Bessie is the tourist bus on Stradbroke Island, a picturesque little island situated not far off the coast of the Queensland cities of  Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.  

 

   Bessie collects and returns the tourists from and to the ferry terminal. and also takes some of them on excursions around the island when required.

 

   Bessie has had many adventures on the island and today had been no exception.   She began the day collecting the tourists as usual. Then she remembered a story she had once been told about how and why the whales that pass by during their migration to and rom Antartica go to so much trouble to mingle and amuse the humans who watch their migration.  After that she  went scuba diving for a while ... and struck a little trouble while she was under water.  Then she saved the lives of quite a few swimmers.  Just an ordinary day in the life of Bessie, the Stradbroke Flyer and I hope I won't bore you too much when I recount her day and once you get into the swim of things I think you will take pleasure in providing some beautiful and exiting illustrations to accompany Bessie's adventures that you can retain forever.

 

BESSIE, THE STRADBROKE FLYER:   BOOK ONE:   ONE VERY HOT SUMMER'S DAY

 

This story takes us on a journey where we learn why whales love to interact with humans, then travel on Bessie's travels through one single day of her life as she goes diving where she comes into contact with a vast array of tropical fish, then later in the day saves some tourists from approaching danger.

 

And YOU get the chance to illustrate her entire day as the story unfolds.

 

Available in both Senior and Junior versions.   The difference between the two versions is simply the fact that the junior version has fewer words per page in order to make it easier for the younger child to comprehend the story.