Clem Always Could
Clem Always Could
Sarah Watt is an award-winning Australian filmmaker who has been working as a writer, director and producer of animation for fifteen years. Using her extraordinary creative talents, Sarah’s latest venture is the brilliant children’s picture book, Clem Always Could.
Clem can do a lot of things, but when it comes to swimming lessons, he’s not so sure. Learning to swim is more daunting than he ever imagined and he doesn’t want to get in the pool! Nothing can make him, even when his mum tries everything from reasoning to losing it!
Clem’s mum reminds him of all the things he can do and had to learn. She tells him he had to
learn how to put his pyjamas on and go to the toilet, but Clem shakes his head and says, ‘I
always could.’ He’s convinced these things just came naturally to him, until one day Clem
finds the confidence he needs to take that first step into the water...
With themes of confidence building, persistence and overcoming childhood fears (as well as
the benefits of listening to your mum!), Clem Always Could, is a humorous and touching
look at growing up and childhood innocence with stunning illustrations.
About the author/illustrator
Sarah Watt is an award-winning Australian filmmaker who has been working as a writer,
director and producer of animation for fifteen years. She lives in Melbourne with her
husband, actor William McInnes, and their two children. Sarah’s
acclaimed animation Small Treasures (1995) brought widespread
international attention, winning, amongst many awards, the Baby Lion
for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival that year. Local Dive and
Living with Happiness followed, both of which screened widely at
festivals and theatrically, winning many international and Australian
awards. Sarah’s hand-painted animated films are distinguished by her
comic exploration of personal states, set against lush Australian
landscapes, fully using her previous career as a painter and printmaker.
Look Both Ways was Sarah’s debut feature film. Unlike the short films,
it is live action, interspersed with animated sequences. A critical and
commercial success in Australia, it has also won many awards and has
screened widely internationally. It is currently used as a text on the VCE English list. Clem
Always Could is Sarah’s first picture book.
Review: A story that every child and parent can relate to, that fills children with the courage to try.
Clem Always Could
Lothian Children's Books
Sarah Watt
ISBN: 9780734411150
RRP: $16.99
