Trace Balla, you’ve done it again! Rockhopping is a new companion title to last year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize winner, Rivertime, and it is possibly even more delightful and beautiful than its predecessor.

In Rivertime, 10-year-old Clancy and his Uncle Egg travelled in a canoe down the Glenelg River, observing the sights and sounds along the way. Clancy has now become a keen adventurer and wants to go hiking to the source of the river in Gariwerd (the Grampians). After training for many weeks by carrying a backpack of baked beans to school, the two pack all their supplies for five days in the wilderness and get going. Along their journey they encounter many different types of native flora and fauna, some non-native rock climbers, lose a backpack, swim in a pond, and camp in a cave.

The drawings are exquisite, with such an incredible level of detail that you could spend hours poring over every page. The characters feel authentic, and the story is bound to have many young adventurers itching to get out there and into nature. This beautiful graphic novel is an extraordinary achievement and will win a whole new legion of fans to Trace Balla, as well as give much joy to current fans.

Rockhopping is a must-have for all adventure-loving readers aged 5–10.

Angela Crocombe