Meet the illustrator Sara Acton

 

Take a look at Sara Acton's portfolio

Sara Acton is an award-winning author and illustrator. Sara grew up in the Cotswolds in England and always loved drawing, especially people and other strange creatures. She studied BA Hons Fine Art and trained as an Art Teacher in London. After teaching and practicing art in England and New Zealand Sara moved with her family to Australia. Her first picture book Ben and Duck won the 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award for new illustrators. 

Sara Acton has generously donated an original art piece for our IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art auction and I have my eye set on buying this sweet image but the bidding is hot!

This image comes from Runt (CBCA Younger Readers winner 2023)

Here are some other books illustrated by Sara:

Each lovely illustration shows Jack and the blue jumper, its warmth and comfort obvious to all readers. They will understand Jack’s feeling for the garment, probably recalling something they held as dear. Acton has the ability in a few deft strokes of her pen to create a moment in time, one which is important to the protagonists and one which we all recognise. And I love the endpapers, detailing postcard moments in their life together. Read Plus

Here is my blog post about Jack's Jumper

A Boat of Stars

Tales of Mr Walker

Against white pages, we see Acton’s fantastic watercolour-style illustrations come to life, putting children and their journeys of discovering new foods front and centre. Kids will enjoy spotting foods they may know, such as birthday cake and various fruits, but might also find foods they haven’t yet come across, such as avocado and bacon. I also definitely spotted some fairy bread… 

but I won’t tell the kiddos. Better Reading

I’ll Always Be Older Than You is a kind, warm, delightful poem from an older sister to her younger brother about how their relationship will grow and develop as they mature. From the masterful Jane Godwin and with soft, pastel illustrations from Sara Acton, this book will reflect the sibling relationships in many families.  Reading Time

I borrowed a few books illustrated by Sara Acton from the library I visit each week but I have now added her name to my charity book fair shopping list. Her illustrations are so lively and joyous and Sara really knows how to use white space. I am keen to add a few of her books to my own shelves and every young cat lover needs a copy of Poppy Cat. Here are the Scholastic Teachers Notes. Sara Action also has a magical touch with emotion on the faces of her human and animal characters. Her style reminds me of Charlotte Voake and Suzy Lee.

No one but you by Douglas Wood illustrated by PJ Lynch

Lynch’s softly smudged oil paintings, drenched in sun- and moonlight, match the gentle flow 

of this sensory walk through nature. Kirkus 

If I still worked in my school library, I would love to display one double page spread from this book each week. The text is a gentle celebration of small moments, quiet contemplations of the world. The illustrations are joyous and so very appealing as you would expect from PJ Lynch. And it helps that this is a big format picture book so each image has even more impact.

Here are some text samples:

"No one but you can feel the rain kiss your skin or the wind ruffle your hair. And no one but you can walk through a rain puddle in your bare feet."

"No one but you can gently hold a turtle with your own hands and count the plates on her back and the stripes on her chin, feel the hardness of her shell and the soft scratching of her claws, and imagine what a turtle's life is like as she swims back into the blue-green shadows of her world."

"And who else but you will roll a glistening dewdrop from a rose petal onto your tongue or savor a red, ripe strawberry or a golden drop of honey and know what it tastes like just to you?"

Every now and then I borrow a book from the library and wonder - how did I miss this? And then I reach for my computer to see if I can perhaps purchase a copy. Of course, this 2011 book is long out of print. If I wanted to spend over AUS$110 I could buy a new copy - I have to say I tempted.

Blurb from Walker Books: Feel the rain kiss your skin or the wind ruffle your hair. Hear the hum of a bumblebee; watch a water strider march across a pond; taste a red, ripe strawberry; whistle with a blade of grass. From Christopher Medal-winning author Douglas Wood and celebrated illustrator P.J. Lynch comes a moving look at the experiences that belong only to us, marking a place on Earth that is ours alone. After all, who but you can remember your own memories? Wonderfully evocative of nature’s sensory treasures, here is a perfect gift to share with a child — or to inspire loved ones of any age as they set out to create their special place in the world.

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

Ben is an orphan. Each Sunday, when he was young, the orphans were taken for a walk along the canal. On this day Ben aged just four, is not wearing shoes and so he his hurt when he steps onto some glass. Another orphan, a boy named Sam aged eleven, stops to help the little boy. Moored on the canal there is a narrowboat. 

"The boat was red and green, with her name Sparrowhawk, painted in gold on a scarlet panel. Above the letters a bird of prey few, tough and graceful, orange eyes glinting and blue-grey wings outstretched."

The owner of the boat, Nathan, helps Ben with his foot and his involvement in this small incident leads him to visit the orphanage to adopt the two boys. A new little family is formed.

Now fast forward nine years. World War II has just ended. Ben is now thirteen. Nathan has died in France while visiting Sam in a hospital in France. Sam, enlisted as a soldier and was injured in the war. Ben has been cared for by a village woman, but she is leaving to live with her sister in Wales. Ben is desperate to find Sam and he is sure his brother is alive but he has received one of those terrible telegrams telling him Sam is missing - meaning he might be dead. Ben moves back onto the Sparrowhawk but a child cannot live alone, and the local policeman is becoming suspicious. 

Meanwhile we meet Charlotte (Lotti). She also lives near the canal. Her life was one of love, privilege and wealth. Unfortunately, her parents have both died in a dreadful accident. Her vicious uncle and aunt have come to live in the big house. Lotti has been expelled from her horrible boarding school and Ben finds her hiding on his boat clutching a small dog.

Lotti needs to run away, and she is desperate to find her grandmother in France. Ben needs to run away too, and he is desperate to find his brother Sam who is also in France. They have a boat - but it is a canal boat and is not suitable for the open ocean. These two intrepid kids will need the assistance of strangers to reach their destination - and yes there are four wonderful people who do step into help them on their wild adventure. 

Spoiler alert - this book has the MOST glorious happy ending and includes a very sweet love story between two of the adults who help Ben and Lotti. 

Descriptive prose captures the bucolic canal boat life, tempestuous Channel crossing, and numbing devastation of postwar France. Main characters are cued as White. Inspiring, memorable, and adventurous: classic storytelling. Kirkus Star review

I challenge any reader, young or old, not to want to devour this book in one delicious sitting. Once started upon the story of Lotti and Ben, two orphans living in the aftermath of World War 1 and who could not be more different in temperament or background, it is impossible to put down. ... These are characters who will dwell long in your memory and indeed leave you wanting to know more, including about some of the fascinating minor characters. ... A standalone, middle grade adventure that is as well written as this, is pure gold dust with which to captivate young readers and a perfect class read. But be warned, they may not want to go home! Love Reading4Kids

Blurb from the author web page: In the aftermath of World War One, everyone is trying to rebuild their lives. If Ben is to avoid being sent back to the orphanage, he needs to find his brother Sam, wounded in action and now missing. Lotti's horrible aunt and uncle want to send her away to boarding-school (when she has just so successfully managed to get expelled from her last one!) Just as they think they've found their feet in the new order, disaster strikes, and Lotti and Ben must get away. Together they hatch a plan - to cross the Channel on Ben's narrowboat and find Sam, and something Lotti is looking for too... Buffeted by storms, chased by the police, Lotti, Ben and a growing number of dogs set out on an epic journey, on the search for lost loved ones and a place to call home. 

• WINNER OF THE COSTA CHLDREN'S BOOK AWARD 2020!
• TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 
• WINNER OF THE SPARK BOOK AWARD
• WINNER OF THE SEFTON BOOK PRIZE

You can see I gave this book five stars. I highly recommend this book for readers aged 10+. I read the entire book (352 pages) over the course of one evening and one day. You could read this book in a family or to a class but with your class you will need to set aside time to read lots of pages at each sitting. I heard a very distressing story this week about a classroom teacher who agreed to read The Wild Robot to her Grade four class after the children enjoyed the first couple of chapters in the school library. That was back in February this year. It is now November, and the children recently told their Teacher-Librarian that their teacher had 'nearly finished' - that means she has spent 8 months reading a 288 page novel which has fairly big print and whole page illustrations. Reading aloud to your class is SO important. The formula is simply you need time (plan to read every day) and a book you love! 

Companion reads:

Thursday's Child

While the storm rages

The Great elephant Chase

Journey to the River Sea (note there are many different cover designs for this book)

I previously talked about this book by Natasha Farrant. 

The Girl who Talked to Trees

What can you do with a rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Katie Kath

"Some people don't notice rocks. They walk by, head in the air, hands in their pockets, missing the magic underfoot."

So what can you do with a rock? Skip it on the pond. Drop it and hear the different sounds the rock will make depending where it lands and of course how hard you throw it. You can collect rocks and then sort them - that's my favorite page. You can study them - you might even find a fossil. You can change your rocks by decorating them or using them for a craft piece (collage). Best of all you can share your rocks with a friend. 

The final pages of this book have all the rock facts you need to get started along with an extensive reading list. 

You are in for a delicious surprise when you open this book because the end papers are filled with rocks of all shapes and sizes and colours. I think the colours might especially surprise you. Garnet (red), citrine (yellow), fluorite (green and blue), rose quartz (pink) and opal (rainbow).

This book won the Northern Lights Nature Category in 2021. I was pleased to see an Australian book on the winner list - The Star of Anise by Jane Jolly - winner of the Multicultural category. Also the winner of the Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Category - The Summer We Found the Baby. You could easily use this list from 2021 and the ones from 2022 to identify terrific books to add to your school library collection. What can you do with a rock was published in 2021 but I do have to tell you it is expensive here in Australia at over AUS$35. I do think this book would be a very worthwhile addition to your school library but I guess that the price will mean this book is beyond the limits of most school budgets. 

The Northern Lights Book Awards considers children’s books to be an art form and honors books that excel in aesthetic and literary qualities with an emphasis on permanency. We are seeking works that will leave a lasting impression, stories that will resonate with the reader not only now but in years to come.

Here is the web site for Pat Zietlow Miller and Katie Kath.

IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art Auction meet Liz Duthie

Wombat

Liz Duthie’s illustrations are earthy and realistic, capturing the curiosity and charm of Australia’s much-loved wombat. They complement the text focusing on the wombat’s unique way of life and endearing quirks. My favourite illustration is the image of a wombat staring from the front cover 

through a heart-shaped burrow. Reading Time

Liz Duthie is an internationally published children's book illustrator, visual artist and art educator based in Djaara Country, (Castlemaine, Victoria). Her first picture book, “Wombat” by Christopher Cheng, (Walker Books Australia and Candlewick Press, USA, 2021) received a Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Award Commendation and was a 2022 CBCA Notable Book in the Eve Pownall Category. In 2019 Liz spoke to Kids' Book Review. You can see more of her work here. 

We have three pieces of original art by Liz Duthie available on the IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art Auction which ends on 1st December at 11.45pm. 

"Muriel's Flight" an unpublished story idea about Australian Suffragist, Muriel Matters

Muriel Matters gained notoriety by chaining herself to an iron grille in the ladies' gallery of the House of Commons and declaiming women's suffrage aims. She was removed, still attached to the grille, 

and sent to Holloway Prison for a month ...

Read more about Murial Matters here - History Extra and in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. 

Here is another sketch by Liz Duthie showing a protest by Suffragettes. 

From Will the Wonderkid Treasure Hunter of the Australian outback

From Marvellous Miss May and the Wondrous Circus Here is a review

Image Source: Stephanie Owen Reeder

The two images above are pen and ink sketches from "Courageous Kids and their Amazing Adventures" 

by Stephanie Owen Reeder, published by National Library of Australia

Courageous Kids and Their Amazing Adventures by Stephanie Owen Reeder is published by the National Library of Australia. It is a brand-new book published in November 2023. The Heritage Heroes series celebrates stories of incredible survival, persistence and resilience by young people. This book binds together the five original, beloved stories with two brand new ones:

• Brave Bee and the Castaway Kids, set in the Circular Head area and on Trefoil Island in Bass Strait in lutruwita/Tasmania in 1895 (Belinda Kay)
• Will the Wonderkid and the Elusive Treasure, set in the desert near Coober Pedy in South Australia (Cokatha Country) from 1914 to 1915 (Will Hutchison)
• Amazing Grace and the Sinking Ship, set in the Margaret River Region of Western Australia (Wooditchup and Noongar Country) in 1876 (Grace Bussell)
• Lennie the Legend and the Remarkable Ride, starting in Leongatha in the Gippsland area of Victoria (Bunurong Country) in 1931 and ending in Sydney in New South Wales (Eora Country) in 1932 (Lennie Gwyther)
• Marvellous Miss May and the Wondrous Circus, set in Australia, New Zealand and England from 1900 to 1913 (May Wirth)
• Clever Quong Tart and the New Gold Mountain, set in Canton, China and Braidwood in New South Wales (Walbunja Country) from 1859 to 1870 (Mei Quong Tart)
• Valiant Jane and the Disappearing Trail, set in the Wimmera District of Victoria (Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country) in 1864 (Jane Duff)

I am also very keen to read this book illustrated by Liz Duthie - Captain Thunderbolt’s Recital by Jane Jolly. I always enjoyed talking about Bushrangers and reading fiction and Nonfiction books with my Grade Five students.

Check out the 51 pieces of original art - don't wait - bid today

Under the Red Shawl by Vikki Conley illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

I wrote this story to explore the many challenges that our world presents for our children. We all have different homes and places where we live (cities, towns, villages), but for some children they are forced to leave for different reasons, and that can be hard. Vikki Conley

It is interesting to ponder the passing of time in this story. When we first meet Salim he has just been born. He hears the boom boom boom of his mother's heart but there is also the boom boom boom all around. We know this is a dangerous place when we read that the mother and child need to begin their journey to a safer place today. Salim is folded into her beautiful red shawl. 

The journey is long and very difficult through all weathers and landscapes but Mama tells her little son that they will find a place of safety.

"Mama whispered stories about green grass, bouncing balls and laughing children."

Publisher blurb: Starting out in a new place is tough, but friendship, kindness and imagination help Salim, Mama and Donkey discover their new world. In this stunning picture book, by award-winning creators – Vikki Conley and Martina Heiduczek – we journey with Salim as he grows up creating a new life around him. This is a story about a journey, hope and creating fun with the little that you have.

Vikki Conley has brought the reality of the world of the refugee child right into the realm of more fortunate children ... The Bottom Shelf

Teachers Notes from the publisher.

Pair this with these books:

Amira's Suitcase

Tomorrow

I am also keen to find this book.  I am sure I have seen another book about kids who make a ball out of found materials set either in Africa or South America but I can't think of the title.

With older children you might also like to look at these books:

Sea Prayer

A Boy and a Ball

Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean

 

When you see the cover of this book do you immediately think of the famous poem - that's good because the words of the poem are sure to resonate as you are reading this riveting novel by SF Said.

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 
In the forests of the night; 
What immortal hand or eye, 
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. 
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears 
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

There is the most amazing dystopian world in this story. It feels like we are in London but this is a divided city. Rich people separated from poor. Migrants separated from - well I am not sure what to call the people who claim they have always lived in this city - especially since Adam was born in the city and so was his friend Zadie but they do not have the same rights as others because their families come from the "Middle East". Think about those words - the "Middle East". What does that mean? Adam is Muslim and Zadie has dark skin but why should that matter? Yet every day, as he does deliveries for his parents of garments from their shop in the ghetto, he has to stop at a check point and answer questions by a soldier.

"The soldier was a guardsman in a red coat, with a bristling white moustache. He looked Adam up and down, taking in his skin, his hair, his eyes. The fact that everything about him was just a little different, just a little darker. ... 'And where are you from, boy?"

Love Reading for Kids explains the setting: In this alternate universe slavery was never abolished, which has left the UK in a sorry state with rich overlords ruling over a sprawling poor and people with origins anywhere apart from the UK particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. That includes Adam’s family of shopkeepers.

When Ben crosses to the other side of the checkpoint. He bumps into a man who leads him to a remote area intending to rob him but then a huge creature appears. It is the Tyger. 

Here is a text extract from Chapter two - you could use this in a book talk with your students:

And then something erupted out of the darkness, moving so fast, he saw only a blur at first. A streak of black and gold, leaping down from the roof beams to land on all four paws beside him.
An animal! A gigantic animal stood by his side, growling at the man with the knife. With one huge stride, she put herself between him and Adam. Then she threw back her head and roared, as if protecting Adam from the knife. The man screamed. He ran. He fled through the door he’d come in by and was gone. Adam couldn’t run. The animal still stood between him and the door. He could only stand there, staring at her, his senses filling with a sweet, high, musky scent, like honeysuckle growing wild. In her presence, everything else just melted away, even his fear. His skin was prickling and his eyes were wide. But inside him was a feeling stranger than fear. For this animal had come down from the darkness to defend him. Why?

And . . . what was she?
A flash of lightning revealed more of her form. She was ten feet long from her whiskers to her tail. So broad, she filled the doorway. Her fur was fiery gold with coal-black stripes. Time seemed to stop as she turned to look at Adam, and Adam looked back at her. He couldn’t look away. He’d never been so close to any animal before, let alone one so huge and wild. Her eyes burned like liquid golden fire. They were shining with a light that was different to any light he’d ever seen. Yet he thought he saw pain inside them, too. And now that she was facing him, he could see that she was wounded. There was blood on her fur, between her stripes, dripping wet and red. He breathed in sharply. Whatever she was – this animal was wounded. She shuddered as a blast of thunder shook the building. She turned and snapped at something over her shoulder, then growled when she couldn’t reach it. As she twisted and turned, Adam crept round to one side – and froze as he saw the shaft of an arrow, sticking out of her shoulder. On the other side, he could see the arrowhead. 

Ben helps the Tyger but now he is caught up in the danger of the situation. An evil man named Maldehyde is hunting Tyger. Why? I am not going to explain this - except to say be ready for a wild ride of twists and turns and danger and courage. There are some confronting scenes in this story so I would say it is for mature readers. 

I don't normally quote endorsements but these all ring so true for Tyger:

• 'An out-and-out-masterpiece' Piers Torday
• 'Next level excellent . . . This book is a gem' Malorie Blackman
• 'A masterpiece' Frank Cottrell-Boyce
• 'Profound . . . A triumph' Jacqueline Wilson
• 'Perfection' Sophie Anderson
• 'Beautiful, brilliant, perfect!' Peter Bunzl
• 'A timeless classic' Sita Brahmachari
• 'Visionary & exciting & hopeful & deeply-dreamt & truly-lived' AF Harrold
• 'A glorious triumph' Berlie Doherty

It is a book designed for readers of 9 to 99 who enjoy escaping into other worlds. Much anticipated and destined to be a classic that will be shared and enjoyed everywhere.  Love Reading4Kids

This book has been on my to read list for a long time (since October 2022) but I needed to wait for the paperback edition to arrive here in Australia. I need a word to describe a book so wonderful that I read it in almost one sitting. So wonderful that I read it at 2am. So wonderful that I wish I could immediately pass this onto a reader aged 11+. 

Here is a video with SF Said. Please read this interview where SF Said talks about his book - here is a quote that resonated with me:

There are times I feel extremely doomy and apocalyptic. But there are times I’m extraordinarily moved and inspired to see the work that people are doing to build a better world. And that starts, for me, with children and the books they read, and the stories that fill their imaginations – the work I see teachers, librarians, booksellers, reading helpers, journalists, readers of all sorts, doing – there’s a lot of people working very, very hard, every single day, to inspire kids to love reading and books, and to get them the best possible books, the widest range, the most diverse, inclusive kinds of books, so that every child could see themselves reflected, so that every child can feel they could be a reader.

SF Said is the author of Varjak Paw - another book I adored. My blog post from 2009 is way too brief. Sometime soon I reread the two Varjak Paw books and pen a longer blog post.

Ajay and the Jaipur Moon by Varsha Shah

"Space offers us new worlds to conquer, new territories to colonize, and endless resources to take."

These are the words of Mrs Surya. At first they sound glorious to the audience and to the team of kids who have come to meet this famous millionaire but slowly the truth behind this sentence is revealed. You could use this sentence to introduce this book to your readers aged 10+. Think about the words conquer, colonize and take. Colonize is especially poignant when you consider this book is set in India and they were colonized by the British.

Now look at this statement by Mrs Surya:

"As you know, the WECU corporation own factories across the globe. With the willing support of politicians, I will move them into space so that they no longer pollute our world. No longer bogged down with laws and human rights, these factories will be a blueprint for oligarchs everywhere."

The words 'human rights' should chill you. In the first book the workers in the T-Shirt factory were subjected to horrid working conditions. In this second book we meet the slum kids of Jaipur. Their leader, a girl named Laxmi is missing one finger as a result of working in a jewelry making factory. You should review the UN Rights of the Child with your class. 

Now read Chapter 28 - and think about the consequences of Mrs Surya vision of space, her assumed role as leader, and the way she uses words to manipulate the kids and later her press conference audiences. Even her office, with the glass floor and the way the door snaps shut are all about control and power. When you are reading this book notice the references to her eyes - "windows to her corrupt soul."

Ajay and his team of street kids work hard to survive living on the streets of Mumbai. The produce a newspaper which last year led to some fame but as time has passed people are no longer interested in reading the news and printing their paper each week is a huge struggle without a proper printing press. But buying a new press means they need a lot of money. Then Ajay reads about a competition to find a meteorite that has crashed into the earth. Whoever finds it will be given a tour of the new space research base in Jaipur. 

Ajay has a talented team of friends: Vinod is a wonderful cook; Yasmin, safely away from the dangerous T-shirt factory is a very fine artist; Saif is an apprentice engineer who can solve any engineering problem; and Jai is a first-class cricketer.

Working as a team I was sure these kids would find a way to travel from Mumbai to Jaipur, and I knew they would find a way to win this competition. BUT standing in their way there are difficulties, lies, betrayals and corrupt adults. Saif finds the location of the meteorite but as they arrive in Jaipur his tools are stolen. This is just the first disaster. In fact, there are so many twists in this plot I began to think these kids would not survive let alone succeed.

If you read this book in a class you will want to add in some research about Jagadish Chandra Bose (1858-1937) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), and Asima Chatterjee (1917-2006). Along with the astronaut Kalpana Chawla (1962 -2003).

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose is one of the most prominent first Indian scientists who proved by experimentation that both animals and plants share much in common. He demonstrated that plants are also sensitive to heat, cold, light, noise and various other external stimuli.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam served as the president of India from 2002 to 2007. He began his career designing helicopters for the Indian Army as an aeronautical engineer for the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). In 1969, he was moved to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), where he served as project director on SLV-III, the nation's first satellite launch vehicle, which was successful in putting the satellite Rohini into a near-Earth orbit in 1980.

Asima Chatterjee was an Indian chemist noted for her work in the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine. Her most notable work includes research on vinca alkaloids, and the development of anti-epileptic and anti-malarial drugs. She also authored a considerable volume of work on medicinal plants of the Indian subcontinent.

Kalpana Chawla was American astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle ‘Columbia’ disaster. Born in Karnal, India, she was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. In May 1997, she went on her first space mission, travelling for fifteen days in the Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-87. In 2003, she travelled once again into the space aboard ill-fated Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-107.

You can read chapter one on the Chicken House page. 

This is an exciting and beautifully written and illustrated book for children aged eight and upwards. It could be the starting point for discussions about what friendship means to them and how they relate to each other’s varying interests and future plans. School Reading List UK

Alongside action and humour are serious socio-political messages. The power imbalance between rich and poor is a significant theme and there is mention of child labour and exploitation. There are many points in the book that would prompt deep discussions. ‘What defines where someone belongs?’ asks Ajay. He later comments, ‘All that matters about a society is the way it treats its most vulnerable.’  The children’s achievements (in the face of adversity) and their tight friendship makes Ajay and the Jaipur Moon an empowering and heart-warming read. Just Imagine

You could also use this book to discuss the depiction of a character - Mrs Surya. Her clothes are both interesting and obscene when you think about the poverty experienced by the kids in this book. She reminded me of the evil woman in Beetle Boy by MG Leonard.

"Her eyes were the colour of warm caramel ... her smile eclipsing the sun.

"She turned and gave a magnetic smile that he was sure was just for him! She looked magnificent as she went to stand on the podium ... wearing a silver sari encrusted with scales of diamonds that blazed in the light of the chandelier."

"Up close, glittering from head to toe, with silver star earrings, and the border of the sari snaking around her, she looked even more striking."

"Mrs Surya glittered from head to toe in a lace sari that was encrusted with diamonds and looked like the clouds of the milky way. ... she looked like a figure spun from light."

This is the second book about Ajay and his newspaper The Mumbai Sun. I loved the first and this sequel did not disappoint.

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun