Creature Clinic
Title: Creature Clinic
Author: Gavin Aung Than
Publisher: Figment, an imprint of Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Shortlist: Children's Literature
Hilda meets ER in this kid-friendly graphic novel set in a magical hospital, where the youngest characters help look after unicorns, giants, fairies and more!
What do you do with a sick dragon, a concussed troll, or a unicorn with a broken horn? You take them to the only place that can help: Creature Clinic! From Super Sidekicks creator and New York Times-bestselling cartoonist Gavin Aung Than comes this action-packed and heart-warming graphic novel set in a magical hospital.
Welcome to Creature Clinic, where a team of dedicated doctors and nurses at the world's finest – and only – hospital look after mythical creatures. Here, everyone from trolls and unicorns to tooth fairies and giants, can expect the very best treatment. Well, with one exception: humans are absolutely, 100% not welcome.
So when doctor-in-training Kara Orc discovers an injured human child at the hospital, her world is turned upside down. Sure, most humans are dangerous, destructive beasts, but Kara took an oath to help all creatures. Even humans deserve care and compassion! But how long can she keep such a big secret from her boss ... who happens to be her mother? And what happens when the human child – whose name is Mitch – decides that he wants to stay at Creature Clinic?
Judges’ Report
Creature Clinic is a medical drama set in a fairy-tale world, full of humour, action and genuine emotional warmth.
Kara Orc is a resident doctor, treating all kinds of mythical creatures; unicorns, fairies and giants. When an injured human arrives at the clinic, she decides to help him, going against the wishes of her mother, Dr Orc, the strict and terrifying chief of medicine.
This is a funny, fast-paced, heartfelt and imaginative story. The characters are engaging and relatable. The illustrations are colourful, visually appealing and full of clever and entertaining details that reward close attention and re-reading.
A brilliant graphic novel, celebrating kindness, compassion and inclusivity.
Extract
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About the Author
Gavin Aung Than
VPLA book photography by Shannyn Higgins
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Government.
