Lily's Balloon

Lily's Balloon by Katrina Roe and illustrated by Helene Magisson
(Wombat Books) https://www.wombatbooks.com.au/index.php/lily-s-balloon HB RRP $20.00 ISBN: 978-1925563399

Reviewed by Lucinda Gifford

"When Lily finds a beautiful, big, shiny balloon she wants to keep it forever. But what if somebody else needs it more?"

This is a gentle, philosophical book which guides us towards looking beyond ourselves to see the bigger picture. Lily loses her balloon, but her spirits soar as she watches it drift out towards the clouds, 'dancing on the wind'.  The balloon's journey raises the spirits of two other children, each unaware of the balloon's overall 'story', of who it will encounter and what its future will be.

This is a perfect book for talking about how we are all connected, the deeper meaning of objects, and how our actions, and our journey, affect others.

Talented illustrator Helene Magisson has created wonderful illustrations, which are gentle, atmospheric and well suited to the story. The spreads are lovely: varied and elegantly paced.

Lily’s Balloon won the pitching competition at the CYA Festival in 2014. Perhaps the story itself drifted a little while, until it found a home with Wombat Books. It will be interesting to see where Lily's balloon' goes next!

The Whirlpool

The Whirlpool by Emily Larkin, illustrated by Helene Magisson (Wombat Books) HB

ISBN 9781925563047

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

‘I think it’s important for kids to know that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions,’ says author, Emily Larkin. ‘It’s okay to feel lonely, sad or uncertain—but these times don’t have to last.’ This lovely picture book is aimed at helping primary aged children navigate their way through the ups and downs of life.     

The hero is an adorable polar bear cub. In the early pages the cub feels brave and adventurous. The illustrations are correspondingly bright, happy and fun. Then, for really no reason, the cub becomes sad and feels lonely ( ‘…Without warning the world seems closed. No one wants to know you.’)  The pictures here are navy blue and grey, with lots of wide empty spaces on the page.  A positive connection with nature and the support of family helps the little bear regain a sense of hope.

Helene Magisson’s pictures compliment exactly the gentle, emotive story. There are a number of recurring images for adults and children to discuss. What does the key signify? Why are the colours in the family photo brighter at the end of the book? How does the tree in the photo change? What does the bear’s scarf represent?

The text, generally, is clear and unambiguous. One sentence might confuse young readers (‘Only doubts are within your grasp’) but could, perhaps, offer  another chance for discussion.

Included is a useful page of Notes for Parents, Teachers and Carers written by a clinical psychologist. This adds to an understanding of the theme - that the emotional roller-coaster, described as ‘The Whirlpool’, is a normal part of life’s journey. 

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!).

The Night before Christmas

The Night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Helene Magisson,  (New Frontier Publishing) PB RRP: $24.99 ISBN 9781925059700

Reviewed by Rebecca Newman

This picture book features the text of the famous poem with illustrations by Helen Magisson. The text will be familiar to many adults and is easy and satisfying to read aloud.

Magisson’s illustrations have that special Christmas glow, with the colours of a traditional northern-hemisphere winter — candy cane reds, aqua-white snow, and a liberal sprinkling of snowflake dots over everything outdoors. There are illustrative details in the bottom corners of many of the pages to reward the attentive young reader. (I like the wind-up ballerina, and the household cat chasing a wind-up mouse.)

The Night Before Christmas evokes all the excitement of an old-fashioned childhood Christmas and would be a lovely addition to a child’s Christmas picture book collection.