Bill and the Dream Angel

Bill and the Dream Angel by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker, illustrated by Jane Ray (Pan MacMillan Australia) ISBN 978-1-5290-5119-3 RRP $26.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Bill and the Dream Angel is a picture book about Guardian Angels, moving house and overcoming one’s fears. It tells the story of Bill, who moves with his family to the country, where he has a larger room and lots of space to play football in the garden. However, at night he sees a large pair of eyes staring back at him from outside his window, which freaks him out (not surprisingly). Even though his mum tells him there are no such thing as monsters, he wants to go home to their old flat in the city. The story shifts to Destiny the dream angel, who sees from on high what is really going on. Through influencing people’s dreams, she helps Bill to see that the eyes belong to a family of owls who live in the roof. Once this is explained, Bill is no longer afraid.

This attractive picture book is a generous length of fifty-two pages, with several double-spread pages of illustrations only. The pictures are colourful with lots of detail, depicting the English countryside, the new house, Destiny the Dream Angel, and the owls that live in the roof. A Guardian Angel bookmark is attached to the book with a ribbon. This is a book for early primary children, rather than preschoolers, given the larger number of words and the theme of facing your anxieties.

The authors are a mother and son: prolific adult writer Lucinda Riley (who died in the summer of 2021) and her son Harry Whittaker, a BBC presenter. Bill and the Dream Angel is based on stories Lucinda used to tell Harry, when he was a child growing up in Ireland. It is part of a series of Guardian Angel books including Grace and the Christmas Angel and Rosie and the Friendship Angel.

Ahmed and the Feather Girl

Ahmed and the Feather Girl by Jane Ray (Walker Books)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9781847803535

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Following her stunning illustrative work Greek Myths of Sally Pomme Clayton’s text, Jane Ray has created a fairytale all her own.

Ahmed is an orphan boy who lives and travels with a circus. Hard work is familiar to him. He finds a golden egg and watches as it grows and hatches. A girl child is born and Aurelia becomes the feature for a larger circus audience. As she grows, feathers sprout from her body. People flock to see the feathered child in a golden cage.

Ahmed and Aurelia form a special bond. When feathers fully cover her, Aurelia begs Ahmed to set her free. This is not easy. But he does so, and she flies into the clouds.

Each night Aurelia visits the boy in his dreams and leaves behind a coloured feather. These he collects till he too has a cloak of feathers, which will lift him up into the sky.

This tale can be deconstructed as carrying themes of child abuse and deprivation for monetary gain. Or it can be left alone amidst its beautiful illustrations, reflecting fantasy and childish innocence alive and well, threaded with themes of friendship and freedom, and the longing for a new life.

Greek Myths: Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea

Greek Myths: Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea by Sally Pomme Clayton, illustrated by Jane Ray (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
HC RRP $ 32.95
ISBN 9781847802279
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Here again are wonderful tales of Ancient Greece, eternal myths and legends used throughout time to enrich many writings. Told in a warm and simple way, the stories are supported by the stunning artistry of acclaimed illustrator, Jane Ray. This exciting new production in a deluxe edition with jacket cover is the ideal introduction to Greek Myths for children.

Tales of Creation, told and retold tales about gods, giants, great feats and challenges, include the greed of Midas, the defeat of Medusa and Chimera. Each is inspired by the Greek sky, sea, sun and stone.

At the end of each chapter there is a fact on the still existing places that can be visited and explored. These are not only informative, historical and educational facts, but they give birth to a longing to be there, and see what has been described; to experience the invisible aura that surrounds these places.

There is an Index of Gods and heroes, and a list of sources for further reading.

The author, Sally Pomme Clayton, founded the Company of Storytellers and tours Britain performing.