Milo: A Moving Story written & illustrated by Tohby
Riddle (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN 9781760111632
Reviewed by
Dianne Bates
‘Milo led an
ordinary life. He lived in a solid kennel in an okay part of town and had few
complaints.’ Thus begins this new picture book by well-loved Australian book
creator, Tohby Riddle. Milo is an anthromorphised dog with friends and a job as
a messenger which takes him across town.
One night Milo has a dream which
leaves him unsettled and gruff with his poet friend Snombo. That day a ‘largish
rabble of moths fluttered by’ followed by other odd things. When Milo awakens
the next day, he discovers his kennel has moved and is now perched on a ledge
of a skyscraper. Enter a bird named Carlos…
This is an
odd book which has a kind of surreal feel about it. It ends strangely, too,
with this reviewer not sure what the ending means. Is this a story about the
power of dreams, about the effect of dreams and of change or the value of
strangers and of friendship? Perhaps it is all of these things. What is for
sure is that this book captures one’s attention.
The
illustrations, which use darkish tones throughout, are eye-catching and worth
studying from the fly pages where Milo is pursued by this dog friends to those
pages where Riddle incorporates photos, such as of ancient buildings. The views
from the top of the skyscraper of the city below are excellent! It would seem
that the images are created by computer and yet they seem natural and
enchanting.
Towards the
end of the book, Milo, back in his old home territory, thinks ‘Isn’t life a
mystery?’ Just like this book!
