High Five to the Boys: a celebration of ace Australian men, Random House Australia, 30 July 2018, 212pp., $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780143791782
Having worked with teenage boys for many years, I know that if you ask them to name some famous Australian men they can usually name only Ned Kelly and a few sportsmen. It is a joy to find a book that celebrates “Ace Australian Men” from the past and present, old and young, who have made constructive contributions to our world and who are worthy of admiration. From Weary Dunlop to Anh Do, politicians to poets, this a wide collection of candidates from diverse backgrounds with an array of talents from which any adolescent will find a number of men they can admire.
The book follows on from the earlier success of Shout Out to the Girls which offered similar content about female Australians.
High Five to the Boys is attractively printed on paper of varying colours with each biography including a concise one-page outline of the man’s life and achievements. It also contains a brief thank you for their contribution with the opposing page a colourful illustration of the subject created by local male artists.
Suitable for upper primary and secondary levels, High Five to the Boys is a broad selection of noteworthy Australian men that can offer inspiration and positive role modelling for young readers. It would be an ideal resource for any library or classroom. The royalties from the book go to The Smith Family.
Reviewed by John Nolan
