SQUIGGLES AND SQUINTER

He graduated Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physics, the Diploma in Education, from the University of Sydney, 1953-1957, and was a company quartermaster sergeant in the Sydney University Regiment. He was ordained priest in 1964 and has specialized in family catechetics. He earned membership in the Australian College of Education (M.A.C.E.) with his A Programme for Apostles of Christ in High School published in 1971.

The first editions of his Catholic Family Catechism appeared in 1981. Other published work includes later editions of the catechism, newsletters on catechetics, the prayer book Heart Speaks to Heart, and the Bush Boys children's adventure series.

This book was written for Julian Vieira following a car accident on New Years Day 2008 and his subsequent  three weeks recovery period in the Westmead Children's Hospital, Sydney . Fr Tierney would write a chapter each day which was faxed through to Julian's ward in the hospital and read to him before bedtime.

This book is Connor Court's first venture into fiction, and represents the first time a mainstream publisher has produced one of the author's books, whether religious or fiction — all his others have been published "in-house" by the Cardinal Newman Faith Resources Inc.

The story features the adventures of the twins Squiggles and Squinter who, live on a family farm in Victoria. Their nearest neighbours are newly arrived, desperate for help, yet hours away by foot, or by horse.

Set in 1875, there are no cars, mobiles, nothing electric, but lots to eat, fun in the creek, chopping down trees with father, mother's school on the kitchen table, and board games by candlelight. In addition to the heroic twins, the new boy from the city, Fred makes an interesting extra for the story. The bushrangers Nifty Ned and Nasty Nat are fairly much stereotypical, but that is allowable in such children's fiction.

Squiggles and Squinter and the Bushrangers
Fro James Tierney
Connor Court Publishing
Illustrated by Ian James
100pp, $19.95

This lively tale for youngsters is set back in the 1870s, and is published locally, by Connor Court Publishing of Ballan.

According to the back cover, the book is set in Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and nearby townships. However, this is somewhat misleading. The action takes place on small farms in a wild bush setting and townships scarcely figure, except as the location of the police and the lock-up! Some local names have been borrowed as surnames (the Ballan and Greendale families), and their properties, Blackwood and Moorabool.

The author, retired Catholic priest James Tierney, is NSW based, and has already published five "Bush Boys" adventures for older children, with settings in the Blue Mountains. Squiggles and Squinter is his first venture for younger readers, and came into being one chapter at a time, faxed off daily to a 5-year old in hospital with a serious injury.

The story moves along at quite a pace, with the exploits of twin brothers Squiggles and Squinter as they outwit Nifty Ned and Nasty Nat, rescuing their family and their neighbours, the Greendales, from the bushrangers' attacks. Interspersed are details of life on a small mixed farm in the pioneering days; Squiggles and Squinter help their father with fencing, clearing the land, and care of livestock.

The book is illustrated by Ian James. The attractive cover is in full colour, but the black-and-white illustrations scattered through the book are in a silhouette style which is somewhat too stylized to do justice to the story.

Set in 1875, it tells the story of their lives on the farm, having fun with family and friends while learning at home, and their adventures when two bad bushrangers escape from prison.

The fun begins when the two boys witness two criminals holding up a carriage, and from then on they, with the help of their new friend Fred, are constantly in danger until the bushrangers are back where they belong behind bars.

I read this book to my little brothers and sisters, who were delighted by its sense of fun and excitement, as well as the various individual characters. The chapters are the perfect length for small boys and girls, and are very easy to read.

Squiggles and Squinter is the perfect book for a group of boys and girls of mixed ages, who like adventure stories. Children will love this tale of mischief, bravery and adventure.

The characters in this book are courageous, helpful and catholic! When the twins' friend Freddy's father broke his leg, their non-believing friends offered to take the boys to an Anglican Sunday service but the boys politely refused. This shows strength of character in the boys. Indeed, this character building book would help catholic children improve and strengthen their own faith.

A character-building book where exemplary characters are practicing catholic boys and girls, who are unafraid to live their catholic devotions amidst their protestant friends.

   Top

  Back to Home  

Revised 24 April 2010