Sorry Wally by Troy Mayne from Oceanic Imagery Publishing is a children's picture book with a difference.  

Cairns reef photographer Troy Mayne has just released this lovely book about our friends on the Great Barrier Reef, Sorry Wally, the first in a series of children’s books.

Shelley and Casey are two young ocean turtles who live in a lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef, every day they head off to Reef School.

Unfortunately they have to cross a busy shipping lane to get there, and as Shelley is the eldest she’s in charge of getting young Casey to school.

One day Shelley decides to travel with her friends and, like a typical older sister, leaves Casey on his own to get to school.

Poor Casey is scared of the local bully, Wally – a Maori Wrasse, and a real character that lives on the reef and is a popular tourist attraction.

The story plays out as Casey, with his brand new lunch box in tow, tries to get to school and avoid Wally, the bully.

Eventually Wally gets his comeuppance and readers learn a lot about the Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants.

Mayne’s images are brilliant juxtapositions of real-life shots of turtles and fish that live on the reef with insets of things like Casey’s lunch box.

It’s obvious that a huge amount of time has been spent to get the very best images that fit both the story and look entirely natural.

Sorry Wally is a very clever book.

Although the story is not particularly original, the combination of live images and a classic children’s story is very well executed.

There is a slight ‘Nemo’ feel to the story but without the Americanised humour.

This book would make a fabulous present for any kid, particularly those interested in the environment or the reef.

With every sale, some of the proceeds will go to the Mary McKillop East Timorese Literacy Fund.

Mayne has planned a number of books in the series with titles like Kind Wally, Fair Wally and Lonely Wally.

Mayne has a fascinating background having spent time in the military serving in Iraq and East Timor; check out our story on Troy Mayne here.

Mayne is also planning to organise an exhibition of his images in order to raise money for a Marine Wildlife Rehabilitation centre.

Sorry Wally can be ordered directly from the website www.sorrywally.com or picked up from Angus & Robertson stores.

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