Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell

Moon Rabbit is a little like the famous story of Town Mouse and Country Mouse. Little Rabbit lives in the city. Her days go well as she enjoys all the sights and sounds and shops of the city but when evening comes she feels a little lonely. One day she goes to the park and hears some sweet music. She falls asleep in the sunshine but when she wakes up it is nighttime. She can still hear the music so she picks up her book and follows the sound. She is surprised to meet another rabbit. A brown rabbit. And he is playing a guitar. The pair quickly form a sweet friendship and enjoy their days together but when Little Rabbit looks back over at the city she feels homesick. The brown rabbit and white rabbit say goodbye and Little Rabbit heads back to the city but there is the promise that one day soon Brown Rabbit will come for a visit. Here is book two!

This story is fairly simple but it is sure to appeal to a preschool aged child. What really stood out of me when I saw it at a recent charity book sale were the scrumptious illustrations. The Kirkus reviewer said exactly the same words:

What really stands out are the gentle black-lined drawings resting comfortably in a patchwork of printed images. Vintage-looking patterns decorate shades, vases, even trees and create an experience as pleasant as tea and a scone. Kirkus

My copy of Moon Rabbit was published in 2011 (paperback edition) so it is long out of print. I love the way the cover has silver varnished letters and the way the moon looks like a patchwork. The cherry blossoms on the cover and end papers give this book a Japanese feel although Natale Russell lives in Dundee Scotland. Natalie Russell is also the illustrator of a series of book by Kobi Yamada - Because I had a teacher; Because of you, Mom; and Because of you, Dad. 

Here are some other books by Natalie Russell.

The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood

There are a lot of layers to this story. This will be a book that you do need to think about. I first read this book in May last year and after several re-readings I am still pondering some aspects of this elusive story. I do like the final images where everyone has come together to enjoy the garden. This is reminiscent of another wonderful book about a garden - Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham.

When you open The Garden of Broken Things you will see a small orange cat on the front and back end papers. He or she is looking back toward the reader beckoning you to come on in. The early pages before the story begins are very important - take your time with them. On the half title page people are enjoying and restoring the garden. These are scenes from the garden in the past. On the title page there is a hint that the owner of the garden has grown older. We see her with her husband and then sitting alone.  Turning to the first page readers can see the garden in the context of the street. It is indeed overgrown and broken. The little house is falling down and it is almost engulfed by the trees that surround it. 

"Number 9 Ardent Street was a lonely place, with windows like sad eyes."

The children explore the garden but it is Sadie follows the cat and who finds the old woman.

" ... the cat found a lap. It belonged to an old woman, bent with time and weariness."

Sadie doesn't ask questions. She just sits beside the woman and talks about her day and her school and she even reads her home reader "with lots of expression". Sadie stays late into the evening sitting beside the lady and as night falls the lady seems to "come back to life". 

"The woman's hand was warm, and her skin felt like paper."

Sadie is reunited with her parents who presumably have been searching for her. Then we have a stark white page. Is this meant to signify heaven? We see the woman with her head lifted up in her pale coat and then on the next page she is gone. Did the touch of kindness shown by Sadie allow the woman to move on? Was she waiting for this small human connection or perhaps waiting for permission to leave?

I haven’t made it clear what happens to the woman. Stories without a clear ending, that leave you thinking, always appeal to me. So there are plenty of gaps in the illustrations and text where readers can make assumptions. I’ve had quite a few adults ask me if there’s been a printing error on the page where the old woman is looking upwards and surrounded by white. It was planned that way! Freya Blackwood

Take a look at the annotation by our National Centre for Australian Children's Literature. Here is a quote: "Led by the cat, Sadie goes deeper into the garden and finds a little old lady, still in her dressing gown, asleep on a bench. Unperturbed by her silence, Sadie chats away about her day and the things that are important to her and then reads a book to the old lady. As darkness descends, Sadie falls asleep, and it is only then that the woman stirs. The other children have already gone home, so the old lady, her mind full of fond memories, takes Sadie home to her worried parents. Her job done; she realises that she is ready to let go. But, before she does, she leaves her fabulous garden to the children of Ardent Street."

Here are the teachers notes from the publisher. I was shocked to see they say this book is for ages 3+. In my view it is a book to share and talk about with a child aged 7+. Read more here. And I have a 'meet the illustrator' post where you can see other books by Freya Blackwood. Freya discusses her book in more detail here. 

The book description tells us The Garden of Broken Things celebrates curiosity and the joy of listening. But I think this rich, layered story is about so much more – grief and loss; perception and reality; belonging; memories and honouring the past; nature; resilience; growth and transformation; and ageing. Reading Time

The transformation from the sad and lonely to the wild and joyful is a direct result of the children’s interest in, and enjoyment of, all the forgotten garden can offer. It is a subtle examination of the sometimes ignoring of the elderly and old (or broken) things, and a sound message that simply because something or someone has grown old, it does not mean that these things have become superfluous or disposable. Just so Stories

The CBCA judges in their Notables report said: The Garden of Broken Things is a poignant story about open-mindedness, curiosity and the importance of listening. Curious and open-minded, young Sadie follows a cat into a backyard and discovers an old lady seated on a bench. Through Sadie’s kindness and the power of connection, the old lady is awoken from her statue-like state. The use of figurative language coupled with the highly expressive water colour, pencil and pastel illustrations provide the reader with insights into the full range of human emotions, both light and dark. This tender story beautifully represents the power of human connection across generations and is suitable for a very broad audience from small children to adults.

Here is an interview of Freya Blackwood about her book with Joy Lawn and you can also see inside this book. 

It is interesting to ponder the name of the street chosen by Freya Blackwood. Ardent means "showing strong feelings or passionate."  

This book has been shortlisted for our CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2025 Awards

Here in this blog I have already talked about

A leaf called Greaf

The Truck Cat

These long-loved things

Moon Mouse by Corrinne Averiss illustrated by Lora Hill

Moon Mouse lives all alone on ... yes the moon! There is no one to 'squeak to' but he is used to the silence, and he keeps busy with his garden, cooking and viewing earth through his gold telescope.

He especially loves to look for birthday parties. 

"Lost in that joy - he forgets ... he's alone."

Moon Mouse has a plan. He is building a rocket. When it is finished he hopes to go to a real birthday party - one with a magic show. Through his telescope he sees a terrific birthday with cake and singing and friends but then oh no, the little boy lets go of his birthday balloon. 

Have you ever wondered where those lost balloons go? Perhaps they get as far as the moon. Yay - Moon Mouse now has is very own birthday balloon. But what about that little boy - his balloon is lost. It must be time to fire up his rocket. How will he find this boy? What will happen when he reaches the house? Is there a way to deliver the balloon so it does not float away? Moon Mouse is very shy - will he talk to the little boy? Is there way they can become friends? You will notice that on planet earth has to wear his space helmet but from the cover you can see this is a very special kind of helmet - could this help the boy and the mouse?

With themes of kindness, friendship and its joys, and bravery, this charmer of a rhyming story is written by Corrinne Averiss and illustrated with details aplenty by Lorna Hill. Young children will particularly love exploring the scenes showing Mouse’s lunar abode and that of the birthday boy’s bedroom. RedReadingHub

The illustrations add so much to the text, as we watch Moon Mouse, with a rattle, a rumble, a BOOM and a BLAST, setting off for planet earth. The illustrated contrast between Mouse’s moon home and the birthday boy’s is great, as his lost red balloon is returned. Moon Mouse’s heart is bursting with pleasure, mission complete, as he zooms off into the night. We understand that a friendship has been cemented. A book to be savoured over and over, to be enjoyed for its rich language as well as for the quality of the detailed pictures. Books for Keeps

This book is a paperback. Here in Australia it is not expensive. This is a book you should add to your preschool library shelves and also to the shelves in your Primary school library along with other books by Corrinne Averiss. 

My Pet Star

Joy

Take a look here to see more glorious art by Lorna Hill. 

Puppet by David Almond illustrated by Lizzy Stewart

"At the beginning, just bits of wood. Something to hold them together. Some string perhaps. Just a few bits and pieces and odds and ends. And that's about all. Apart from an imagination, and a belief that you can really do it."

"You're a mystery, aren't you, Puppet? But isn't everything a mystery? 

Not just you, but every single thing that exists."

Silvester is a master puppet maker but now it seems his life's work has come to an end. The museum curators have collected his puppets, posters and props so they can prepare a display of his work. Not so long ago, Silvester's beautiful wife Belinda has died, and as all the puppets are taken away, Silvester is left feeling so alone. 

Late that evening he climbs the stairs in his home to his puppet workshop. At first it seems there are only discards of wood and other materials, but Silvester gently picks up one piece and then another and before long he has created a new puppet.

"He used thin wire and tweezers to put together a leg and then another leg. One was longer than the other, one had a very wobbly knee joint. One was dark wood; one was light. He added feet; one with a black boot, one with a brown. He found a pair of arms, one of them with powerful-looking muscles. One had had the full four fingers, the other only three. He found a skinny torso and wired the arms and legs to it. He took one of the dangling heads from its string. It was pine wood, yellowy brown. He attached it to the body."

All of this is happening under moonlight and in the company of the small creatures who live in this attic space - a mouse, some spiders, and woodlice. Silvester makes his puppet with love and skill and somehow this makes magic, because Puppet speaks.

And so the story begins. Silvester names his new companion Puppet but out in the world, when he is mistaken as his grandson, he tells local people the boy is named Kenneth. Naturally Puppet knows nothing of the world and so Silvester takes great delight in teaching him to walk and then introducing Puppet to the simple wonders of his local neighborhood - the park, the shops, and the playground swings. In the park Silvester and Kenneth meet a young girl named Fleur and her mum Antonia. They have recently moved to this community following the death of Fleur's father. There is a very special moment in this story when mum and Silvester make a connection.

A small paper puppet slips out from one of Silvester's old scrap books. 

"Silvester picked it up. There was a label tied to it. Thank you for the show. His name is Claude. With love from Antonia."

"Then he took Claude from his pocket and held him high towards the birds and moved him through the air as if he were flying too. And Antonia caught her breath. ... and held her hands out and Puppet put the paper puppet into them, and she whispered 'Claude!'"

After young Antonia and her parents, saw Silvester's puppet show of Hansel and Gretel she explains "at home we made puppets from paper and sticks and card. We made a puppet theatre from a cardboard box and acted out Hansel and Gretel for ourselves. And I made a little puppet named Claude, parcelled him up and took him to the post office and I sent him to you."

David Almond writes with such gentle insights as we watch Silvester caring for Puppet. He also gives readers fragments of text that anticipate how this story will end.

"This would be Silvester's final puppet; he knew that. Puppet was brand new, but he was made from bits of ancient puppets, scraps and fragments, stuff that seemed nearly useless. He was, as Fleur had said, both young and old. He had bits of Silvester in him, bits of Belinda, bits of memories, bits of dreams. He had grown from all the puppets that had gone before, and he would lead to all the puppets that were still to come."

Here are a few text quotes to give you a flavour of the exquisite way David Almond writes:

"This is called music. It pours from the air into your mind and moves your bones."

"Puppet flapped his arms as if they were wings. He stood high and stretched upward, as if about to fly."

"All through the rest of the night, beneath the lamp and the moon, Silvester worked to make Puppet the best puppet it was possible for him to be. He tightened Puppet's joints. He reshaped Puppet's face. He smoothed and waxed his skin. He thickened Puppet's hair. He brightened his green eyes."

"No he would never be perfect but he was beautiful. He was beautiful and imperfect, as all the most beautiful things are."

"What is time? How does it pass? Sometimes - maybe when we're bored or when we're waiting for something we really want to do - an hour can seem like a week. Sometimes an hour can seem like a few fleeting moments. And there are times when you forget everything and time doesn't seem to pass at all ... like when you're reading a good book."

I recommend this book for readers who are deeper thinkers aged 10+. 

There are some themes in Puppet by David Almond which made me remember other books that I have read. To my eye many of his books have religious/Christian themes. After reading Puppet and Skellig you might look for Jackdaw Summer, Clay, Heaven eyes, and Bone Music.

• Falling Boy touches on issues of bullies and community action. Dawn from this story is also grieving the loss of her brother. 
• The tale of Angelino Brown is very similar to Puppet. A lonely couple are 'rescued' by a tiny 'angel' boy.
• Skellig - if you have read this classic award-winning story you will remember the way Skellig resembles an angel and the significance of his wings. 

In her review for our Magpies Magazine Dr Robin Morrow said: "Lizzy Stewarts black-and-white illustrations ... are an integral component of this book, making it a kind of graphic novel. They appear at unpredictable intervals ... The final seven pages have no verbal text, simply the illustrator's eloquent depiction of Puppet releasing his makeshift wings and flying into the distance." "There is an elegiac mood to this small masterpiece."

Read some other reviews:

• Kirkus Star review
• Kids' Book Review
• Books for Keeps

I recently talked about Pinocchio. Perhaps adults will make this connection, but I actually enjoyed Puppet as a character and his friends Silvester and Fleur more than that mischievous Pinocchio who, as an adult reader, frustrated me with his selfish and headstrong attitude and slightly tedious misadventures.

A Small Collection of Happiness by Zana Fraillon illustrated by Stephen Michael King

"Hattie's father had told her then that full-moon wishes were the most powerful wishes of all ... Ever since that night, whenever there was a full moon, Hettie would push open the window. She would look at the moon and imagine she was back there on that hill with her father. And then she would whisper her strongest, most fiercest, 

most important wish to the moon."

This story is told in twenty-five parts or fragments. I cannot call them chapters as each one almost stands alone and yet of course they are interconnected and do need to be read from first to last.

The Characters:

1. Hattie

Hattie is a young girl who lives in a tall, run down, apartment building in an urban city. Hattie is a lonely girl with a lively imagination. She is in need of a friend and also an adventure. We only very briefly glimpse her mum on page 170 and we are never really told explicitly about Hattie's dad but there are fragments in this story which will tell you dad is no longer there and perhaps he has died. Hattie holds memories of their times together close to her heart. 

2. Ada

Ada is an older lady who has recently lost her partner - a woman who she loved so deeply named Bessie. Ada arrives late one night and moves into the empty apartment next door to Hattie. In her pocket she has an envelope which contains a mysterious letter. 

"No one saw Ada arrive. Not even Hettie. No one saw her drip and squelch and puddle her way through the gates and down the path. No one saw her wait and wait and wait for the elevator that had been broken for a year already and wasn't about to start working now .... No one saw her slowly drag her suitcase up the metal stairs - thump, thump, thump - to the fourth floor."

Ada seems gruff and set in her ways but over time she and Hattie somehow forge a close relationship. Ada is writing a very curious book entitled How to Live. It is filled with quirky advice (I loved this part of the story) such as:

"Spend at least a week walking in someone else's footprints."
"Go to the top of a hill and whistle your favourite song into a bottle. Leave the bottle on someone's doorstep so that when they open it, they too can enjoy the song."

3. Salim

Is a boy who is a little younger than Hattie. He has seen the footprints of the elusive panther that people think is prowling their neighborhood. His mum makes delicious soup which Hattie would love to eat. It is very clear right from the beginning that Hattie and Salim are destined to become friends even though Hattie herself would deny this. 

After Ada's arrival on the stormy night Hattie heads next door to visit her new mysterious neighbour. Over time we watch as Hattie and Ada share tiny moments of joy such as watching baby spiderlings unfurl their tiny threads and float away on the breeze; listening to the world very early in the morning before the sunrise; and collecting special objects to add to their bag - their small collection of happiness. And they both enjoy cups of tea and the Friendship Biscuits Hattie bakes - I do wish the recipe was included at the back of the book. We also watch the evolving friendship of these two, very different characters.

I am not sure I can relate too much of the plot of this book without spoiling your own reading journey. This story is told in fragments (I have used that word a few times here) and reading it felt like I was trying to catch a butterfly. You can see this beautiful creature, but it is always just out of reach and perhaps just out of focus - an exquisite tiny piece of the natural world. This book is also an exquisite piece of expertly crafted storytelling with a gentle conclusion.

Here is a text quote:

"Hettie slumped onto the couch. She ran her fingers over Ada’s patchwork quilt and wished that she had something like this, something passed down through her family. Her family was all so scattered and lost and forgotten that she hardly knew anything about them. Sometimes she felt like she didn’t really belong anywhere. She wondered what it would be like to be surrounded by a great, big, huge family. To know there was always someone to talk to, someone to go to if you needed help. Someone who had stories to pass on and secrets to share. Someone who would give her a quilt one day and who would know that she would pass it on herself."

Do not rush your reading of this story - slow down, take your time, enjoy the way each fragment (that word again) quietly reveals more about Hettie and Ada. There are page breaks between the 'chapters' and I think these are designed to help you slow down your reading.  I do hope the CBCA judges add this book to their 2025 Younger Readers Notables list.

I am not a big fan of endorsements on book covers but it is very special to see UK author David Almond says: "I enjoyed this strange, inventive and moving tale." 

Oh and I do LOVE the cover. Give it a shake when you find the book so you can also see the way the designer has included spot vanish as an added layer of sparkle. 

I can also see why the publisher thought to ask Stephen Michael King to illustrate this book - he was the perfect choice and I imagine he loved contributing to this book. You can see inside this book and read the opening pages here. And you should explore these teachers notes by Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright. 

Robyn Sheahan-Bright says: This whimsical tale has the stamp of a classic story. It is a multilayered tale about happiness, wishes, reality and imagination, family and friendship, urban renewal, urban myths, and individual and community memory. Peopled with two memorable characters, Hettie and Ada, it powerfully reinforces the notion that both imagination and human connection can enrich and sustain a life in a myriad of ways.

This unique and quiet story reminds us that we should look for what matters in the small, everyday moments, as this can mean more to people than the big moments. The Book Muse

This is such a unique, whimsical story with elements of magical realism and captivating, often abstract ... Facebook Reading Opens Doors with Elise Ellerman

With its themes of friendship, hope and happiness, it will definitely find a place in the hearts of many young readers who enjoy a story with a difference. Kids Book Review

Companion books:

Hazel Green 

(Read the comment below from Zana Fraillon)

View from the 32nd Floor

This one is long out of print, but I constantly recommend it- hope you can find it.

The Silk family series

The Friendship Bench by Wendy Meddour illustrated by Daniel Egneus

Tilly has moved to a new house. She has her good friend Shadow but Shadow is a dog and so he is not allowed to go to school. Tilly feels lost and alone at school until her teacher suggests she try the friendship bench. But when Tilly walks across to the friendship bench someone else is sitting there. Then the teacher suggests trying again. A little boy is sitting there. He explains the bench is broken. Is there some way these two kids can get this bench to work?

Read this perfect first sentence (sigh - the illustration shows a lighthouse and I hope you saw one on the cover):

"Tilly and Shadow had found a new home by the splash and curl of the sea."

Think about that beautiful phrase - the splash and curl of the sea. 

Oh, and wait until you see the teacher - he looks like an old seafaring grandfather with his big white beard and Fair Isle pattern jumper. It is a small school - perhaps it is on an island?

And there is a whole conversation to be had from the final wordless double spread. 

The Friendship Bench is rich in meaning, pathos, hope and soaring, subtle images. Bookwagon

The Friendship Bench was published in 2022. It is available in paperback so can I suggest you jump in quickly and add it to your school library shopping list. Books today do not stay in print for very long and this is a book you absolutely must add to your collection. It would be the perfect book for your younger classes to hear at the start of the year. I highly recommend this book. It is worth shopping around, though, I've seen it listed between AUS$17 and AUS$26.50. As a quiet and shy child I am sure if I had heard this book when I was younger this book would have touched my heart and given me the hope of finding a true friend. 

Companion books:

Blue Flower

Neville

Mustafa

Luli and the Language of Tea

Each book by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egneus sensitively explores feelings in a way in which young children can understand and empathise with. Moving house and/or school is such a significant event at any time of life, but for some children, particularly those who are quiet or shy, it can be really difficult. Through the Bookshelf

Wendy Meddour is a fairly new discovery of mine, but I have to say I have totally fallen in love with her books and with the illustrations by Daniel Egneus.

Lubna and Pebble

Tisha and the Blossom

Anchored by Debra Tidball illustrated by Arielle Li

 

"Tug watched Ship pull out into the deep ocean. 'I'll miss you,' boomed Ship, flags waving. 'But I'll be home soon.' The gap between them widened."

After you read this book to your group go back and look at this opening sentence. Debra Tidball has carefully selected every word here. Tug has a capital letter because she is a main character and Ship also has a capital letter. Ship is heading off into the unknown - the deep ocean. Ship is large so her voice booms. And she is happy, perhaps anticipating an adventure - her flags are waving. Then we read the heart wrenching words - the gap between them widened. I have a photo of a scene like this from 1948 when my mum sailed off from Australia to the UK leaving her sister waving from the dock. It is a happy scene but also filled with emotion.

"With Ship away, the sea shone a little less brightly."

Until finally Boom Boom Boom Ship returns to the port. 

"Ship towered over Tug like a warm hug."

While Tug stayed home working on the busy harbour, Ship travelled the world but in every place Ship thought about Tug. Read these descriptions of the places Ship visits:

"I've been to the tropics, where the sea glitters like crystals and jellyfish dance in shimmering shoals."

"I've been out past the breakers where the swell pulses and grows into a wild beast that crashes over my hull."

"I was just a dot in an endless blue sea and sky. I felt lost in the inky nights speckled with twinkling stars."

When I was a CBCA judge (2021-23) I argued against listing picture books in more than one category for our annual awards so I was surprised to see we have two picture books in the Early Childhood (ages 0-6) and the Picture Book (ages 0-18) category - Anchored by Debra Tidball and The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham.  I think is this is a testament to the way a terrific picture book can work across ages - appealing to very young children and exploring deeper themes with children in Grade One or Two. I am certain this book will be selected for one of these short lists which will be announced next week. 

The Early Childhood CBCA Judges said: Depicted with sensitivity and empathy, this gentle book explores separation anxiety and associated emotions. The characters are well-defined, with Tug and Ship having a clear relationship and different roles, reflecting that of a parent and child. Tug’s insecurities and concerns are acknowledged and conveyed in a highly effective sequence of illustrations that echo the taut text. Softly blurred, circular framing of key images suggests the safety and security of a “warm hug” during difficult times. Tug’s self-talk invites discussion. Carefully selected words such as ‘pushing’, ‘pulling’, and ‘prodding’ in both the beginning and end of the story reflect the concept that life goes on. The well-realised conclusion references the title with the closing image featuring the two characters separate yet connected.

The Picture Book of the Year CBCA Judges said: This gentle, emotional story celebrates friendship which helps weather any storm and makes the world seem brighter. Small Tug learns to cope with the absence of his friend Ship who ventures on long journeys across the deep ocean, discovering that a friend’s presence remains firmly anchored in one’s heart, regardless of distance. The story’s language is evocative and rich, enlivened by literary devices such as simile, alliteration, personification and onomatopoeia. The narrative is elevated by illustrations that skillfully vary in layout and size, bound together by a softly muted colour palette transitioning from the light blue of the skies to the deeper and midnight blues of the ocean. From an appealing cover and attractive endpapers to the overall harmony between written text and illustrations, it is an example of an excellently designed and effective picture book.

Here is the webpage for Arielle Li. And for Debra Tidball. In this very brief video Debra Tidball talks about her book and her personal connections with the story. Here are some very detailed teachers notes from the publisher. The book trailer has a very appealing soundtrack and no words. It is well worth watching. Here is an interview with Debra Tidball. 

Written for our youngest readers to reassure them that even though they might be separated from a parent for a time, out of sight does not mean out of mind and that they are always anchored in the heart of the absent one regardless.  At a time when there are many reasons that separation might happen, stories like this help alleviate anxiety and confirm that the parent will return. The Bottom Shelf

Anchored may be helpful in a classroom with little ones who are missing absent parents, or in families where adults travel for work. Story Links

You can read more review extracts here. 

When I first saw this book, I thought it might be a little bit like the old series -  Thomas the Tank Engine because the ship and tug have faces and smiles, but this book is so much more. You could share Anchored in your library with students from Kindergarten up to Grade 2 but I would NOT link this book with other simple funny stories about ferries or tug boats such as Little Tug by Steven Savage; I'm Mighty! by Kate McMullan; Mighty Tug by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; Tough Tug by Margaret Read MacDonald; Fergus the Ferry series by JW Noble; or Scuffy the Tug Boat (A Little Golden Book). 

The emotional arc of this narrative reminded me of this book:

King Lion by Emma Yarlett

 

King Lion is the king of his kingdom but he feels so alone. 

"I need a friend."

He tries roaring hello but this just frightens everyone and they all run away. So he tries waving his paws, flashing his smile and telling a joke but again everyone is terrified. 

"Please will anybody be my friend?' But all they saw were his dangerous claws and all they heard were his deafening roars."

The sad king is left to roar his sorrow night after night until ... one small girl makes a plan. This little child has great emotional intelligence. She can see the lion is very sad. She even draws a Venn diagram. And yes they all live happily ever after.

Yes this is a simple story but it would be a good addition to your collection of books about friendship and the ways we make friends and understanding difference and understanding of different ways of reaction to one another and also compassion!

Walker Books blurb: The lion is King and everyone in his kingdom is happy. Everyone, that is, except King Lion himself. The king feels lonely and decides he needs a friend. He tries everything: roaring “hello”, waving his paws, flashing a smile and even cracking a joke. But everyone just runs away. Then, feeling lonelier than ever, the king climbs up the tallest tower in his kingdom and roars and roars and ROARS! Now no one in the kingdom is happy. Until a little girl sees the king and comes up with a very brave plan to help him. A joyful, touching and vibrantly illustrated story.

This is a brand new book - published in November 2023. You need to hunt around for a good price. One online seller lists this for over AUS$40 but I found a few independent book sellers listing this for AUS$28. 

Read a 2020 interview with Emma. Here are two other books by Emma Yarlett:

Pigeon and Cat by Edward Hemingway

 

We are all capable of choosing to be kind, but it’s not always easy, especially in tough times. So I deliberately began Pigeon and Cat with one small act of kindness. When Cat finds Pigeon’s abandoned egg on the ground he protects it instead of eating it. This act not only changes the trajectory of both their lives, but of the community in which they live. Small acts of kindness can shine a bright light in dark times and open the pathway to a positive future. 

This only sounds corny because it’s true. Edward Hemmingway 

Cat lives in a battered cardboard box in the grounds of an abandoned cardboard box factory. He has all the things he needs - shelter, food, water, and old clothes to sleep on but he has to sleep with one eye open just in case other stray cats climb over the fence. Wait a minute. Does he have everything? No - Cat is so lonely. 

Did you see a pigeon on the cover of this book? Oh, and the title IS Pigeon AND cat - so where did the pigeon come from? One windy night cat found a small bird's nest and inside was an egg and ... yes that is where Pigeon comes into the story. Now Cat has a friend and Pigeon has someone to help her learn about the world including, oh no, how to fly. Pigeon cannot talk the same language as Cat but she communicates in symbols that look like emojis. At first, when Pigeon learns to fly, she travels over the city and brings back small treasures for Cat - that is my favourite page.

"But one dark afternoon Pigeon does not return from treasure hunting. Cat stands vigil, looking into the angry sky until he is forced to hide from the rain and wind. When the storm passes, he calls out for his friend till his voice is hoarse. Pigeon is nowhere to be found."

At this point the story feels a little like one of my favourite books Felix and Alexander. Cat now has to venture out into the unknown city - he simply HAS to overcome is fear AND find his friend. All around the city Cat posts messages using pictures and emojis hoping Pigeon will see them. These little colourful chalk messages add colour to the neighborhood and gradually the city streets feel less frightening. 

Also, as Cat walks around the city, he talks to other cats - reaching out with friendship. I imagine you can guess the happy ending. The rebus conversation with Pigeon and Cat is certain to delight your young reading companion. I also loved seeing the way the old factory is transformed into a wonderful community space. 

The illustrations in this book have a very appealing retro feel and they also have a vintage comic feel. Read this interview with Betsy Bird and Edward Hemmingway. 

Here is quote from the interview: Betsy - Well, and this book in particular is such a visual eye-popper. One minute you’re doing silhouettes and the next you’re incorporating emojis into Pigeon’s speech balloons. These cityscapes are also highly detailed.

The Teaching Books Blog has some extra book resources for you to explore. Here is a video with the author very briefly talking about his book. Here is the website for Edward Hemmingway. 

A sweet tale celebrating the joys of both personal and communal togetherness. Kirkus

"A splendid paean to the power of art to heal, and the trifecta of friendship, persistence, and inclusivity to rebuild community. A delightful book." School Library Journal

"A loner cat and an adventurous, outgoing bird are paired in this heartwarming story of friendship and community.... Hemingway’s oil-on-board art has an animated quality that jumps off the page…. bright contrasts and dynamic perspectives help bring the city and its inhabitants to life. Along with the main text, all of the dialogue is presented in speech bubbles, which young readers will enjoy deciphering. A satisfying story exploring heart and home." Horn Book

If you are a Teacher-Librarian reading this post you should seriously consider adding this book to your library. I would pair this book with Herman and Rosie or Gary.

Herman and Rosie

Gary

Amelia Ellicott's Garden by Liliana Stafford illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Opening sentence: A long time ago, Amelia Ellicott's family owned most of Sampson Street, from the fish-and-chip shop on the corner to the roundabout on the main road.

But over time the street has changed and now number fifty-six is overshadowed by a block of flats and a high fence. In the past Amelia knew her neighbours but now she is all alone. Amelia has grown old and her garden as become hard to maintain. There are weeds and the roses badly need pruning. At least her chickens are happy. Every evening Amelia sits with her chickens and has a chat about her day.

"They are Pekin Bantams, the colour of sunshine and marigolds."

Sadly when the new chicks hatch, there is no one to share the joy. Her cat Mustafah refuses to be interest in chickens. 

Meanwhile, in those high-rise flats next door Tony Timponi watches the chickens too. He used to live in Italy and he had chickens and goats and fruit trees. Adrian Pop looks down too. He would love a garden where he could grow cabbage and zucchinis. Lin Li would love to see some ducks paddling in Amelia's little pond and the Martinovitch children dream of making a tyre swing in the big mulberry tree. 

"But no one ever says a word. They are too shy. And besides Amelia Ellicott never gives them the time of day"

Now pause. You have read about the problem which at its heart are themes of loneliness and longing. What would you add to the story to facilitate a change? Liliana Stafford adds a wild storm. Remember those neighbours have been watching the garden. Now they spring into action. 

"And there in the pouring rain are all the neighbours running around chasing chickens or trying to catch bits of Amelia Ellicott's garden." 

And the best thing, apart from everyone meeting over cups of tea, is that the fence that once separated residents of the high-rise flats from Amelia Ellicott and her garden, has fallen down. Go back and read all those dreams - a tree swing, a vegetable garden, sharing baby chicks, and friends - all of those dreams can now come true!

Amelia Ellicott's Garden was first published in 2000. The illustrations by Stephen Michael King are fresh and vibrant - I think his early books were among his best - I am thinking of The Man who loved Boxes, Henry and Amy, Mutt Dog, Pocket Dogs, Beetle Soup, Where does Thursday go? and Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle. Click this link to see the posts about lots of books illustrated by Stephen Michael King. 

When you open Amelia Ellicott's Garden spend some time on the first page, the imprint page, and the gloriously decorated title. I picked up Amelia Ellicott's garden at a recent charity book sale because I have always loved it. Sadly this book is now out of print, but I am sure it will be in most Australian school libraries. Here is a heart-felt review with teaching ideas from Children's Books Daily. In this video for the State Library of NSW Stephen Michael King talks about his book. 

Companion books (or perhaps you could read these as part of a mini theme about community life):

The Biscuit Maker

The Song for everyone

The Invisible

Old Fellow