Before You Were Born

Before You Were Born written by Katrina Germain, illustrated by Helene Magisson (Harper Collins Children’s Books) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 978 1 876288150

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

This gorgeous picture book celebrates the universal joy of new babies for all kinds of families. Before you Were Born is inclusive and captures within its pages the pure excitement and anticipation of the arrival of a baby. It has been created by the talented duo Katrina Germein and Helene Magisson with heart-warming tenderness and love.

 

Katrina Germein is a bestselling picture book author whose books have been published around the world. In this sweet book she has masterfully used rhyme in a whimsical yet powerful way. Before you were born and while you grew, there was a party just for you. Her words shower so much love to a new baby on the way that it feels like the new parents are speaking directly to the baby. I can picture this book being lovingly read to a baby bump and then once the baby arrives continued to be shared. Katrina raises all those little questions a new parent thinks about a baby. All talk of you and when you would come. Were you kicking inside? Or sucking your thumb? New parents do wonder and imagine what a baby is doing inside and what they will look like. The surprise is when the baby arrives but the joy of the impending arrival is the imagining. This is captured so perfectly by Katrina.

 

Helene Magisson is an award-winning illustrator. She started her artistic career as a painting restorer in Paris, where she also trained in the art of medieval illumination. Her style is unique and whimsical. Helene creates imaginary worlds that capture hearts. In Before You Were Born the cover depicts different families awaiting the arrival of their little one with so much delight and anticipation that you can’t help but want to pick up the book. The beige background allows the families to sparkle in colour. The endpapers are soft and gentle, like the book. Once we move into the double page spreads, colour bursts forth with the unique culture and home of each family. There is so much movement and detail that it is a delight to take time and fully appreciate each unique family. Magisson has cleverly brought so many extra layers of meaning to the story and so much diversity.

Before You Were Born is a picture book that is perfect for all families awaiting a new baby. I can picture this book on many nursery shelves and also being shared in many early learning places. This book is a lovely keepsake for any baby.

Magic Fish Dreaming

Magic Fish Dreaming written by June Perkins, illustrated by Helene Magisson (GumBootsPearlz Press) PB RRP $17.99   ISBN 978-0-980731-18-7

Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe

Magic Fish Dreaming is a beautiful book of poetry, inspired by the people, creatures and country of Far North Queensland. To travel to FNQ through this delightful book of poetry is, quite simply, a treat.

Perkins is a Papua New Guinean Australian writer with a PhD on the topic of Writing Empowerment. She and illustrator Magisson have captured and delivered a series of age-appropriate vignettes that traverse clever, captivating poetry alongside divine pictures.

From dancing in the storm to finding ‘giggle poems,’ from discovering a secret fishing spot to glimpsing the flicker of a gecko, the ideas in this book encourage children to take time, to create space, to cultivate patience, to watch, to wait… to dance…

                                                                                        

‘Storm Dancers’ –

She said, “I’ll dance with you,”

as the cloud’s violent sneezes caused

a flood in her garden.

He said, “I’ll dance with you

One of those anti-rain dances

But we can’t dance too long

‘cause we don’t want drought.”

The text and illustrations intermingle, to weave their magic not just through the core ideas of the poetry, but in and around the very pages themselves. With gorgeous and sometimes surprising messages delivered in a unique and unselfconscious manner, this is a book that emanates joy in every reading.

Instant gratification, armchair travel and lightning-fast images and sounds are a way of life in 2017. Rich, nourishing books like this one that bring conversation and evoke spirit of place, country and critter not just one time but over and over again, are on a different space-time continuum.

This book is recommended for children of all ages (even really old ones!).

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast retold by Alex Field, illustrated by Helene Magisson (New Frontier Publishing) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781925059809

Reviewed by Rebecca Newman

This is a retelling of the well-known fairytale in a picture book format. The text of the story is in large clear type with lots of white space. The pared back narrative occasionally feels more like a story summary than storytelling — however, this simpler format might enable younger readers to have a go at reading the story for themselves.

I’m already a fan of Helene Magisson’s work as an illustrator and her illustrations glow with fairytale magic. The use of birdcages and butterflies in the background to symbolise imprisonment and then freedom will delight the observant child reader. The end papers give an extra twist to this element.

Beauty and the Beast is just one title in the Happily Ever After series and will be in bookshops from 1 March 2017. This is a beautifully presented hardcover book.

About the reviewer: Rebecca Newman is a children’s writer and poet. She is the editor of Alphabet Soup’s website and former editor of Alphabet Soup’s print magazine. rebeccanewman.net.au