school…[there were] all these beautiful children with lovely blue eyes and blonde hair, and I looked different.
“The trouble was, I didn’t really fit into my father’s culture either because I was too Australian.”
As a former primary school teacher for 34-years, including at Bacchus Marsh and Balliang East Primary Schools, Ms Anthony is familiar with what children enjoy reading and their sense of humour; a skill that would become invaluable when it came to writing Mouse Sprouts.
“I was reading recovery teacher, and in that position, I learnt about the structure of books. [For example] you put the joke on the next page, and they’ll laugh,” she said.
“It’s also about how important words are. You read the words aloud until they sound just right.”
The pictures for Mouse Sprouts aren’t regular illustrations either, but rather model sets made from recycled materials, including polystyrene and various fabrics.
The Ballan community was intrinsic to help Ms Anthony make the models of Mouse Sprouts a reality – with Ballan Hardware donating supplies, and many hours spent scouring the local op-shops for recycled materials.
“I was so lucky that my community of Ballan believed in me, everyone has been so encouraging,” she said.
Ms Anthony worked on the models for five to six hours a day, with the whole project taking a year to complete.
“In a world where everything is so serious, it was great working on something light hearted and fun,” she said.
As for what readers – both young and old – take away from reading the book, Ms Anthony hopes it is to embrace the theme of difference.
“There’s a lot at the moment about difference. When you see it on the television, people pick out the difference all the time,” she said.
“I wanted [the children] to know that it’s okay to be different. That it’s okay to not fit in with everybody else.”
Although Mouse Sprouts may be about mice, its message is more important than ever.
“It is quite a revelation and very powerful one, when you finally realise the truth – that everybody is different,” said Ms Anthony.
“It is what makes us all the same.”
‘Mouse Sprouts: A Tale About Being Different’ will be launched at Ballan Mechanics Institute on Saturday, 29 June at 10am.
Models from the book and the animation will be on display and will include a discussion with Heather.
Tickets are free but bookings are required. You can register for the event at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/heather-anthony-author-talk-tickets-60908476894
‘Mouse Sprouts’ is available to purchase at Collins Booksellers on Lydiard St, Ballarat or online via https://darcyrose.com.au/store/mouse-sprouts—a-tale-about-being-different-p85851.