Too Many Acorns

Too Many Acorns by Susannah Crispe (EK Books), RRP $24.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781922-539748

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

A young boy, Patrick, finds an acorn which feels warm and smooth in his hand. When he picks up another, he feels something inside him grow. Soon he becomes an obsessive collector and can’t stop, finding all sorts of places at home to store his stash. That’s until his home is consumed by an avalanche of acorns and Dad’s at his wits’ end. 

Too Many Acorns is a subtle picture book about dealing with grief, which you wouldn’t guess from the title or the front cover. Patrick is collecting excessive quantities of acorns to compensate for his loss and resulting sadness. Despite the damage that the acorn avalanche does to his home, this event is the trigger that Patrick needs to start mending the damage to his heart.

I must admit that I didn’t read the blurb before reading this story with my kids, and I’m glad I didn’t. The author/illustrator purposely keeps us in the dark about what is driving Patrick’s obsession and when we got to the climax, my kids felt clever that they’d worked out the reason why Patrick felt the way he did by identifying the clues in the illustrations. This is a thoughtful read for kids aged 4 to 7 to explore feelings associated with losing something precious

The Real Cowgirl

The Real Cowgirl by Isabelle Duff, illustrated by Susannah Crispe (EK Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922539687

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Making friends is tough and school can be a lonely place. For Sal, this is especially the case when you’d rather just be riding your horse alongside your family’s cattle than going to school. But as Sal learns, sometimes if you share just a bit of yourself, you can find connection.

The ‘twist’ in this book feels like it should be obvious from the outset but somehow comes as a lovely surprise around halfway through, as we realise that Sal’s horse is the narrator. This device manages to maintain a level of proximity alongside observations which don’t feel patronising.

The story reinforces rich imagery in the text with charming, pastel watercolour illustrations. While a predictable plot and flat characters mean it is unlikely to stay with the reader for long or have them picking it up again and again, it is a worthwhile expression of hope and the value of putting yourself out into the world.

This is a heartwarming book which offers value for junior primary students struggling to come out of their shell and make friends at school.

Under the Moonlight

Under the Moonlight by Susannah Crispe (author-illustrator), Hachette Australia (due 27 April 2022).

Meet Moose, an enormous, brave and solitary moose, with nothing to fear. Unfortunately for Moose, his tranquil sleep is about to be shattered by a fright in the night. Follow Moose as he shows great bravery in facing his fears and investigating the source of the night-time fright.

Under the Moonlight started from a simple rhyme I made up while chatting to my husband after a trip to Scandinavia. It started with 'under the moonlight, a moose got a fright' and after rewriting it several times over several years and whispering different versions of it to my sleeping baby, I finally had a story.

During my writing process, I started painting a few character sketches and shared them on Instagram. I noticed a publisher from Hachette had 'liked' them, so once my manuscript was polished, I sent her a message and she invited me to submit it directly to her. 

Cookie

Cookie by Isabelle Duff & Susannah Crispe (EK Books) PB HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 978 1 925820959 

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks 

Cookie is small dog that arrives into Girl’s life when she needs a friend to tuck into a cuddle and help chase the sad away.

 

Isabelle Duff gently and sensitively explores sadness. It is a topic that is often misunderstood and it can be hard to understand. I particularly love that this story as told through the eyes of Cookie, a small dog. The perspective is clever and allows the use of simple language with a mix of short and longer sentences to great effect. Girl was warm and good to lick…And she had a ball. The child reader understands that feelings are being explored but the text cleverly matches their level of understanding and concept development. It shows that when sadness hangs around you can cope with love and understanding. Girl tried to play. But she was too sad. So, we cuddled instead. Cookie is a friend who takes Girl for lots of walks, shares cuddles, gives love, and licks her happy again. I helped so much Girl got happier. And everyone is happier when girl is happier. Especially me. The voice in this story is fresh and unique. It speaks clearly to the reader and delivers a strong message about how love and friendship can help you cope with sadness.

 

Susannah Crispe’s playful, pastel watercolour illustrations are a perfect match for this text. Her use of perspective which zooms in and out on Girl and Cookie depicts their strong bond of love beautifully. The personality of each character shines in their facial expressions and body movements. Crispe clearly understands that the unspoken speaks just as loudly to the reader. I love the spread that shows Girl and Cookie cuddling together when Girl is in a moment of sadness. There is much heart and warmth that shows the love of Girl and Cookie. The endpapers add to the story with the family scattered amongst the trees at the start of the book and together as a family at the end.

 

Cookie is a picture book for children three years and up that allows a child reader to take as much or as little as they need about sadness from this book. It is also a book for dog-loving families. Cookie is a wonderful resource to bring attention to depression and anxiety that can be used by parents, teachers or health professionals. Cookie is a picture book that is filled with much heart, hope and love that is well told.

Where the Heart Is

Where the Heart Is by Irma Gold, illustrated by Susannah Crispe (EK Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925820874

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Dindim the penguin chick becomes part of Joao’s life after washing up on a beach near his home, the victim of an oil spill disaster. Rehabilitated slowly and lovingly, Dindim grows into adulthood, before heading back out to sea. After a long journey discovering a community of other penguins and the joys and dangers of the ocean, Dindim finds his way back to Joao. 

What gives this book its depth is the fact that it is based on a true story, as we are told in the introduction to the story. Since recovering from the catastrophic 2011 oil spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Dindim the penguin has spent eight months of each year with his rescuer Joao. The rest of the time he visits the tip of South America, a trip of 8000 kilometres.

There is little need to varnish such an extraordinary tale, and this book does a lovely job of relating the story for a young audience. The gentle watercolours perfectly illustrate the environment and emotional landscape, combining impactful double spreads with cute vignettes.  The penguins are rendered with character and dynamism. 

A beautiful story of the connection possible between humans and nature, Where the Heart Is will touch the hearts of children aged from 3 years.