Karen Cross – författare

1970 was a time when there were no GPS’s, no electronic calculators or notebook computers, no communication via VHF or SSB radios and satellite phones, no accurate quartz watches, no access to weather forecasts, no epirb (emergency position indicating radio beacons), no lightweight small-boat refrigeration, no water makers, no disposable napkins (except cotton wool wadding), no yellow margarine and only limited dehydrated foods. At that time, a young Johannesburg couple fulfil a dream adventure in a 25-foot yacht. This is a story of survival at sea, a husband's resourcefulness in the face of huge difficulties, running out of food and water and an amazing reunion with the author's Danish roots. It reaches a climax when they have a baby and decide to return to South Africa when he was just four months old. The wooden sloop’s voyage of 23,000 nautical sea miles concluded with the return to South African shores after a 53 day passage in the Southern Ocean. The story is a faithful rendition of the author’s log and letters which allow the reader to step back into the past and relive the thoughts, feelings, fears and faith of a young wife, mother and sailor.

“Banna and Bree Blown to Rwanda”, is a children’s junior novel aimed for children 7-9 years. The story begins in the Okavango Delta in Botswana where Banna and Bree live, but is set in the stunning jungle of The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. While Banna and Bree are in Rwanda they learn first-hand of the plight of the mountain Gorillas and the constant threat of poachers in the Park. Banna and Bree live with the Park families and create friendships with Caeb the Chameleon and Jastin, the gorilla and the Mountain families. When poachers threaten the lives of the Mountain gorillas, and in particular Jastin’s family, the Park animals unite to protect the gorilla families. They come up with a plan and implement strategies and are forced to put their plan into action when a baby gorilla goes missing. The animals excel in their hoof to hand combat in a life and death struggle for survival. Banna and Bree experience the challenges of the Park animals, the unique friendships that are quite heart-warming and humorous, and learn what true heroes will sacrifice for their mates. Banna and Bree befriend these magnificent endangered species, highlighting environmental issues and human impact on animal habitats.

‘Banna and Bree Blown to Mission Beach’ is set in beautiful Clump Mountain National Park in the coastal community of Mission Beach, Australia. Banna and Bree are baboons that visit Mission Beach from Botswana in Africa. They meet some uniquely Australian animals such as a koala, kangaroos, a wombat and cassowaries from the rainforest and the dolphins, turtles, dugongs and stingrays of The Great Barrier Reef. When a cyclone threatens the area, the animals unite to protect each other on land and in the water. They came up with plans, implement strategies and work together when it becomes a matter of survival for the animals on the land and sea. Banna and Bree experience the challenges of the Park animals during and after a cyclone. Friendships blossom with the rainforest and marine animals that are quite heart-warming and they learn working together can sometimes be the difference between life and death. They work with the rainforest animals to save a family of kangaroos, and with the sea creatures to save a turtle caught in nets during the cyclone. Banna and Bree witness first-hand the hardship of the animals and the devastating effects cyclones can have on the oceans creatures. ‘Banna and Bree Blown to Mission Beach’, focusses on environmental issues, conservation, preservation of endangered animals and human impact on animal habitats at a level that young children can relate to. Banna and Bree are conservation and wildlife warriors for young readers who care about endangered animals and protecting our planet.

‘Banna and Bree Blown to Borneo,’ is a story set in a rainforest reserve in Borneo. Banna and Bree, two young baboons from the Okavango Delta in Botswana, visit this paradise and witness first hand how palm oil plantation owners dangerously encroach on the last remnants of primary rainforest areas, putting the lives of endangered animals at risk. When a fire in the rainforest threatens a lost orang-utan baby, the animals of the forest unite, implement strategies and work together when it becomes a matter of her survival. Banna and Bree together with the proboscis monkeys, the orang-utans and pigmy elephants risk their own lives to save and bring home the missing baby to her mother. Other baby orang-utans are also caught in the crossfire and need to be rescued before they are sold in the illegal pet trade. Rupsa, the old male orang-utan leads the charge to save the lives of the baby orang-utans locked up in cages.‘Banna and Bree Blown to Borneo,’ highlights environmental issues such as deforestation, preservation of endangered animals and human impact on animal habitats at a level that young children can relate to. Banna and Bree are conservation and wildlife warriors that will appeal to young readers who care about endangered animals and protecting our planet. Banna and Bree is a light hearted, family friendly book that explores the issue of deforestation in a way that children understand.

Toy Story and the Inner World of the Child offers the first comprehensive analysis of the role of toys and play within the development of film and animation. The author takes the reader on a journey through the complex interweaving of the animation industry with inner world processes, beginning with the early history of film. Karen Cross explores digital meditations through an in-depth analysis of the Pixar Studios and the making of the Toy Story franchise. The book shows how the Toy Story functions as an outlet for exploring fears and anxieties relating to new technologies and industrial processes and the value of taking a psycho-cultural approach to recent controversies surrounding the film industry, particularly its cultural and sexual politics. The book is key reading for film and animation scholars as well as those who are interested in applications of psychoanalysis to popular culture and children's media.