War tears lives apart, but hope brings them together.
In Ships in the Field, award-winning author Susanne Gervay and acclaimed illustrator Anna Pignataro craft a deeply moving picture book that explores the refugee experience through the eyes of a child. Drawing from their own families’ histories as post-war migrants, they bring to life the journey of a young girl searching for a sense of belonging in a new country.
Through poetic storytelling and stunning watercolour illustrations, this book captures the resilience, love, and courage of those who leave everything behind in search of peace. At the heart of the story is Brownie, a stuffed toy dog that represents comfort, loss, and hope. When the little girl finds a homeless dog, her family’s act of kindness becomes a powerful symbol of healing and new beginnings.
Deeply personal yet universally relevant, Ships in the Field is an essential read for children, families, and educators—offering a gentle yet profound exploration of war, migration, and the meaning of home.
A Story of Strength, Love, and the Universal Refugee Experience
Ships in the Field is a beautifully crafted picture book that reflects the real-life experiences of families who have had to rebuild their lives after war. Inspired by Susanne Gervay’s Hungarian refugee parents and Anna Pignataro’s Italian refugee heritage, the story speaks to the struggles, resilience, and ultimate hope of migrant families across the world.
At its heart, the book follows a young girl navigating the unspoken pain of her parents, who have fled their war-torn homeland in search of a better life. While they work hard to create a safe and loving home, their past lingers in quiet moments of sadness and longing. Through her toy dog, Brownie, and a chance encounter with a homeless pup, the girl takes part in a journey of healing that brings her family closer together.
With its lyrical prose and evocative illustrations, Ships in the Field is a tender, hopeful, and deeply relevant story for today’s world. It fosters empathy and understanding, showing young readers that kindness, love, and belonging can grow even in the most difficult circumstances.
This book is perfect for families, educators, and librarians seeking a story that encourages compassion, resilience, and cultural understanding.
Why This Book Stands Out
Susanne Gervay is an award-winning Australian author, celebrated for her books that tackle real-life challenges with honesty, warmth, and humour. As a passionate advocate for children’s literature and social issues, she has worked extensively in anti-bullying initiatives, literacy programs, and youth empowerment.
Her I Am Jack series has been embraced by schools, families, and readers worldwide, addressing bullying, family, resilience, and growing up. The series has not only become an essential resource for anti-bullying education but has also been adapted into a successful stage production, touring Australia and beyond.
Susanne’s Ships in the Field is a deeply personal story inspired by her family’s refugee journey, offering a moving exploration of war, displacement, and finding home. Through her writing, Susanne continues to inspire young peopleto find their strength, stand up for themselves, and embrace their individuality.
A Story Rooted in Family, Survival, and Hope
Ships in the Field is deeply embedded in the personal history of Susanne Gervay’s family—one of war, human rights violations, and the refugee experience. Her parents, carrying their young son, left everything behind, risking their lives to cross ‘no-man’s land’ minefields in the dead of night, seeking freedom and safety.
For her mother, Hungary—a land of operas, grand balls, and health spas on Lake Balaton—was gone. For her father, was a farmer—his land stolen, his beloved white horse disappeared, his future erased. They arrived at an Austrian refugee camp, where conditions were harsh and uncertain, until they were selected to migrate to Australia as bonded migrants, traveling on a former WWII warship to a country they had never seen but hoped would offer them a new beginning.
Like many refugees, they rebuilt their lives from nothing. Her father worked in the Holden car factory, her mother in a clothing factory, and the family started their life in Sydney in a single room, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. But despite the hardships, there was hope, resilience, and a belief in their future.
This illustrated book brings Susanne’s family’s story to life—from her father making hats out of serviettes at dinner to entertain the family, to her mother cooking chicken soup every night, to their cherished trips into the country, celebrating their newfound safety in Australia. And yes—her father did see the “ships in the field”.
Susanne Gervay has carried her family’s journey with her, deeply moved when Governor Marie Bashir awarded her an Order of Australia in 2011, recognising not just her literary contributions but also her advocacy for human rights and migration stories. As an Australia Day Ambassador, she continues to share the powerful themes of Ships in the Field in her addresses across the country which had done for more than 15 years and the future.
For more insight into this journey, listen to Susanne’s conversation with ABC Radio’s Richard Fidler, where she shares a personal reflection on migration, identity, and belonging.
Bringing Stories to Life with Heart and Art
Ships in the Field is beautifully illustrated by Anna Pignataro, an award-winning artist whose work has touched the hearts of children worldwide. With delicate, evocative watercolours, Anna captures the emotion, resilience, and hopewoven into this story of migration and belonging.
Like author Susanne Gervay, Anna’s connection to this story is deeply personal. Her Italian parents were refugees expelled from Egypt, seeking a new home in Australia, mirroring the experiences of so many families who have faced displacement. Her art brings their shared history to life, paying tribute to the courage of those who left everything behind to start anew.
Anna has been drawing since childhood, using illustration as a way to make sense of the immigrant experience and express her creativity. She always knew she wanted to illustrate stories for young people. After completing art college, she worked in graphic design, teaching, and mural painting before dedicating herself fully to children’s books.
A Celebrated Illustrator
With over 40 books to her name, Anna has illustrated works by some of Australia’s most renowned authors, including Gillian Rubenstein and Colin Thompson. Her beloved Princess and Fairy series became a bestseller, enchanting young readers with its whimsical world of rabbits. The series was even voted among The Kids’ Top 50 Books by children across Australia.
Anna’s exquisite artwork has earned prestigious awards, including:
• Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Crichton Award for Children’s Book Illustration
• Multiple CBCA Notable Awards
• Shortlisted for CBCA Picture Book of the Year
Her books have been translated into multiple languages and are cherished by families around the world. Her illustrations have also been widely exhibited, with solo exhibitions and private collections in numerous countries.
A Story of Courage and Legacy
Ships in the Field was launched by Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lisa Forrest and has been awarded two CBCA Notable Awards. It is dedicated to Susanne Gervay’s courageous aunts—Margaret, Irenke, and Magda—who survived war and built a new life in Australia.
Anna’s illustrations for this book bring warmth, depth, and authenticity, making Ships in the Field a timeless and meaningful story for generations to come.
Reviewed by Jenny Mounfield – Goodreads
With immigration and refugee issues dominating global headlines, Ships in the Field is a timely and profoundly moving story. Told through the eyes of a child, it offers an intimate look at one family’s journey of migration. Forced from their homeland by war, the young narrator and her parents build a new life in Australia. Once a farmer, Papa now works in a factory, while Ma, a former teacher, takes in sewing. Despite the trauma of the past and the uncertainty of the future, joy and love define their family—yet, for the child, something still feels missing.
Gervay masterfully captures the child’s perspective in two simple yet powerful lines:
“Papa grew up in a village in the old country, before it was broken.
Ma grew up in a city in the old country, before it was broken.”
Through deceptively subtle language, Gervay conveys the war that still lingers, a silent force shaping their lives. But equally strong is the hope that radiates from the narrator, balancing the story’s emotional depth. This contrast builds to a heartwarming climax when the child’s deepest longing is fulfilled on the final page.
The Significance of Language
The book’s title holds a poignant meaning, highlighting how language differences shape the migrant experience:
‘Look at the ships in the field,’ Papa says.
Brownie and I giggle. ‘Papa, you mean sheep.’
‘Yes, the ships.’ Papa wiggles his moustache.
This tender moment illustrates the subtleties of communication, misinterpretation, and connection, adding layers of authenticity and warmth to the family’s journey.
A Perfect Harmony of Words and Art
Anna Pignataro’s watercolour illustrations perfectly complement Gervay’s storytelling, infusing the book with humour, tenderness, and emotional depth. Smiles appear on almost every page, and the playful, childlike style brings a sense of lightness to a story that could have been much darker in a different artist’s hands.
This is a book that reveals more with each read. The shadow of war, though mentioned briefly in dialogue, is positioned after scenes of joy, making its presence even more stark. Combined with Ma’s silent tears behind closed doors and the child’s fear of night, these quiet moments carry immense weight—without ever overwhelming the story’s sense of hope. It’s evident that both author and illustrator worked meticulously to balance darkness with light, ensuring that the warmth and optimism shine through.
A Story for Every Generation
Ships in the Field is a timeless book, destined to remain as relevant fifty years from now as it was fifty years ago. Its themes of war, resilience, migration, and belonging will always resonate, making it a must-have for every classroomand an essential read for children, parents, and educators alike.
Susanne Gervay – Australia Day Ambassador and Advocate for Belonging
Susanne Gervay is honoured to serve as an Australia Day Ambassador, carrying a message of unity, belonging, and the rich diversity that makes up modern Australia. She was awarded an Order of Australia in a ceremony at Government House, presented by Governor Marie Bashir, in recognition of her contribution to children’s literature and social justice.
Every 26th of January, Susanne delivers an Australia Day address, often in remote and regional communities, sharing the powerful themes of Ships in the Field—a story of migration, resilience, and finding home. Through her work, she celebrates both the First Nations peoples and the many waves of immigrants who have since arrived, shaping Australia into the diverse nation it is today.
“A deeply moving and beautifully illustrated story that explores the refugee experience through the eyes of a child, balancing themes of love, loss, and resilience with warmth and hope.”
“A heartfelt and nostalgic look at immigration, Ships in the Field blends gentle humour with poignant storytelling, capturing the struggles and joys of starting anew in a foreign land.”
“A tender and multilayered picture book about war, displacement, and belonging, where a young girl’s love for her family and longing for a real dog highlight the resilience of the human spirit.”
