Charlie’s Whale

Charlie’s Whale by Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville (Lothian Children’s Books) HB ISBN9780734420886

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

This is a highly imaginative book about a small boy, Charlie, who loves whales and goes in search of them. Charlie loves all things associated with the sea, from seashells to seahorses, sharks, and stingrays, but it’s whales that are his main love. He looks up about whales in books and on the internet and writes about them in his project book. While his brothers build towers of blocks, Charlie reads stories from his sea books and sings songs to his collection of sea toys. His brothers say he is dreaming when he expresses his interest in seeing a whale.

There are no whales at the aquarium when Charlie’s family goes to visit. When Mum says that whales will be too far out to sea, in the deep ocean, Charlie practises spotting things far away. Without success. It’s only on a visit to the seaside that one day there’s a whale…

Award-winning children’s author Gleeson uses language which stays in the reader’s mind (‘He closed his eyes tightly and saw the darkness of the deep, deep ocean. Huge whales moved with a gentle swish of their giant tales.’) Her poetic writing is accompanied by eye-catching, beautiful illustrations which capture the main character and his family as well as sea creatures. This is a picture book which is likely to interest children from ages 5+.

Grandma, the Baby and Me

Grandma, the Baby and Me by Emma Allen, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville (Omnibus Books)

HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-873-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The day the baby came home Grandma winked and said, ‘Here’s trouble.’

Henry is having trouble adjusting to having a new baby in the house. Things are not quite the same. Routines are altered, mum’s attention is divided and even his big sister is giving the baby all her focus and kisses. If only Grandma would come back and make things better.

This is a gentle story about the change in family dynamics when a new baby arrives and it is told with such skill and simplicity. ‘...and the baby yelled until bathtime. In the bath, I yelled too.’ And although Henry’s yell is a happy one, Mum tells Henry to stop splashing and cradles the baby.

The lovely and realistic relationships are portrayed well through the text and also beautifully through the expressive illustrations. There is so much in every picture. There is the family dog, appearing on most pages with his ball, just hoping someone will throw it for him, especially Henry who completely ignores him.

There is a dinosaur theme which runs strongly throughout the story, and my favourite page is one which I think every mother could relate to: At bedtime it rained, the baby screamed, and Mum cried, ‘Oh! The washing!’ The family are standing in the kitchen. Mum is holding the baby with the phone wedged between her shoulder and ear while clearing the dinner dishes. Henry is in his bath towel tugging on her shirt and Josie is trying to give her a cupcake. Dad is washing dishes looking forlornly at the rain and the dog is licking up spilt milk under the table.

This is a lovely story about love, family and adjustment and how much a simple squeeze of Grandma’s hand can help a situation. It would be a great book for any young child, particularly those who are expecting, or experiencing a new sibling themselves.

Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows by Corinne Fenton, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville (Ford Street Publishing)

HB RRP $26.95 (ISBN 9781925000153)

PB RRP $16.95 (ISBN 9781925000146)

Reviewed by Francine Sculli

Chasing Shadows is a number of things – soft, beautiful, touching, silent, open, heart wrenching and honest. It’s a picture book worthy of discussion and multiple reads, to truly soak up the meaning, purpose and unspoken pull of its pages.

It’s not a tale easily told, the story of a young girl who could be anyone’s daughter, suffering with a depression so heavy in its weight that all she can see is shadows. It’s a topic often left untouched, too painful or misunderstood to truly  confront. But this book speaks it, almost without saying a word. With her beautiful nuance language, Corinne Fenton weaves more in the silence and the contrast.

The young girl’s father buys her a puppy. Like any parent, he wants to see his child happy again, not lost in the shadows. The puppy is jubilant, playful, frolicking and looking for attention. The young girl gives none, preferring the shadows to the love of a puppy.

As the poetic contrasts move the reader from page to page, as we watch the dog leaping across the pages, we see the girl retreat at first, then watch from a distance and finally we see her slowly start to move out of the shadows, slowly reaching out to both her father and the puppy.

Hannah Sommerville’s illustrations cement the soft complexities of this picture book. Her whimsical and expressive illustrations create as much poetry as Fenton’s words, and her choice of colour palettes are telling and indicative or what is left unspoken. She plays on the shadows so beautifully that the reader cannot be anything but engulfed.

Chasing Shadows is perfect for older picture book readers, but also perfect as an education tool for teachers, librarians, parents and psychologists. The story is so wonderfully told, so soft and delicate in its handling of this complex theme, that it could be an excellent vehicle for important discussions – not just about depression, but emotions and being able to open up to our loved ones. On a simpler side, this could also be a story about the love shared between animals and humans. However you choose to read it, it will be a beautiful journey.