Over the Rooftops, Under the Moon

Over the Rooftops, Under the Moon by JoArno Lawson, illustrated by Nahid Kazemi (Enchanted Lion) HB RRP $27.99 ISBN9781 92702626

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

With a jacket cover, this beautifully designed and illustrated picture book uses abstract themes which might be difficult for young children to comprehend. There are few words in this story which features a bird with an unusual appearance. At the start of the book, the bird is alone. The words read: ‘You can be far away inside, and far away outside. With others, but still on your own…’

The message of this book is that of the journey towards self-understanding. The bird gains an understanding of itself as it explores the world, taking in people and places. Along with the sparse, lyrical language of the book are illustrations which are eye-catching and compelling, from the bird in a pumpkin patch to a night street scene and beyond. ‘Colour arrives, sometimes when you least expect it’, reads the text: accordingly, the bird’s plain feathers are suddenly brightly coloured. ‘But then snow falls’.

As you move through life, the story implies, there are moments of rejoicing and other times when life changes and people flee. But eventually, as in this book, you are ‘inside and out, alone and together.’

This is a truly lovely book especially for its illustrations which are detailed and exquisite, cleverly extending the theme of the story.

A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader

A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader edited by Maria Popova & Claudia Bedrick (Enchanted Lion Books) HB RRP $34.95 ISBN 9781529702282

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a big solid book of over 260 pages with a letter (121 of them) on each page addressed to a child and with an illustration on the opposite page. It was an impressive task compiling all the letters from many famous writers, scientists, philosophers, artists and inspiring people. But one wonders what appeal the book will have to young readers given its title, size and content. 

Having said that, the book offers some wonderful insights and advice from people such as Jane Goodall, Ursula K Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, Jacqueline Woodson, Lena Dunham, a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor and Italy’s first woman in space. Artists include Marina Abramovic, Oliver Jeffers, Tomi Ungerer, Jon Klassen, and Australians Shaun Tan and Elise Hurst.

The writers share their experience of reading books, often their first books as children. Diane Acknerman, for instance, tells about a bookmobile which offered her ‘other worlds between covers’; Claudia Guadalupe Martinez says, ‘all readers have power’; David L Ulin says, ‘reading taught me everything I know about the world’, and physicist Lisa Randall claims ‘books make the one life we live that much richer.’ Dozens of others tell, too, of their reading experiences. ‘Words can provide you with the greatest adventure of all time, if you let your imagination run free,’ writes entrepreneur Richard Branson.

The book’s illustrations, all in matte finish, range from three colour and black and white prints to cartoon strips, brilliantly painted pictures, abstracts and more. Books, of course, are a vital way of showing artwork, often for the first time, to young people.

In her introduction to the book, compiler Maria Popova quotes David Bowe whose idea of happiness was summed up in one word: ‘Reading.’ She says that all the proceeds from the project will be donated to her New York public library system, ‘because libraries are bastions of democracy and oxygen for the life of the mind’.

The book opens with beautiful pink, yellow, blue and white marbling, and, after Popova’s introduction, presents the Contents pages showing writers and artists as they appear in sequence. It is easy to see from their names that the creators are from all over the world. At the foot of every letter there is a blurb about the writer, and at the end of the book a blurb about every contributing artist.

This is an impressive, comprehensive work which will afford many hours of reading and looking.

Finn’s Feather

Finn’s Feather by Rachel Noble, illustrated by Zoey Abbott (Enchanted Lion Books) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781592702749

Review by Wendy Haynes

This debut picture book was written from the heart by Noble after the death of her son Hamish, and in her search to find a way to help his brother cope with loss. It represents how quickly life can change and is a gift to other children dealing with grief.

It is warm-hearted story for three to five-year-olds about Finn and the feather he finds at his doorstep that he believes is from his brother Hamish. With feather in hand, and bubbling with excitement he explores the playgroup with his friend Lucas. This makes Finn happy that it’s like having fun with Hamish.

This story touches on a deep subject in a light way, and is a wonderful resource for parents, carers, and teachers. The theme of loss and acceptance is enhanced by illustrator Zoey Abbott bringing to the page mainly soft shades of yellow throughout the full-page sketches. Yellow is a wonderful choice as it brings on the feeling of happiness, with the picture showing activities, expression and moods of the characters within.

Whether dealing with grief or not, it is worth having on the shelf as a subject to explore with children.