The Voyage of the Poppykettle facts for kids
The Voyage of the Poppykettle is a children's book from 1980. It tells the story of a group of small, furry people called "hairy Peruvians." They set off from Peru on an amazing journey to discover Australia.
The famous author and artist Robert Ingpen wrote and drew the pictures for this book. He also wrote a second book in the series, called The Unchosen Land. Later, the Poppykettle story was updated with new parts by Michael Lawrence. This new version was published in 1999 as The Poppykettle Papers. The story also mentions something called the Geelong Keys.
Contents
What is The Voyage of the Poppykettle?
This book is a fantasy adventure for young readers. It introduces you to a unique group of characters. They are brave explorers who travel across the ocean. Their goal is to find a new land. The story combines adventure with a bit of mystery.
Who Wrote The Poppykettle?
Robert Ingpen is an Australian writer and illustrator. He is well-known for his beautiful artwork. He won a very important award for his illustrations. This was the 1986 Hans Christian Andersen Award. It is like a Nobel Prize for children's book creators.
What Inspired the Story?
Robert Ingpen first thought of the Poppykettle story in 1975. He was working with the United Nations in Peru at the time. His job involved researching old fishing stories. These stories came from the ancient Inca people.
The Inca Connection
Two things from his research gave him the idea for Poppykettle. First, he studied old Inca dolls and pottery. Second, he learned about a special plaque. This plaque remembered an expedition from the 1500s. It was about a journey from Callao into the huge Pacific Ocean. Years later, he used these ideas to write his popular children's books.
A Local Celebration
The Poppykettle stories became very popular in Ingpen's hometown. This town is Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. People there love the stories so much. They even have a special fountain. There is also an annual Poppykettle Festival. These events celebrate the mythical landing of the "hairy Peruvians" in Australia.
