SELF-PUBLISHED PICTURE BOOK SERIES
The Adventures of Captain Blueberry
Captain Blueberry started as a spare-time obsession and a personal challenge. Between freelance jobs, I spent over a year writing, illustrating and designing the first book from scratch, with no brief, no publisher and no deadline except the one I set myself. The original goal was simply to build a portfolio piece I could show to publishers. It became something else entirely.
The books were both crowdfunded through Pozible. The Monsters of Tasmania reached its funding target in the first week, with 25 days still to go.
Written, illustrated and designed by Rachel Tribout
The Monsters of Tasmania (2014) and The Journey of Admiral Bolognaise (2016)
Published by Captain Blueberry Press, Hobart
The books
Captain Blueberry is a mighty French sailor who travels the oceans in search of unknown sea monsters and things the world refuses to believe in. People think she is crazy. She is, of course, absolutely right.
Published in two editions: a limited Explorer edition in A5 landscape with drawing pages, and a large hardcover edition. Now considered a Tasmanian classic.
Written with Daniel Patman.
Also available in bookstores and tourist shops across Tasmania. For wholesale and bulk orders, contact Blackgum Distribution at orders@blackgum.com.au
The Monsters of Tasmania (2014)
Admiral Bolognaise has received a letter from Captain Blueberry about her monster discoveries, and he is not happy about it. He embarks on a journey to find the Captain and set the record straight.
Written with Daniel Patman.
Also available in bookstores and tourist shops across Tasmania. For wholesale and bulk orders, contact Blackgum Distribution at orders@blackgum.com.au
The Journey of Admiral Bolognaise (2016)
The Monsters of Tasmania animated e-book + kids activity package
There’s also an animated, read aloud version of the Monsters of Tasmania!
The idea grew from a childhood spent exploring, imagining and looking very closely at things and a deep sense of adventure. I see faces in everything, so it felt natural to imagine the Tasmanian landscape alive with giant creatures. Moving to Tasmania after growing up in France meant the ocean felt vast, mysterious and more than a little terrifying. I loved that feeling and I leaned into it.
The first Fastitocalon, a monster that pretends to be an island and eats anyone who lands on its back, was inspired by Jorge Luis Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings, and by the very real moment a stingray appeared beside me in what I had been confidently describing as potentially monster-infested water.
My love of folk tales and sea creatures gave the stories their bones. The landscape gave them their soul.
The inspiration
The series opened a door to connecting with young readers in a way I hadn't anticipated. I regularly visit schools to do readings and run monster workshops, and the response from kids is something I genuinely treasure.
One Goodreads reader wrote that their family had invented a car game of spotting monsters in the Tasmanian landscape on road trips. That kind of thing still makes my day.
Beyond the books
A Monsters of Tasmania Cake!
Albert from the Monsters of Tasmania at Book Week
A sea Dragon from The Monsters of Tasmania for Book Week
Readers reviews
“Fantastic book if you are from or have been to Tasmania. Really creative re-imagining of notable parts of Tasmania's geography. The art is clever enough for the adult reading it to enjoy as well and there are plenty of discussion points in the drawings that you can use for conversations with toddlers. Also nice to have a book with a female-adventurer protagonist.”
“Beautiful book, my kids love it. We especially love that we can add our own monsters to the book!”
“ I love it...not just for little kids! A book to treasure forever!”
