Free Shipping Over $89 - Limited Time Only - T&C's Apply
Track My Order
Help Centre
Likes
My Wish ListsLogin / Join
Booktopia
Australia's local bookstore
Get Free Shipping on orders over $89
To and Fro - Anton Clifford-Motopi

To and Fro

By: Anton Clifford-Motopi

Paperback | 19 March 2024

At a Glance

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $4.19 with

In Stock and Ships in 1-2 business days
Sam tries to understand what it means to be black in this funny Australian story about identity, family and friendship.

Most kids meet their parents when they're born. All they need to do to impress them is poop, sleep and make goo-goo ga-ga sounds. But I'm twelve. None of that is going to impress my father.

 Sam thinks he's a weird-looking white kid with an afro. He lives with his white mum (annoying but not smelly) and brown dog Trevor (smelly but not annoying). He's never met his father. He just knows that his father is black.

But a surprise visit has Sam questioning who he really is. Is he a white kid with a black dad? Or a black kid with white skin? Or half-black and half-white?

Not only does Sam want to know these answers, he has to know them to finish his annoying homework and perform in the school concert. But how can he make his outside match his insides if he doesn't know who he is?

A delightfully funny story about family and identity, and what it means to be truly Sam.

About the Author

Anton Clifford-Motopi enjoys writing stories that make children laugh. His stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, drawing from his experiences of being mixed race, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children. Anton first became interested in writing for children while teaching Health & Physical Education and English at a high school in Mount Isa, but it would be many years before he put pencil to paper. That day arrived when he was shopping for a book to buy his daughter for her birthday.

Browsing through children's books, he decided it was time he followed his heart. Over the next decade, Anton wrote three children's books while completing postgraduate studies in public health, working as a university lecturer and raising four children – phew! Alas, none of these books were published, but they developed Anton's love for storytelling and were important steps to him becoming a published children's author. At the moment, Anton's other job is a health researcher at a university. The job involves a lot of thinking, reading and writing, but his passion is writing funny and thought-provoking stories for children. To and Fro is his debut novel.

www.antoncliffordmotopi.com
Industry Reviews

'Anton Clifford-Motopi delivers a fresh story about belonging and self-discovery - one that Aussie kids with unique backgrounds will wholeheartedly relate to. Quick-witted and intent main character Sam, along with his best friend, mum, dad and nanna, go on a journey full of laughs, tears, joy - and some embarrassing blunders - to explore what identity really is. Cheeky, funny and full of heart, To and Fro will have you cheering for Sam right till the end.' H. Hayek, bestselling author of Huda and Me

'Exuberant, hilarious and messy (just like life!), To and Fro is perfect for kids who feel like their outsides don't match their insides.' Rebecca Lim, multi-award-winning author of Tiger Daughter

'Not only does To and Fro engage with pitch-perfect humour, it tenderly portrays a young boy navigating a new identity. Sam's vulnerable moments never linger on the page but instead quietly build to a moving climax, and thereafter a series of thoughtful resolutions. Truly satisfying, educating, moving and entertaining. A much-needed novel in Australian children's literature.' Emily Gale, award-winning author of The Goodbye Year

'A heartfelt and humorous exploration of the complexities of growing up mixed race in Australia. This delightful offering for readers aged 8-12 tells an engaging story that seamlessly weaves in discussions of race and identity - a welcome addition to the Australian middle-grade landscape, which has a dearth of directly comparable stories ... What truly sets To and Fro apart is its ability to tackle serious topics with humour and wit, and it filled the book with many laugh-out-loud moments.' Books+Publishing

You Can Find This Book In

Kids & Children's BooksChildren, Teenagers & Young Adults (YA) FictionGeneral, Modern & Contemporary Fiction for Children & TeenagersPersonal & Social IssuesLearning about Racism, Discrimination & Multiculturalism for Children & TeenagersFamily & Home Stories for Children & TeenagersHumorous Stories for Children & Teenagers

2025 CBCA Notables - Complete List

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals - Sami Bayly

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals

Hardcover

RRP $32.99

$26.99

18%
OFF
Happy All Over : CBCA Notable Book 2025 - Emma Quay

Happy All Over

CBCA Notable Book 2025

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$10.99

56%
OFF
Worms Are Our Friends : Our Friends in the Garden - Toni D'Alia

Worms Are Our Friends

Our Friends in the Garden

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
The Wobbly Bike : 2025 CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: Early Childhood - Darren McCallum

The Wobbly Bike

2025 CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: Early Childhood

Hardcover

RRP $25.99

$22.75

12%
OFF
We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord - Garth Nix

We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Footprint - Phil Cummings

Footprint

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
South With the Seabirds - Jess McGeachin

South With the Seabirds

Hardcover

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF
When the World Was Soft : Yindjibarndi Creation Stories - Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation

When the World Was Soft

Yindjibarndi Creation Stories

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$28.75

18%
OFF
Shower Land 1 : Break the Curse - Nat Amoore

Shower Land 1

Break the Curse

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$14.75

Over or Under? - Pip Harry

Over or Under?

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Bernie Thinks in Boxes - Jess Horn

Bernie Thinks in Boxes

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
The Land Recalls You - Kirli Saunders

The Land Recalls You

Hardcover

RRP $26.99

$20.75

23%
OFF
Flora : Australia's Most Curious Plants - Tania Mccartney

Flora

Australia's Most Curious Plants

Hardcover

RRP $29.99

$26.75

11%
OFF
Unreal : Can you tell fact from fake? - Kate Simpson

Unreal

Can you tell fact from fake?

Hardcover

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF
Eleanor Jones Can't Keep a Secret - Amy Doak

Eleanor Jones Can't Keep a Secret

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$18.75

Afloat - Kirli Saunders

Afloat

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Don't Worry, Felix - Yohann Devezy

Don't Worry, Felix

Hardcover

RRP $26.99

$24.75

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra : Ella and the Frogs - Cassy Polimeni

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Ella and the Frogs

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$14.75

Extreme Animal Facts - Jennifer Cossins

Extreme Animal Facts

Hardcover

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

2025 CBCA Notables - Younger Readers

We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord - Garth Nix

We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Shower Land 1 : Break the Curse - Nat Amoore

Shower Land 1

Break the Curse

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$14.75

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra : Ella and the Frogs - Cassy Polimeni

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Ella and the Frogs

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$14.75

Worst Week Ever! Saturday - Matt Cosgrove

Worst Week Ever! Saturday

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$13.75

14%
OFF
Six Summers of Tash and Leopold - Danielle Binks

Six Summers of Tash and Leopold

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Tweet - Morris Gleitzman

Tweet

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Fluff, Mess Up! : Fluff - Matt Stanton

Fluff, Mess Up!

Fluff

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.99

How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five - Carla Fitzgerald

How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$15.75

12%
OFF
Saskia Spark-Lee : Fundraiser Fail - Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg

Saskia Spark-Lee

Fundraiser Fail

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$15.75

Kimberley Kickers : Jy Goes for Gold : Kimberley Kickers - Carl Merrison

Kimberley Kickers : Jy Goes for Gold

Kimberley Kickers

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$15.75

The Kindness Project - Deborah Abela

The Kindness Project

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.99

Countdown to Yesterday - Shirley Marr

Countdown to Yesterday

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.99

To and Fro - Anton Clifford-Motopi

To and Fro

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Small Acts - Kate Gordon

Small Acts

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Hello Twigs, Look Who's Grumpy : Volume 6 - Andrew McDonald

Hello Twigs, Look Who's Grumpy

Volume 6

Paperback

RRP $11.99

$10.75

10%
OFF
Real Pigeons Power Up : Real Pigeons #12 - Andrew McDonald

Real Pigeons Power Up

Real Pigeons #12

Paperback

RRP $17.00

$14.75

13%
OFF
BFFs (NOT) (Twinning #1) - Alexa Moses

BFFs (NOT) (Twinning #1)

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$13.75

14%
OFF
The Other Shadow - Tania Ingram

The Other Shadow

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$13.75

14%
OFF
The Midwatch - Judith Rossell

The Midwatch

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

CBCA Book of the Year Award Shortlist

The Wobbly Bike : 2025 CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: Early Childhood - Darren McCallum

The Wobbly Bike

2025 CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: Early Childhood

Hardcover

RRP $25.99

$22.75

12%
OFF
South With the Seabirds - Jess McGeachin

South With the Seabirds

Hardcover

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF
The Land Recalls You - Kirli Saunders

The Land Recalls You

Hardcover

RRP $26.99

$20.75

23%
OFF
Flora : Australia's Most Curious Plants - Tania Mccartney

Flora

Australia's Most Curious Plants

Hardcover

RRP $29.99

$26.75

11%
OFF
Afloat - Kirli Saunders

Afloat

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
these long-loved things - Josh Pyke

these long-loved things

Hardcover

RRP $19.99

$16.75

16%
OFF
Always Was, Always Will Be : 2025 CBCA Eve Pownall Award Winner - Aunty Fay Muir

Always Was, Always Will Be

2025 CBCA Eve Pownall Award Winner

Hardcover

RRP $27.99

$23.75

15%
OFF
The Skin I'm In - Steph Tisdell

The Skin I'm In

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF
Fluff, Mess Up! : Fluff - Matt Stanton

Fluff, Mess Up!

Fluff

Paperback

RRP $16.99

$15.99

Comes the Night - Isobelle Carmody

Comes the Night

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Birdy : A CBCA Notable Book for Older Readers - Sharon Kernot

Birdy

A CBCA Notable Book for Older Readers

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF
How to Move a Zoo : The incredible true story - Kate Simpson

How to Move a Zoo

The incredible true story

Hardcover

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Into the Mouth of the Wolf - Erin Gough

Into the Mouth of the Wolf

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$19.75

14%
OFF
We Live in a Bus - Dave Petzold

We Live in a Bus

Hardcover

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF
Saskia Spark-Lee : Fundraiser Fail - Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg

Saskia Spark-Lee

Fundraiser Fail

Paperback

RRP $15.99

$15.75

To and Fro - Anton Clifford-Motopi

To and Fro

Paperback

RRP $17.99

$16.75

This product is categorised by