In 1942, Australian sergeant Sir David “Griff” Griffin was a prisoner of war, held for three years and seven months in Changi Prison, Singapore. With Christmas approaching, Griff decided to make a book called The Happiness Box for the children interned in prison to chase away fear and inspire hope. With this year’s CBCA Book Week’s theme being Find Your Treasure, the timely release of The Happiness Box – award-winning creators Mark Greenwood and Andrew McLean’s book of the same name – brings to life the inspirational true story of a book that became a National Treasure.
The Happiness Box was said to contain the secrets to happiness, but the enemy was suspicious. The book survived the war, having been buried by a senior officer in a cordite container. After the Japanese surrender, the book was returned to its author. Written in extreme circumstances, the original book holds a prominent place in both Australian and Singaporean children’s literary history.
In 1990, Sir David Griffin donated the original book to the State Library of New South Wales, where it remains to this day. Between 2005 and 2007, hundreds of thousands of Australians saw the original book when it toured the country along with Sir Don Bradman’s cricket bat, Ned Kelly’s helmet and more than one hundred significant items, in the National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries exhibition.
While researching The Happiness Box, Mark was in close contact with Sir David Griffin’s son, Edward Griffin, whose knowledge was generously shared throughout the creation of this book.
“I am interested in blending history and story to create picture books with resonance, and that is what is lurking deep beneath the surface of The Happiness Box and what makes this book meaningful and important. At its core, The Happiness Box is a story about the power of reading and how books might very well be one of the secrets to our happiness – a great message to reinforce the power of books and storytelling.” “History Hunter” and author Mark Greenwood commented.