The Shop Train

Age range 5 to 9

Every week, Rosie and her mother drive down the bumpy dirt road and across the rocky riverbed to visit the 'Shop Train'.

The Shop Train was inspired by the Tea and Sugar train that began operating in 1917 to provide supplies and services for railworkers and people living in remote communities between Port Augusta in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

The Shop Train is a heartwarming story about Rosie and her mum, and the rickety journey in their old car to pick up stores from the shop train. The train carried everything they needed, and was an exciting time for all who lived near its tracks. Rosie and her mum slowly wind their way through Wonghi country, on its dusty tracks and never-ending horizon, until they reach the train, brimming with activity and treasures from other places.

Paul Seden's evocative illustrations effortlessly capture a bygone era, rendering the past with a deep sense of nostalgia, whilst capturing its uncluttered beauty. The Shop Train was inspired by similar journeys author Josie Wowolla Boyle took as a young girl. It was these journeys that left unforgettable memories on Josie, no matter how young or old she may have been.

Teacher's notes available here

With The Shop Train, the late Josie Wowolla Boyle offers a small memory-sketch of the days when the Tea and Sugar train travelled weekly across the Nullarbor to supply food and goods to isolated communities and railway workers. Boyle captures the experience of driving the long, rough terrain to reach the train line with her mother, and the excitement and bustle of people gathering their weekly supplies. The book highlights one particular day when food packages broke on the way home and her mother good-naturedly filtered apart the rice, tea, powdered milk, sugar and other basic supplies in a wooden yandy dish. The light and innocent tones of these very uncomplicated memories (based on Boyle's own childhood) are complemented by the high-energy movement illustrated in the figures and a nostalgic sepia-toned palette that evokes the dry bush of remote Australia. The authors' own First Nations identities are represented in the faces of many of the characters but the story isn't specifically one of Indigenous experience. This is a simple, descriptive story that also includes a brief teachers' note summarising the details, suggesting that the book could be used in schools as a starting point for conversations about historical experiences in remote Australia. The book is being marketed to lower/middle primary and seems suitable for the younger end of that range. Anica Boulanger-Mashberg is a freelance editor, writer, and reviewer, and has worked as a bookseller at The Hobart Bookshop for over 15 years.

Josie Wowolla Boyle was a Wonghi Elder from the Goldfields region of Western Australia. An acclaimed storyteller, author, painter and musician, Josie captivated audiences in schools and festivals across the country. The Shop Train was inspired by a journey she took on the Tea and Sugar train when she was a young girl. Josie peacefully passed away in 2020. This story is her gift to everyone.

Paul Seden is descended from the Wuthathi and Muralag people of North Queensland. He grew up in Darwin and lives there with his family. Paul loves to draw and create stories about real and imaginary characters. He is a born storyteller and performs in local festivals. Paul has written and illustrated several children's picture books.

Age range 5 to 9 Every week, Rosie and her mother drive down the bumpy dirt road and across the rocky riverbed to visit the 'Shop Train'. The Shop Train was inspired by the Tea and Sugar train that began operating in 1917 to provide supplies and services for railworkers and people living in remote communities between Port Augusta in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The Shop Train is a heartwarming story about Rosie and her mum, and the rickety journey in their old car to pick up stores from the shop train. The train carried everything they needed, and was an exciting time for all who lived near its tracks. Rosie and her mum slowly wind their way through Wonghi country, on its dusty tracks and never-ending horizon, until they reach the train, brimming with activity and treasures from other places. Paul Seden's evocative illustrations effortlessly capture a bygone era, rendering the past with a deep sense of nostalgia, whilst capturing its uncluttered beauty. The Shop Train was inspired by similar journeys author Josie Wowolla Boyle took as a young girl. It was these journeys that left unforgettable memories on Josie, no matter how young or old she may have been. Teacher's notes available here

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