Downtown Sewertown

Downtown Sewertown by Tull Suwannakit (Ford Street Publishing) PB RRP $17.95 ISBN: 9781922696250

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

When the animals’ woodland home is destroyed by diggers, they need to find a new place to reside – so they move into the dirty Downtown Sewer. The animals sweep and rub and mop and scrub until the sewer becomes ‘a haven full of promise’ that they name Sewertown. But when the humans find this underground paradise and threaten to evict the animals, one brave girl speaks up for the creatures. Soon the ‘furries’ and the ‘smoothskins’ learn to live together peacefully.

Told in rhyming couplets, Tull Suwannakit’s imaginative story scurries along like a rat up a drainpipe. It’s brimming with brilliant themes for kids aged four to eight years, from the importance of empathy and kindness to the value of caring for the natural realm. Youngsters will be emboldened by the brave girl to stand up for their own beliefs and make a positive change in their world.

Tull has used watercolour paint and coloured pencils on cotton-rag paper to render his illustrations, and this gives his images both depth and texture. Dainty hues dance whimsically across the detailed spreads, while large animal eyes draw young readers directly into the centre of the emotion on each page.

Glowing with hope and happiness, Downtown Sewertown is an ode to the joy of living life in harmony with nature and with one another. The merry medley of text and images is sure to keep kids coming back to the book again and again.

The Little Stowaway: a true story

The Little Stowaway: a true story written by Vicki Bennet, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit (Scholastic) ISBN 978 1 74299 307 2  RRP $ 24.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Set during the first World War, The Little Stowaway tells the real story of a young French orphan named Honoré and an Australian airman called Tim. When he finds the boy cold and hungry, Tim takes him in. He calls him Young Digger and teaches him to ice skate and box. With a stray dog called Fella, Honoré makes himself useful, becoming the official rat catcher for the Australian Flying Corps. Then when the war finishes, Tim smuggles Honoré home to Australia so he can adopt him into his family.

The story tells from a child’s perspective, the effects of war and the kindness of strangers. There’s a bit of action in the middle of the book where Tim smuggles Honoré onboard a ship – first across the English Channel to France and then sailing all the way to Australia. Honoré is hidden in a basket and then a bag (hence the name the Stowaway). When he is let out, there’s a lovely double page spread showing the ocean with all its freedom and peace. And the happy ending where Honoré becomes part of Tim’s family is great because it is true.

With sepia tinted pages, the illustrations are a mix of drawings and old photos provided by the real family. The muted tones of the pencil and watercolour pictures blend in well with the old black and white photos. Showing the army barracks, the planes, soldiers in uniform and the ship home, the photos add to the sense of history.

Vicki Bennett teamed up with Tull Suwannakit for a book that came out earlier in the year called The Flying Angel, set around a similar time (just after the First World War). Their most recent book, The Little Stowaway, is suitable for primary school students.

 

Happy Hoppy Home

Happy Hoppy Home by Tull Suwannakit (Scholastic) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781742999937

Reviewed by Wendy Haynes

Papa Hare wants what is best for his family and when his four children being to complain about their crowded burrow, he finds a solution. ‘We’ve moving!’ This story follows a family of Hares as they go in search of their new and bigger home. The whole family is excited as Papa Hare leads the way with some interesting twists and turns along the way. Before long they find what seems to be the prefect home. But is it?

This is a calm, quiet book, perfect for bedtime with emotive illustrations, some in vignette, adding that extra layer of storytelling in soft earthy tones. It explores family and how different each and every one of us are. And how sometimes change isn’t what you expect it to be. It reflects a close knit growing family and their journey to realising what they really want – a cosy happy family.

This is a heart-warming story for ages 3+ about the delights of family and togetherness and is a touching tribute to single fathers.

The Flying Angel

 

The Flying Angel by Vicki Bennett, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit (Scholastic) PB RRP $24.99 978 1 74383 551 7

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Flying Angel is a picture book inspired by the remarkable life of Sister Marie Eileen Craig. She was a nurse to soldiers on the frontline in Papua New Guinea. The nurses were known as Flying Angels and helped transport injured soldiers back to Australia. This book shines a light upon the important contribution of the Flying Angels during war.

Vicki Bennett is a best-selling author, who has a passion for Australian history. She wrote the award-winning picture book The Little Stowaway. Vicki’s voice captures the emotion of World War Two with a certain gentleness. She doesn’t shy away from the sadness of war but leaves the reader with a clear understanding of its impact. As we follow Marie’s life, the theme of nursing is woven into the story from the start to the finish. The text gives a voice to Marie and we are shown a window into her world. It is as if Marie is speaking to us through the text.

This story favours longer sentences to give the reader time to absorb the story and fully appreciate its message. Dialogue is used sparingly but to great effect. I love how the story ends, with the impact of Marie’s actions upon the lives of soldiers lovingly conveyed. The reader is left satisfied and knows that Marie saved lives during World War Two and that is what she set out to do.

The illustrations, by Tull Suwannakit, capture the mood and tone of this story. The cover clearly shows that this is an historical picture book with the image of Marie in her nurse’s uniform and a red poppy. Her eyes call the reader inside. The endpapers of photographs, objects and sketches depict the Flying Angels and early parts of Marie’s life. Although the cover and endpapers are in the colours of the era, the rest of the story is illustrated in muted tones of sepia, greys, creams, and blacks with the odd splash of red, for the red cross symbol and fire. This allows the reader to feel the impact of war and its seriousness. But it’s also like looking through a lens back in time to an era when photographs were in black and white. The use of perspective in the spreads dramatize the events and feelings of Marie. Tull cleverly brings in a touch of diversity with an indigenous nurse helping to unload Alfred from the back of a truck. The text and illustrations are a perfect match in this book.

 This is a picture book for children 4 years and older. Schools are seeking books that showcase the role of Australian women in war and this book fills that hole. It brings an important part of Australian history to life and it is a wonderful book for any Australian child to understand another part of our war history. It is a special picture book.

Book review of Heart and Soul

Heart And Soul by Carol Ann Martin & Tull Suwannakit
Scholastic AU RRP $24.99 AUD (Hardback)

I was so excited to see a new title from Carol Ann Martin on my review pile this month. Her hilarious Underneath A Cow has had more than its fair share of reads by Team Charming over the years. What’s more, she generously donated a story to Library For All (my day job!) which has now been shared with thousands of kids in education programs around Papua New Guinea, Laos and Timor-Leste. Let’s just say I’m a fan!

But all of that aside, there is something quite special about Heart And Soul.  My Mr 8 is a good reader and is usually drawn more to Middle Grade action than picture books these days, but this one made him well up! Evocative illustrations with a sentimental, Christmas-y feel bring to life a gentle story about loyalty, friendship and music.   

Elderly Charlie Wintergreen rescues scrappy pup Louis from the dogs’ home. They build a cosy life together, particularly enjoying Charlie’s trumpet skills. As Charlie plays, Louis sings – always with heart and soul. But one day an ambulance comes to take Charlie away, and he doesn’t return. Louis is back to being a no-name, no-home pup…until he hears someone else playing the trumpet.

Young readers may find this an emotional journey, but it does have a happy ending with positive messages about resilience, tenacity and the notion that ‘home’ and ‘family’ can come in all different shapes and sizes. And, most importantly, a reminder to put your heart and soul into everything you do.

Sad, the Dog

Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 24.95

ISBN 9781921529641

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Sandy Fussell, author of the outstanding Samurai Kids series, has created her first children’s picture book. And what a debut! She makes an impression with strong messages, fantastic characters and moving themes.

Perception is everything for Sad the dog. How he perceives himself and his actions is in total contrast to how his owners, the Cripps, perceive things. ‘Hey, you!’ and ‘Dog!’ is what they call him. Unwanted and unnamed, he passes his days in an emotionless environment. His presence is barely tolerated. He is reprimanded continuously for simply doing dog things. Though he is fed and kept clean, he isn’t loved. He calls himself Sad.

One day Mr and Mrs Cripps simply pack up everything and drive away, leaving Sad alone and distraught at the house.

The arrival of a new family the following day makes Sad afraid, even when the young boy Jack, smiles at him. That night Jack introduces himself to the dog, and lays a path of dog biscuits that lead to a comfy bed. Next day the boy is still kind. Sad can tell by his tickling hand behind his ear. Jack plays with him. They dig in the yard and sail in boxes on dry land. And when Sad barks, no one reprimands him. Sad hears Jack name him Lucky, and knows his days of sadness are over.

Addressing themes of loneliness, friendship and love, this brilliant debut picture book gives the promise of new beginnings, both in the character’s and the writer’s life. Thai illustrator Tull Suwannakit’s second book with an Australian publisher is sure to set his career on fire, due to this exceptional translation of Fussell’s text.

Muted shades of brown, green and ochre, dominate the watercolour illustrations. The full page artwork enhances the emotional expressions on the character’s faces. The harshness of Sad’s keepers is perfectly portrayed in strong, sharp lines of their facial expressions and body language. The boy’s adoration for the dog he sees as a gift that came with the house and a new life is depicted in every scene. Simply perfect!

Sad, the Dog

Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell, illustrations by Tull Suwannakit (Walker Books Australia) HB RRP $31.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The cover of this picture book for readers aged 6+ years is gloomy, and like the dog depicted, it looks sad. An unwanted Christmas present, the nameless dog is looked after competently by an elderly couple, but they don’t really care about it. They are so disinterested in the dog that when they move house, they dump poor Sad.

Happily, life is not always gloom and sadness; there is always hope. And, into the neglected dog’s life comes a new chance at happiness in the shape of a small boy. Jack cares for his new, adopted pet in the way any pet ought to be cared for and by the end of this story this now lucky dog Sad has a new name.

The author, Sandy Fussell, is well-known for her immensely popular Samurai Kids junior novel series, and other prize-winning novels; this is her first picture book. It’s sure to be a winner. The story is told in clear, simple words that are wonderful for reading aloud, especially by a parent to a child; the watercolour illustrations perfectly match the tone of the story.

Offering hope to anyone is probably the best gift anyone can give another, and this book certainly offers a loveless dog much hope by story’s end.