Pablo Neruda Book of Questions illustrated by Paloma Valdivia translated by Sara Lissa Paulson

Where does the stuff of dreams go? 

Does it pass into the dreams of others?

I am a fan of books with questions (and sometimes even answers). This book has some incredible and possibly unanswerable questions that might spark some philosophical discussions with your students in all grades. Here are a few of the questions selected for this book from 39 of the original poems that I enjoyed thinking about:

Who shouted for joy when the colour blue was born?

Do unshed tears wait in little lakes?

How did the abandoned bicycle find its freedom?

Does smoke strike up a conversation with clouds?

What knowledge is in the bee for it to figure out its itinerary?

Why don't they teach helicopters how to draw honey from the sun?

And what do you call that month between December and January?

See more art from Pablo Neruda Book of Questions

The text on this page says:

What do you call a flower that flits from bird to bird? 

Which birds dictate the order of the flock while it flies?

Editor's Note: "We hope that you enjoy these questions, and that, however they arrive for each of you, they come as a reminder of the vastness of our unknowing and a call to passionate engagement in endlessly re-envisioning the world."

Wait until you see the COVER of this book.  My image above does not do it justice. All of the printing is on a clear overlay and then when you lift this off you see the amazing illustration which stretches across the front and back covers.

With a clear acetate jacket with striking green lettering (an homage to Neruda’s affinity for writing in green ink, which he saw as the color of hope), this edition contains six magnificent gatefold spreads that lift to reveal more questions and expanded illustrations, inviting readers into deeper and deeper reflection. Enchanted Lion

Read more about this book and especially about the creation of the illustrations here. 

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was known as a poet and ambassador of the Chilean people. During a time of social upheaval, he traveled the world as a diplomat and an exile, served as a Senator for the Chilean Communist Party, and published more than 35,000 pages of poetry in his native Spanish. Here are a few quick facts:

• Pablo Neruda was the pen name of Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto
• He published his first poems when he was 13
• A Czech poet, Jan Neruda (1834-1891), inspired the young poet and so he took his last name
• He received numerous prestigious awards, including the International Peace Prize in 1950, the Lenin Peace Prize and the Stalin Peace Prize in 1953, and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971
• Neruda occupied many diplomatic positions in various countries during his lifetime and served a term as a Senator for the Chilean Communist Party
• When Neruda died in 1973, The Book of Questions was one of eight unpublished poetry manuscripts that lay on his desk

El libro de las preguntas (The Book of Questions) contains:

"320 unanswerable questions, these poems integrate the wonder of a child with the experiences of an adult. By turns Orphic, comic, surreal, and poignant, Neruda’s questions lead the reader beyond reason into realms of intuition and pure imagination. In his introduction, O’Daly writes, “These poems, more so than any of Neruda’s other work, remind us that living in a state of visionary surrender to the elemental questions, free of the quiet desperation of clinging too tightly to answers, may be our greatest act of faith.”

The 320 questions in the original book were presented in a sequence of 74 poems each containing three to six questions for a total of 320 questions. 

"What Neruda shares with us as an old man isn't the arrival of truth, but the astonishing freedom of a curious mind that dares to reimagine the world again and again."

Here is the English edition of his book (for adults):

Awards for Pablo Neruda Book of Questions illustrated by Paloma Valdivia:

• Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the 21st Century (So Far)
• NYT Best Children’s Book of 2022
• Marginalian (aka Brain Pickings) Favorite Book of 2022
• Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of 2023, Outstanding Merit
• 2023 Bologna Ragazzi Award Amazing Bookshelf Selection

How did I find Pablo Neruda Book of Questions? I borrowed an odd little book from a library illustrated by Paloma Valdivia. At first I was unfamiliar with this name but digging deeper I found she was a Hans Chrsitian Andersen nominee in 2024 and that she comes from Chile. A few years ago our IBBY Australia group met up with an IBBY delegate from Chile and we were able to show her our NSW State Library children's book exhibition. Investigating the art of Palmoa Valdivia I saw this book cover and a few of the pages and I was intrigued. Then I saw this AUS$35 book was reduced to AUS$28 so I decided to buy it!

I have no expertise about Pablo Neruda but by chance I recently talked about this book which is a biography suitable for readers aged 7+ and which I was shown when we were hosting our visitor from Chile:

Pablo Neruda Poet of the People

Martin and Anne by Nancy Churnin illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg

Subtitle - The Kindred Spirits of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank

What interests me even more than what someone does with his or her life is what is in his or her heart, what that person aims to do. What caught my breath and filled me with wonder 

is how both Dr. King and Anne Frank responded to the hatred and cruelty 

they faced from the time they were born. It would have been understandable if they answered hate with hate. Instead, incredibly, they maintained faith and love in humanity. 

Both believed in justice and kindness and the essential goodness of the human spirit. 

Nerdy Book Club

Martin and Anne shows the links between these two lives. Both were born in 1929. Both experienced discrimination and unkindness and dreadful hatred in their lives. Both left us an important legacy of their words about peace and generosity and equality.

Compare their lives:

Martin has to go to a different school from his friend.

Anne's family flee Germany and move to Holland. After the Nazi's invade, Anne's school is closed.

Martin's community is filled with signs that say 'Whites only'.

Anne has to wear a yellow star and she cannot buy an ice cream or see a movie.

Martin, even as a young boy, is good at making speeches.

Anne has plenty to say and she does this in her diary because her family have had to go into hiding.

"Martin decided to become a minister who would lead his people to stand for justice."
"Even with all the hate around her, Anne believed that people were really good at heart."

Martin won the Nobel Peace Prize when he was 35. He was killed when he was just 39.

Anne died aged 15 but her diary became a worldwide best seller.

A surprisingly successful and enlightening combination strengthened by striking artwork. Kirkus

Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning author/illustrator, painter, and stage designer. Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya's Secret Society, received a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Award. She’s an author/illustrator of Typewriter and Mona Lisa In New York.  Her latest book, I Hate Borsch!, is the Gold Winner of the 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards. Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she now lives in New York City.

Nancy Churnin is a children’s book author who writes about people that have made the world better and inspire kids to be heroes and heroines, too. Additional honors include the 2021 National Jewish Book Award; 2022 Sydney Taylor Honor and Sydney Taylor Notables in 2022 and 2019; four Social Studies Notable Trade Books for Young People; the 2018 South Asia Book Award; two Children and Teen’s Choice Book Awards finalists; two Junior Library Guild selections; starred reviews from School Library Journal; Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and multiple state book lists. She lives in Texas.

I first spied this book, Anne and Frank, in 2021 (it was published in 2019) and so I have had it on my 'wish list' for five years. Every so often I check the price which unfortunately never seems to come down.  I am collecting and purchasing books for a presentation at a forthcoming Teacher-Librarian conference. Yes, I have probably spent way too much of my own money (over AUS$300+ so far). Martin and Anne is set at AUS$35 which is over my usual price limit but I was sure this book would be splendid, and I was right. Here are some teachers notes for Martin and Anne. In this video you can see the author Nancy Churnin. Read a Nerdy Book Club interview.

In my former school library I read other books about Anne Frank in Term Four to Grade 6 such as these:

Behind the Bookcase

And about Martin Luther King Jr and events around his life I would read these to my Grade 6 groups:

I have a post about these three books and a novel that links with them here.

It would be fantastic to share this book Martin and Anne with a group of students in your library - they could be quite young aged 7+ or up to high school level. With the youngest children I would begin by sharing these two books:

Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher…so maybe he’d become a great preacher too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn’t let him in because he was black. That day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. Martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it's wrong. And he promised himself that—when he grew up—he’d fight injustice with the most powerful weapon of all: words.

Anne Frank was born in Germany to a loving family. But when World War II broke out, Anne and her family had to hide in a secret annex in Amsterdam. Here, Anne wrote her famous diary, describing her belief in people's goodness and her hopes for peace. After the war, her diary captured the hearts of the public and she became one of the most important diarists of the 20th century. (Teacher's Guide)

It would be a brilliant lesson if your students selected two other books from the Little People Big Dreams series and, using Martin and Anne as a model, they then created their own joined story. For example Neil Armstrong and Katherine Johnson OR David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.

I previously talked about this book by Nancy Churnin:

Manjhi Moves a Mountain

Willow Bright's Secret Plot by AL Tait

Mum has died. This happened when Willow was only five years old so for many years it has just been Willow and her dad and their comforting life in rural Australia but now things have changed, and Willow has been sent to live with her Aunt Cressida and her cousin Fleur. The property where her father worked has been sold and dad is working far away hoping to save enough money so he and Willow can be reunited. 

Willow finds city life hectic and confusing. She is really struggling to fit in, and Aunt Cressida seems to have so many rules. Even worse though, her cousin Fleur is simply horrible. AL Tait describes Fleur's behaviour so well that on page 10, I just had to stop reading and take a break from this book. I do not react well to unkindness.

Back to the story. In the opening scene, there is a carnival or fete at the school. One of the attractions is the petting zoo. While Willow is standing in the line for fairy floss, a young calf escapes from the small 'zoo' enclosure. Willow is a farm girl. She knows this calf is frightened and also it is clear he is heading towards some small children playing in sand pit. Willow springs into action, she grabs a rope and lassos that renegade calf. Surely, she is hero - she saved the day - but this is not the reaction of the people in the crowd. I gasped! Reading aloud the first chapter of Willow Bright's Secret Plot could be a great way to book talk this title with your upper primary library group. You can hear AL Tait (Allison Tait) reading her chapter here.

The runaway calf could be an isolated incident, but other strange things have been happening at school. And something is going on in this community too. One thing Willow really needs is to find a quiet place with trees and nature. Taking an early morning walk each day she discovers an overgrown plot of land. The house appears to be empty. Willow makes a plan to visit this special place every morning. She thinks she could even begin to tame this wilderness but then she meets the old man who does live in the house. He does not know this, but he might be able to help with her plan to runaway back to her former home because he will pay her to restore his garden. Willow is well on track to implement her plan when unexpectedly she makes new friends, and she finds a way to navigate the changes in her life. 

There is a scene in this book that I think will linger with me - Willow tries to talk to her new friend (from page 114 onwards). Cos (short for Cosette) has already decided Willow believes Martin, Cos's brother, is guilty of the petty crimes around the neighborhood. Willow tries desperately to explain why she is visiting but she is extra nervous because her aunt has forbidden her from visiting this house. It is all so complicated. All Willow wants is to invite her new friend to help with the garden but Cos just closes the door and storms off.

The awkwardness of making friends and growing up, and learning to speak about your feelings or acknowledge them, and about finding out that people do care, and sometimes, it might take us, and everyone around us, time to understand. Because nobody can adapt to changes automatically when it comes down to it. And this book shows that sometimes, working out what to say and how to say it can be the hardest thing to do. The Book Muse

In some ways the transformation of the garden reminded me of the classic book (a firm favourite of mine) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The restoring of the garden leads to a healing of Willow and also of the garden owner Mr Belrose. I also like the double meaning you can interpret from the title and the words 'secret plot'. 

Here is a description of Mr Belrose:

"The man was older than his strength and voice suggested ...This man had wiry, white eyebrows that were almost as wild as what was left of his hair, and he was wearing a wrongly buttoned, checked pyjama shirt atop navy trousers and his boots. But he had the kind of warm, brown skin that suggested hours spent outdoors ... and the way the deep wrinkles fanned out around his blue eyes suggested he spent more time smiling than frowning."

And here is a description of why Willow enjoys her early morning solitude:

"The early morning had always been Willow's favourite time of the day. At Jack's Creek, it was the only time cool enough to walk anywhere, and it was then that Willow would stroll across the verdant grass square that surrounded the homestead, past the point where the sprinklers kept it green, and out into the wild, dusty expanse beyond."

Did you notice the word 'verdant'? I am always happy when authors use rich language in a story. 

Bookseller blurb: ‘I feel her in the breeze that makes the dahlias bob, and in the scent of the roses …’ After moving to the city from the country, Willow Bright feels like she’s lost her mum all over again―and landed on another planet. Her clothes are wrong, her taste in music is wrong, and even the food she eats is wrong. But when Willow spots a pattern in a series of puzzling accidents and mishaps, she forms an unlikely friendship―and finds new purpose. Can Willow solve the mystery and find room to be herself along the way? Or will her plot to run home to the wide-open spaces and memories of her mum land Willow in even more trouble? 

The town planning/corruption layer of Willow Bright's Secret plot made me think about a very old Australian classic book - The Battle of the Galah Trees by Christobel Mattingley (1973).   

Companion books:

Huda was here

Out of the Wild Night

The Secret library of Hummingbird House

Cicada Summer

A good day for climbing trees

Ghostlines by Katya Balen

Blurb: On the Island of Ayrie, everybody knows everyone. They know each other's stories as they know every road, every hill and the coming of the tide. In the summer, there are bonfires to celebrate the migration of the puffins. Everything is familiar, nothing much changes, and for Tilda, nothing ever should – it is beautiful, it is perfect and it is home. When newcomer Albie arrives at the island, Tilda wants to show Ayrie off – Albie wants her to leave him alone. She learns quickly that it'll take more than a tour and some seal viewings to win him around. Then, she remembers stories of the old island just an hour's boat ride away from the shore. The old island is a death trap. The journey there is treacherous. Trips across to it are strictly forbidden. And there's a rumour it's haunted by the ghosts of those left there to die. But with all else having failed, the old island is the only way for Tilda to make Albie see what she sees in Ayrie. Besides, it's a different kind of ghost that worries Tilda. The ghost that's been following her, now, since her brother left the island …

Beautifully written, this story is about family and belonging and community. It explores how you can feel lonely as a newcomer in a place with friendship networks already established. And how tough it is to accept that some things change, even when you don’t want them to. Book Trust

The island of Ayrie might be fictional but it feels as real as the book in your hands. Main character Tilda adores her island home and life there, even if everyone knows everyone and no one knocks when entering other islanders homes. What book Next

Recommended for young readers (aged 10+) who enjoy thoughtful, lyrical writing set in the great outdoors. Reading Time

"Ghostlines is an adventure story about family, friendship, belonging and community. Balen weaves humour through this first person, present tense story. Her original figurative language and use of italics for direct dialogue, immerse the reader into Tilda's perspective." Magpies Magazine March 2025

Readers aged 10+ who enjoy atmospheric stories with touches of mystery and the possibility of ghosts along with kids who put themselves into dangerous situations will enjoy Ghostlines.

"The sea is starting to shift itself and the light is fading. The story is looming and taking in a deep breath before it huffs and blows and shrieks its wild self across the islands."

Listen to an audio sample here - great Scottish accent used for the narrator. Here is a Q&A with the author and Good Reading Magazine. 

I do like the alternate cover:

I do enjoy stories set on islands (this setting feels little like Fair Isle) and of course I am crazy and puffins but, in some ways, even though this story was engrossing, the resolution sort of let me down. I cannot explain why because that would be a massive spoiler. I guess I had especially high expectations because I really enjoyed her previous books October October (four stars from me and the 2022 winner of Yoto Carnegie Medal) and Foxlight (five stars from me). Having said this book was not as good as I expected I will say Katya Balen does give her reader a strong sense of foreboding. At every turn I expected something terrible or life threatening to happen - and this kind of writing does keep you on the 'edge of your seat'.

Companion books to read after Ghostlines:

Giraffe Island

How to sail to Somewhere

Jubilee

Meet the illustrator Binny Talib

Image Source: Telerah Public School Instagram

Binny Talib has illustrated over 30 books here and internationally, ranging from picture, baby board, non-fictions and chapters. She is an award-winning children’s book illustrator. Binny was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for her illustration of Hark, It’s Me, Ruby Lee by Lisa Shanahan and this book also received an honour award by the CBCA. Binny has illustrated picture books for a range of publishers, including Scholastic, Hachette, Ladybird, Allen and Unwin, YoYo Belgium, Auzou France, Little Tiger Press (Two Sides with Polly Ho-Yen) and Oxford University Press.

Bookseller blurb: Jasper has just moved to a new school and feels invisible. Next door Juniper is afraid of creatures lurking in the shadows at night. When Juniper writes a letter to the night creatures, it mysteriously lands on Jasper's bed. Jasper knows what he must do. A story of fears, friendship and a little bit of outer space.

I went to a book launch at Gleebooks for this new book - The Letter Writer - by Binny Talib.  Congratulations to Rachel Robson always works so hard to make these events exciting for the children who come along. This Saturday morning event was packed with enthusiastic readers. And there were fun craft activities for the children and colourful cupcakes too. 

I love receiving letters and posting greeting cards. Many years ago, I set up a pen pal activity for a Grade 3 class in my school and a class in Pennsylvania - it was terrific. And in my very first year of teaching, forty years ago, I sent a letter to each of the children in my own Grade 3 class at the end of our first term together. Many of the parents commented that this was the first letter their child had ever received - this was long long before the advent of email of course. 

Here is one of my favourite books about letter writing (apart from the Jolly Postman series by Allan Ahlberg):

A Letter for Leo

I left with a few unanswered questions about Binny Talib so I did some internet digging tonight.

Unanswered questions:

• Is her name Binny short for a longer name such as Benita?
• How did illustrating for other authors help you on your own journey to becoming an author/illustrator?
• Her early books just used the name Binny - why did she change this?
• Does she write letters herself and post them in envelopes? Do you think this is still a good form of communication? A project between school classes inspired by this book was mentioned this morning but I have not been able to find a web link about this to share. 
• Binny gave the children, who had their book signed, a gift bag with a 'real stamp' inside - was this a real stamp I did find an image (see below) but I cannot find any details on the Australia post page. 

Image Source: Binny Talib Instagram

Here are some things I discovered about Binny Talib:

• She also designs wallpaper, cushions, textiles, mugs, toys and greeting cards.
• Her studio is in Sydney - right in the CBD.
• She made tiny envelopes for the end papers in her new book.
• Her first book was Origami Heart. (She did do a small self-published book first)
• The Letter writer is her second book as author and illustrator.

 

This might seem odd but I didn't think of Binny Talib as an Australian illustrator until very recently but of course that was silly because I really enjoyed this book Hark it's me Ruby Lee which was a CBCA Honour Book.

Hark, It's me Ruby Lee!

I think I made this mistake because I also enjoyed this book from the Little Gems series which I am sure come from the UK.

Two Sides

Here is a 2019 interview with Binny Talib. And here is one from 2023 with Kids' Book Review. You can hear Binny talking about her work on the podcast Reading with a Chance of Tacos. 

Here are the teachers notes (published 2023)

Blurb: Shout-outs to 50 awesome Australian women with easy-to-read biographies of their incredible achievements. From Cathy Freeman to Turia Pitt, Edith Cowan to Julia Gillard, Mum Shirl to Vali Myers, plus rally car drivers, molecular biologists and more, this book is a celebration of women in all fields, from all walks of life, and from Australia’s past and present. (2018)

Stars of the Night by Caren Stelson illustrated by Selina Alko

Save one life, save the world

This book begins in Czechoslovakia 1938. The children are enjoying life in their city of Prague - skating and drinking hot cocoa with whipped cream. 

"All through the year, we played with our friends, went to school with them, laughed and told our secrets to them. We were Jewish. They were often not. It didn't matter to us."

But in November of 1938 life changed. In Germany dreadful things were happening to Jewish citizens and so many refugees arrived in Prague. The children in Prague, kids who had lived there their whole lives were subjected to name calling and bullying. The parents had to make the heart wrenching decision to send their children away to England. 

"There will be times when you'll feel lonely and homesick. Let the stars of the night and the sun of the day be the messenger of our thoughts and love."

These children were rescued by Nicholas Winton. He saved 669 children but he never talked about this until decades after the war his wife found a suitcase filled with documents about these children. In 1988 Nicholas Winton was invited to appear on a television show. If you watch this you will see all adults in the audience - these are the children he saved. 

Stars of the Night has extensive back notes, a timeline, source list, bibliography, author and illustrator notes and a list of books for further reading.

Walker Books blurb: The incredible true story of the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II.

"When we were seven or eight or nine or ten, our home was the old city of Prague."

So begins this powerful story of the children who were rescued from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II as Hitler's campaign of hatred toward Jews and political dissidents took hold. Told from the collective perspective of the children, the narrative starts in 1938 and follows them as they journey to foster families in England for the duration of the war, return to Prague afterward in an unsuccessful search for their parents, and eventually connect with Nicholas Winton, a British former stockbroker who was instrumental in bringing them to safety.

A not-to-be-missed, inspirational book about courage, heart, and the necessity of caring for others. Kirkus Star review

This searing account is all the more heart-rending because it is collectively narrated by the young people saved by Winton, delivered in the innocent, matter-of-fact voice of a child. Kirkus Star review

A necessary and inspirational book about a little-known light amid a dark period of history, this book should find a home in all libraries. School Library Journal

For younger readers ... I hope they realize, besides their parents, there are good people in the world who, even as strangers, will take care of children as if they were their own — particularly under difficult circumstances. There are people in the world like Nicholas Winton who see the necessity to act to help children, even in the face of danger. The Dalai Lama said of Nicholas Winton, “We must carry [Nicholas Winton’s] spirit from generation to generation … Then humanity’s future will be brighter.” Bookology Magazine

Here are some very detailed teachers notes with excellent background reading ideas. 

This video will give you a look at the illustrations in this book. 

Awards for Stars of the Night:

• ALA Notable Children’s Book
• Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, Outstanding Merit
• ILA Honor Award for Social Justice
• National Jewish Book Award Finalist
• New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
• Notable Books for a Global Society List Selection
• Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
• School Library Journal Best Book
• Texas Bluebonnet Master list

Photo of Nicholas Winton who died in 2015

Kindertransport Memorial at Liverpool Street Station, London

Here is a fascinating interview of the author and illustrator with Roger Sutton at The Horn Book. And another with The Lerner Blog. And on the author webpage. 

Check out my two previous books which explore the topic of the Kindertransport:

Saving Hanno

Anna at war

Companion book:

Listen to a four minute podcast about this book

Read this detailed blog post from Reading Opens Doors

And just today I picked up this book - the cover looked interesting then I read the blurb - and saw the word Kindertransport. 

Kirkus review

A Lemon for Safiya by Jemima Shafei-Ongu illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom

"It was Safiya who first spotted the old woman, sitting on the edge of the footpath, sock-sandalled feet in the gutter, busy cars speeding past."

The woman is sitting alone. She is holding a 'bright yellow lemon' in the palm of her hand. When the family ask where she lives it is clear the lady is describing somewhere from her past. The woman talks about her daughter who is named Hanna - this means happiness in Arabic. Luckily the old lady is wearing a bracelet with her name - Maryam. It is such a sweet moment when the child reaches across the car seat to hold the old lady's hand and that is when she sees the bracelet. 

Bookseller blurb: They reached a giant lemon tree. The old woman sat up, tapping an urgent finger against the window. 'Hay! Hay! Hanna zarr'et ha. Hay!' 'She's saying that Hanna planted this tree,' Mama said as Dad pulled over. 'It's a beautiful tree, shajrah hhelweh,' Mama said to the old woman.

 When a little girl, Safiya, and her family help Maryam, a lost and confused stranger by the side of the road, to find her way home, they begin to understand who she is and the rich and remarkable life she has lived. Through kind-natured Safiya, we come to see Maryam, a woman who had been made invisible by society because of her ethnicity, race, religion, language, age and now dementia. With Arabic text interspersed throughout, A Lemon for Safiya is a wonderful exploration of language, diversity and culture.

Listening to an author, or in this case illustrator, talk about the inspiration for their book can make a big difference to how you perceive a text.  This book will be published in early June 2025 but yesterday I attended a conference at our New South Wales State Library and for one of the sessions four authors were invited to speak for five minutes about their new or first book. 

Nisaluk Chantanakom has added delicate art to this story and the memories of the old lady appear in sepia behind each illustration so that even if you don't speak Arabic it is easy to anticipate what the lady is saying. The words are translated too and there is a full glossary at the back of the book. Nisaluk is originally from Thailand but now lives in Sydney.  She was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator with her book A Teaspoon of Light.

About this book she says: I tried to imagine Maryam standing beneath a lemon tree, her mind filled with vivid memories she can’t forget, while she struggles to recall the reality of the present. During this time, an elderly Greek woman with dementia often wandered into our backyard and asked for lemons. She seemed to remember we had a lemon tree, but not that the lemons weren’t yet ripe. I drew inspiration from her postures, expressions and manner for my illustrations of Maryam. Seeing my neighbour’s confusion helped me in my approach to illustrating Maryam’s memories. I chose to depict them as fragmented, using sketchy, childlike crayon marks. Some of these marks are tiny scribbles that I then scanned and enlarged, adding to their raw quality. I felt it was important to have different styles for the present and Maryam’s past. The present is depicted with a full colour palette and a very detailed style. For Maryam’s memories, I combined fine pencil work with scribbled crayon textures and rough 

watercolours patches. (from the teachers notes for A lemon for Safiya)

Jemima Shafei-Ongu is the author of three books. Jemima said (also in the teachers notes): 

A Lemon for Safiya was inspired by true events that happened when my family and I were living in Melbourne around 2006. We found a lost and confused old woman by the side of the road, with not too dissimilar circumstances to Maryam in this story. I have also worked with many children in schools who felt sad and confused when someone they loved, like a grandparent, became impacted by dementia. I also love lemons, and along with olives, they play a special role in my culture (I am of the Levant), and they have a special place in my heart. Nature has a way to teach us about life, about patience, about respect for life and about trust in its process. Lemons, like much of nature, have a life cycle that we can be trustees of and agents to.

The publisher and my conference companion suggest this book could be read alongside Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. I am not entirely convinced about this but that famous book is a good one to use if you are talking about memories or in fact it is just a very special book to read at any time. 

A better companion book might be this one:

If all the world were ...

And if you are talking about cultural identity and memory you might look for this one: