A pile of picture books
Title: Alphabetical Tashi
Author: Anna and Barbara Fienberg
Illustrator: Kim Gamble, Arielle and Greer Gamble
Title: Old man Emu
Author: John Williamson
Illustrator: Simon McLean
Title: A walk like no other
Author: Lara Bury
Illustrator: Anahit Aleksanyan
Title: The great realisation
Author: Tomos Roberts
Illustrator: Nomoco
Title: What we’ll build
Author: Oliver Jeffers
Title: The Tree
Author: Graeme Base
Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.
I’ve been reading a bunch of picture books today – all lovely for different reasons!
I’ve always loved Tashi by Anna Fienberg, and this exploration of the alphabet provides some beautifully illustrated glimpses of some beloved Tashi characters. A wonderful way to reinforce alphabetical knowledge, with a lovely narrative tour of the Tashi universe. An utter joy.
I’m sure most Australians are familiar with Old Man Emu, and this illustrated version is super fun – I couldn’t help but sing along as I was reading through it! I genuinely laughed out loud at the kangaroo with a tan line once he loses his pants. Super cute.
My friend Lara has just had her first picture book published. I know it’s been something she’s wanted to do for ages, and I’m so proud of her! A Walk Like No Other follows Sapphire as she races home, wanting to be first but also getting distracted by all the exciting things happening in her neighbourhood. Cute and colourful illustrations, and a lovely message about running your own race.
I love Oliver Jeffers’ work, and What We’ll Build is a beautiful story of a parent and child building their future together. As is common with Jeffers’ work, it’s deceptively simple but speaks deeply and powerfully to the kind of world we want to live in – nurturing, accepting, protective and forgiving. So wonderful.
The Great Realisation started life as a poem on YouTube about what we can learn from a time of crisis. A response to Covid, and a call to reflect on what truly matters to us as individuals and as a society. The illustrations are stunning – this one is definitely going into my permanent collection.
And finally, The Tree by Graeme Base. It goes without saying that the illustrations in this are photorealistic magnificence. The story ties nicely with the themes of the other two books in this post – Cow and Duck both live in the same tree, one in the roots and the other up high in the canopy. When a big storm comes, they try to protect their home, but are suspicious of each other. Can they find a way to live together in peace?
If you’re after some great fun read-aloud books, the first three are for you. If you are looking for some picture books to add to a collection which reflects the positive benefits of a diverse and harmonious society, accepting of differences and nurturing the world around us, then the last three would all be great additions.
#TamaraReads #2020readingchallenge 80-85/100
Happy reading,
