Craig Silvey

Illustrations Sara Acton

Allen&Unwin, RRP$22.99

Jacinta, aged 7, chats to her grandad John Watts, (whom she calls Da),

about Craig Silvey’s new book called “Runt”.

Craig Silvey is a bestselling author and screenwriter.

“Runt” won the 2023 Children’s Book Council of Australia young readers award.

Da.

Good afternoon, Jacinta. Can you tell everyone how old you are, and what class you are in at school?

Jacinta.

I’m 7 and I’m in year 1 at Gloucester Public School. My class is called Bikan which is Aboriginal for platypus.

Da.

Do you like school?

Jacinta.

Yes, it is very fun and calm. I have lots of friends.

Da.

Do you like reading books?

Jacinta.

A lot. It’s like my favourite thing in the whole entire world.

Da.

What’s the latest book you’ve been reading?

Jacinta.

It’s a book called Runt. I’ve just finished it. I didn’t really like it when I started reading it, but then it got really interesting. The only thing is that I would have liked it to have a few more pictures.

Da.

What was it about? How come you found it interesting?

Jacinta.

I love dogs, and it was about a very clever dog called Runt. Runt was a stray but is now owned by Annie, who lives with her Mum and Dad, brother Max, and Grandma Dolly on a sheep farm in Upson Downs.

Da.

Upson Downs is a funny name. Is it a nice place?

Jacinta.

It used to be a nice place, but it hasn’t rained for one year, and the town is pretty dry and sad. Also, a rich, but very bad and cruel man by the name of Earl has bought lots of farms and has built dams on the creeks to keep all the water for himself. His farm is the only one that has any green grass and Annie’s Dad’s sheep all get through the fence to get to the grass, and Earl tries to keep them. He’s mean and horrible, and I didn’t like him one bit.

Earl tells Annie’s Dad that he will only give the sheep back if the dad agrees to sell his farm but the dad won’t sell.

Da.

Tell me more about Runt?

Jacinta.

He is a very trained dog who does lots of clever tricks and things.

Da.

Can you read me something from the book about Runt.

Jacinta.

“Runt is nimble and acrobatic and swift. Annie is like a conductor with a baton, playing him like an orchestra. It’s a remarkable sight to behold or it would be if anyone else was there to see it.”

Da.

Jacinta, you said Runt was very clever. What do you mean?

Jacinta.

Well Annie teaches him how to do lots of clever things like rolling over, jumping things, crawling under things, weaving in and out and walking on top of a fence. He’s also good at rounding up the sheep.

Da.

So, what happens to Runt?

Jacinta.

Upson Downs has a show called Woolarama, and this year Annie reads that they are holding a dog competition with a first prize of $500. Annie is sad because she knows that her dad’s farm needs money. But Annie is also very kind and she thinks if Runt can win the money, it will help her dad keep the farm.

Anyway, Annie and Runt enter the competition and Runt is the fastest dog and they win the money. This upsets another horrible man called Fergus Fink who thought his dog would win. His dog came second.

Da.

Is that the end of the story?

Jacinta.

Oh no. Because they came first at the show Annie and Runt get to go to the dog competition called the Australian National Titles competition, and the dogs that come first and second there get to go to a big dog competition in London with a huge first prize.

Da.

Tell me about Fergus Fink.

Jacinta.

He thinks he’s better than everyone else. He’s like Earl.

Fergus Fink does everything he can to stop Runt from winning. Lots of dirty tricks.

Da.

Does Runt get to go to London?

Jacinta.

Yes, he does.

Da,

How can they afford to go to London?

Jacinta.

The people in the town are excited that Runt is going and they help with the money.

Da.

Don’t tell us all that happens in London but is it a happy ending?

Jacinta.

It is, and what I liked is that both Earl and Fergus Fink lose out. There is rain and Earl disappears and the farm is saved. Fergus Fink is disqualified for cheating, but although Runt does not win in London, he becomes very famous.

Da

Do you think most children would like Runt?

Jacinta

Yes, I do. I liked it lots.