Song of the Golden Hare

Song of the Golden Hare by Jackie Morris (Frances Lincoln/Walker Books)
HC RRP $27.95
ISBN 9781847804501
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

I confess that I’m a passionate fan of Jackie Morris’ work. Her art is beguiling and there is a sense of complete union with her subjects reflected in everything she creates. She seems to become one with nature. Everything she sees stays with her to be turned into something unforgettable for the world to enjoy.

Song of the Golden Hare is a singular and breathtaking book. The poetic prose tells of a family that adores hares. Their magical song is sung once in fifty years when a new queen is to be chosen. When others are setting their hounds on them for sport, the family is dedicated to keeping the old queen safe to ensure she will cross to the Island of the Golden Hare.

But the boy longs to hear the song of the golden hare; to catch the sound and play it on his harp. This is the tale of when the hares moved and the children followed from east to west, to catch the song of the golden hare. The boy ‘listened with his ears… and with his heart’. He wanted to replicate the sound, but he had left his harp at home.

But as with all invaluable things, someone wants to own the golden hare’s pelt.

With tears in my eyes I end this magnificent book. Not since Margaret Wild’s Fox have I been so deeply moved by a picture book. It is a stunning work of art in every sense.

After writing this book ‘Jackie discovered there is a real island off the shores of Britain… Rathlin Island, where golden hares can be found. It is believed that there are only two of them’.

Tales from the Waterhole

Tales from the Waterhole by Bob Graham (Candlewick)
PB RRP $11.95
ISBN 9780763668761
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Tales from the Waterhole comes from fantastic Candlewick Sparks series for those just beginning to read. There are 27 books in the series written and illustrated by popular authors, using loved and known characters.

This four chapter book offers short stories with Morris and his animal friends that live around the waterhole of the African savannah.

Bob Graham’s easily identifiable watercolours bring to life the animals’ antics, their fun-loving characters, and the theme of friendship within a perfect blend of illustration and simple prose.

This series is produced in a new edition which is smaller than the normal sized picture book, and will fit neatly on any child’s book case.

The Simple Things

The Simple Things by Bill Condon, illustrated by Beth Norling (Allen and Unwin)
Price: AUD $12.99
ISBN: 9781743317242
Reviewed by Jenny Mounfield

Reading age: 8-108

The Simple Things is possibly the simplest, yet most deceptively deep book I have read in a long time, which makes it incredibly difficult to review. Norling’s beautiful cover art and internal illustrations add an extra layer of contrast to the emotional impact of this book. As a whole, I is a magical mix of simplicity and complexity.

It is with the greatest pleasure I introduce Stephen: (Excerpt page 3.)

“Ever since I can remember, at Christmas and on my birthday, Aunty Lola has sent  me her love and ten dollars.  She’s really my great-aunt, but her Christmas and birthday cards always say ‘Love from Aunty Lola’. I’ve never met her before because she lives a long way from my home in the city. To me, the most real thing about her is that ten dollars.” 

Ten-year old Stephen is spending three weeks with his cantankerous Aunt Lola. He is certain it will be the longest and most boring three weeks of his life. But as he is about to discover there is more to life than TV and electronic games. During his stay he learns about life—and death—and everything in between, finds friends where he least expects to, and reminds an old woman how it feels to be alive.

Stephen’s refreshingly frank view of the world is a balm for hearts young and old—as is the banter between him and his aunt: (Excerpt page 45—After Stephen plays a trick on Aunt Lola.)

“Now my bottom lip trembles. I bite down on it but I can’t make it stop.
‘I’m really, really sorry.’
‘Only one really per sentence. I told you about that. Have you forgotten?’
‘Sorry.’
‘And I’ve had quite enough of this sorry business, too.’
‘Sorr—’ I stop myself, just in time.
‘It’s over now.’ Aunty Lola’s voice is still sharp and pointy like a cactus., but not quite as much as before. ‘We all make mistakes.’
‘Even you, Aunty Lola?’
‘Not as many as you.’”

Condon’s gift is that he doesn’t write stories so much as he writes characters who then share their lives with the world.  If he were to announce tomorrow that he is some sort of New Age medium who channels the souls of real people, I would have no trouble believing him.  Stephen, his parents, Aunt Lola, Allie and her pop are all so alive that I feel I’ve met them in person.

The Simple Things is a lesson in life for readers of all ages. I strongly urge parents and teachers buying this title for their kids to take a moment to read it first. I guarantee you’ll be richer for the experience.

Jenny Mounfield is the author of four books and several short stories for young people. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and two of her three grown children.

The Matchbox Diary

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Walker Books)
HB RRP $27.95
ISBN 9781406343779
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Newbery Medalist, Paul Fleishman is back with another impressive publication. The incredible beauty of this new book on the migrant experience is overwhelming. Its outstanding and detailed illustrations in acrylic gouache that accompany the emotive text, alternate between full colour and demure shades of black, brown and ochre, and visually express the struggle that formed migrant lives in the early migratory years. Reminiscent of Susanne Gervay’s Ships in the Field, The Matchbox Diary is a must for collectors of extraordinary picture books.

Great-grandfather is a collector of memories. “Pick whatever you like the most, and I will tell you its story”, he tells his great-granddaughter as she looks at all the items that decorate his home. She chooses a cigar box filled with matchboxes. Unable to read or write when he set out from Italy to America as a child, he diarised his life in these discarded matchboxes.

There was the olive pit that his mother gave him to suck when he was hungry and there was no food to eat. The folded photograph of his father helped him to remember what father looked like after he migrated to America and they waited for him to send for the rest of the family. A nib of a pen, reminded him of the schoolmaster’s son who read them his father’s letters; letters that were written for him by someone else.

 A piece of macaroni was the memory of the year there was no rain, so there was no macaroni. That was the year the tickets came for the family to sail to America at last. A lady’s decorative hair pin brought to mind the journey on the ship. The pin had fallen down from the upper deck where the rich people stood and looked out at the horizon. These and more, made up the valuable diary that documented his life for his progeny to learn about.