Into the Bewilderness by Gus Gordon

"Maybe we're missing out on something here in the woods? What if there's something else out there? Beyond the trees. Beyond the horizon, where the sun goes down into the ground for the night and the moon is released from the big box in the sky."

"One cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

Don't you just love that word in the title - Bewiderness - your young reading companion might anticipate that the two characters on the cover are bewildered and that they are either IN or travelling TO the wilderness.

Blurb from author webpage: In the Bewilderness, life is good. Best friends Luis (the large furry one) and Pablo (the small furry one) spend their days wandering through nature, playing songs on the guitar, and eating Slow Joe McNally’s pinecone porridge with their neighbors. When dreamer Luis receives an unexpected invitation to attend a performance of The Weary Mermaid in the big, bustling city, he finds it hard to ignore the allure of the bright lights. Luckily, he doesn’t have to go it alone—and it’s a good thing, because it’s a long journey through the Bewilderness, and Luis has many questions. Will they meet laser-eyed gargoyles, zombie chickens, or tyrannical cow rulers? Will they get there on time? Why is quicksand so slow if it’s called quicksand? Thankfully, with his grumpy but loyal best friend by his side, they’ll soon find out. ... Or will they?

This is a story of two unlikely friends - a bear and a mole. It is a 'grass is greener' story and it is also a tale of true friendship. If you are sharing this book with a young group of students, you could perhaps also look at some versions of Town Mouse and Country Mouse. As is often the way with unlikely friends stories this pair have contrasting personalities. Pablo is slightly cynical and verbose while Luis is naïve about the world especially the world beyond their woods. In another way this story also has deeper themes about our need for cultural experiences, rich lives and perhaps even deeper - it could be about the meaning of life itself - but maybe I am getting too carried away. 

Gus Gordon has included such a rich vocabulary in this book - mostly spoken by Pablo. 

sophistication backwater; behemoth; wayward; disoriented; rabid; ravenous winged creatures; repressed society; wanderlust; preordained; elegant chaos; immeasurable; and manifestation of intellectual achievement. So, this graphic novel and the tone of the humour will suit readers aged 9 or 10+.

It is fun the way the pair of friends 'rib' each other with their ascribed nicknames of Furball and Turnip. I also enjoyed the wordless pages - a chance to slow down and just see their world.

"Well Furball, we're off to see what the Big City has to offer. Will it be a vast wealth of culture and energy or a bottomless pit of despair?' 'There could be pretty lights ...!' 'That hide a broken-down society crippled by expectations of grandeur."

The Kirkus review of Into the Bewilderness is so insightful. The reviewer likens Pablo and Luis to Laurel and Hardy and I learned a new word for their friend Ray who is perhaps a yeti or a bigfoot. Kirkus use the word cryptid. Cryptid: an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.

Appealing, colorful artwork complements the philosophical, character-driven plot, including stunning two-page spreads that showcase the wonder of the woods and a sparkling night sky. With gentle humor, the author explores themes of curiosity, friendship, and the value of different perspectives. School Library Journal

This is a delightful and wacky graphic novel that will have adventurous spirits of all ages smiling as they follow this charming pair. The book doesn’t talk down to readers, containing impressive vocabulary and concepts that work on a number of levels. It’s a gorgeous little hardback and an absolute joy for ages 9+. Readings Melbourne

Gordon writes with wit, warmth, and compassion. He shares small but important insights into humanity, whilst also exploring more philosophical themes such as understanding our place in time and space, explaining the elegant chaos of the universe or unpacking the meaning of culture, all of which are handled deftly with humour. Reading Time

Here is the US cover with some tiny changes - I wonder why? The endorsement is from Sergio Ruzza - I do love his books (see them at the bottom of this post).

I read Into the Bewilderness in one huge gulp. It took me just over an hour to devour the 180 pages. I laughed and I gasped - there are two gasp-worthy scenes in this story. Gus Gordon is the author and illustrator of over 80 books, and he should be very proud of his first graphic novel which I know took many hours to create. You can see his work in progress on Instagram.

One of my favourite moments is when Pablo and Luis arrive in the Big City. They are hungry. Luis would like a tuna fish sandwich and Pablo would like some pecan pie. Turn the page and we see them standing outside a business named Tuna Fish Sandwich and Pecan Pie Restaurant - perfect!

You can see inside Into the Bewilderness here. 

Joy Lawn interviewed Gus Gordon and asked him about his book - here are a few quotes by Gus from her blog Paperbark Words:

This bear and mole deserved a larger story. So, I decided to sit down and write one chapter, and see where it led me. I did a lot of research, looking at other graphic novels, from here and abroad. I really hadn’t looked at many before, but I must admit that it felt familiar, in a sense, and once I began to flesh out the story, things kind of fell into place.

The wonderful thing about the graphic novel format is that it’s incredibly versatile. As long as the story is progressing, it doesn’t matter how you tell it visually. It embraces almost all the elements of storytelling. Much like a picture book, you can use the page space to breathe, and slow the pace down, not a single panel in sight. Perhaps a bird slowly making its way down over the forest below for pages and pages. Or, conversely, you can use multiple vignettes to speed the story up.

Home is always a powerful notion in stories, and it features heavily in Into the Bewilderness, as I mentioned earlier. A familiar theme that has been pointed out to me from readers, as a recurring feature of my stories over the years, is the theme of loneliness. That in the end we are alone in this world, and despite the undeniable importance of family and friends, it’s up to us to make the most of our short lives. 

When the pair of friends travel to the city to see a show I thought of this wonderful book:

And the expression of true friendship and an adventure in a big city (Gus says he was thinking of Detroit but I thought of New York) reminded me of this special book also by Gus Gordon:

Herman and Rosie

These are books by Sergio Ruzzier - he did the endorsement on the US cover of Into the Bewilderness.

Read more here.

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 life together 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 some other things are going on in this community. 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 run away 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

The train at the end of my street by Tom Jellett

I still find it quite exciting catching a train (whether to sit upstairs? Or downstairs?) and hopefully some of that excitement is conveyed in the drawings. ... 

(I usually sit upstairs). Tom Jellett

I once had a train at the end of my street so the title of this book really grabbed my attention. I now live in a part of Sydney where there are no trains. Commuters and families have to travel by bus to the CBD to then catch a train. I actually do this every week on my way to a volunteer job. I really enjoy the train part of my journey. It would be fantastic to share this book with your own child before or after a train outing especially if this is not a part of their daily life. The trains in this book are clearly in Sydney but this book will translate easily to other train networks. You might even have a chat about graffiti and also all the supportive inclusions around train stations for people with a visual impairment. 

This new Australian picture book is a joyous celebration of family life and trains. Mum and dad and their two children live near a station. Mum catches the train to work and on weekends the family catch the train or an outing. Our narrator explains all about the different trains, how to buy tickets, and how to stand safely on the platform but this is not a lesson it's just a recount of their happy time together. Most of the story takes place over one day and this is beautifully shown in the front end paper (morning) and back end paper (same scene in the evening).

I am certain this book will be a 2026 CBCA Early Childhood notable. Tom Jellett creates so much movement and (implied) noise on each page. This book is an essential purchase for every preschool and also perfect to add to your school library.  I especially love the double spread scene of the busy station where we see all sorts of people on the move heading to and from their trains in groups or pairs or alone with bags and suitcases, backpacks and strollers. Read more about Tom Jellett here. (Hot stuff by Margaret Clark is one of my all-time favourite read aloud books). 

It’s a simple book that feels very familiar and explores all things train from the perspective of a child who can hear trains from their home. From meeting Mum as she disembarks after work to buying a ticket, checking the platform clock and bringing snacks for a long journey, this book has it all covered! There are many different types of trains and stations, and all are lovingly illustrated with Sydney-based author and illustrator Tom Jellett’s trademark warmth. Jellett has created a delightful celebration of transportation and a perfect book to share with train fan. Readings

Image source: Good Reading Magazine

Dirt by Sea

One Tree by Christopher Cheng illustrated by Bruce Whatley

"When he was a young farmer, Grandfather woke to birds singing in his trees. 

He tended his fields and talked to his plants to help them grow."

But that was long ago. Now Grandfather lives in a city apartment. It is busy and noisy and the air does not smell too good.  Grandfather is sad and quiet. 

One day his grandson sees a tiny plant growing in a crack on the footpath. He gently pulls it from the ground and takes it home because he is sure his grandfather will know how to care for this tiny fragile new life. At first Grandfather seems disinterested but then he begins to talk to the little tree. 

"Then on my birthday, Grandfather gives me another potted tree. 'Two trees are always better than one'."

Over the coming weeks they add more trees and soon their balcony is filled with trees and blossoms. And then a bird arrives. His silent Grandfather begins to talk again - telling stories of his mountains and rivers and trees and fishing. Other people notice the green on their high-up balcony and they add their own trees and over time the grey, austere building is transformed. 

Publisher blurb: One tall tree on the mountain once marked Grandfather’s farm. Now there is a busy city and Grandfather lives with us in our apartment. Once he told stories but now he stays silent. Until one day, in the city market, I find something precious . . . something that brings Grandfather’s memories alive again.

One Tree reads like a beloved fable; a story that spans generations and could easily slip into despondency yet buoys hope in the most translucent way as Cheng compares the past with the present. Green mountainsides are obscured by city grim and skyscrapers. Individualism is sucked away in a vortex of colourless anonymity and sameness, yet one tiny action motions great change allowing transformation. This story blends environmental concerns with social awareness and family relationships all under a deliciously Asian cultural umbrella. And the thing that pulls it all together? Whatley’s exquisite illustrations. Dim's Write Stuff

The topic of urban renewal and growing a green city could be a fabulous mini unit in your school library. There are so many books on this topic. Here are a few companion books:

The Secret Sky Garden

The Tin Forest

The Extraordinary Gardener

The Girl who Planted Trees

Oscar's Tower of Flowers

The Curious Garden

Rose's Garden

The Tree at Number 43

Bruce Whatley is our IBBY Australia 2026 Hans Christian Andersen award nominee. I read One Tree many years ago (it was published in 2019) and I have often suggested it as a companion book but for some reason I had not penned a proper blog post about this book.

One Tree is one of the five books illustrated by Bruce Whately that we have sent to the ten HCAA jurors.

The Reading Time reviewer said:

This book is so simply but beautifully written, and the illustrations so vibrant and effective, that once I read it, I had to turn back and read it again immediately. The story of the grandfather slowly being drawn into helping his grandson with the tree was so touching. I especially appreciated when the grandfather starts talking quietly to the tree. Bruce Whatley’s illustrations are achieved digitally, but give the appearance of linocuts. This technique, in its blend of old and new technology complements the themes of the book: the old and the new can find ways to coexist.

One Day by Shirley Marr illustrated by Michael Speechley

"Mayfly has not regretted a second of the 

incandescent experience that is life. 

It has been a perfect day."

Mayfly is born in May. She will only live for one day so every moment is precious. Humans do live longer than one day but equally the underlying message in this book is clear - it is important to value your day and your relationships. It is also important to notice and celebrate the world you live in no matter how big or how small.

This book opens with a calendar page. The date 18th May is circled because this is the birthday of May (that's the name I am giving her) - the mayfly. A frog spies the newly emerged mayfly. He is the voice of doom. "The world out there will eat you up ... not that it matters. You'll only live for one day, anyway."

How will she react - here is the opportunity to talk about optimism. Mayfly says - "One whole day! It's hard to believe." 

As we watch Mayfly exploring her world including the big city, we also see a young girl with her grandparents. Think about their life journey. There is a scene where, as a reader, we are given a birds-eye view of the city. Notice the shop and building names - these are a powerful way to show a life journey - A1 Daycare; Day Street Primary; Day Street High School, Juan Dei University; Juan Dei Student housing; The Daily Grind Pty Ltd; Day Job Corporation; Daydream travel; Daily bakery; Sunset Retirement living; and Apel A. Daye Hospital.

Okay this is a big call, but I am going to say One Day is my 2025 book of the year (so far). I was previously a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) picture book judge. I wish I had that privilege this year so that I could champion One Day as a book that needs to be added to all school libraries. This is a perfect example of a multilayered picture book which can be shared across school grades. This book is sure to appear on lots of awards lists.

Walker Books Australia released One Day this week. They have made a teaching kit (aimed at a very young audience) but this book is sure to lead to very deep discussions with older readers in middle and upper primary classes about the circle of life, our human life journey, our brief time on earth, the importance of family relationships, along with -  techniques of illustrators, book design (colour palette, embossed lettering on the cover, end papers), and page/book formats. 

I don't often comment on the work of book designers, but Sarah Mitchell deserves a huge award for her work on this book. You can follow her on Facebook. 

The text of this book is brilliant, but it is equally brilliant to see how Michael Speechley extends this text with tiny illustration details AND the 'calendar-style' format where you turn this book sideways is so different and utterly perfect. (I was not able to find the official term for this).

There is a word that I quoted at the top of this post. It made me gasp:

incandescent

That is the perfect word to describe One Day by Shirley Marr - incandescent! Paul MacDonald used another perfect word in his review - "a stunner".

Here is some more of the text from One Day:

"To her astonishment she takes flight. But it's easy to feel small in a big world. Life is a map with no set destination. One that can take you in any direction. ... Life is a moment in time."

Interview: One Day introduces a little girl in a yellow raincoat to a mayfly who is determined to make every moment of her day count. ‘We playfully discussed, during a chance meeting, the hypothetical question of “What would you do if you only lived for one day?”,’ said Marr and Speechley. ‘The idea quickly became something driven primarily by the love of art and prose that neither of us believed would find publication—if not for the support of agent Gemma Cooper of the Bent Agency. We cannot wait for readers to delve into our passion project and meet Mayfly!’  ‘Shirley and Michael’s beautiful encapsulation of the notion of carpe diem has never been more beautiful,’ said Walker publisher Clare Hallifax. ‘From Shirley’s exquisite prose to Mike’s charming and inventive illustration, readers young and old will be charmed and inspired.’ Books and Publishing interview

Here is the very best companion book (sadly long out of print):

Mayfly Day

Try to find this book too:

Life

I highly recommend these middle grade novels by Shirley Marr - she is one of our top Australian children's writers. 

Countdown to Yesterday (5 stars); All four quarters of the Moon; A Glasshouse of Stars

Michael Speechley has been a graphic designer and high school art teacher in WA. His first picture book, The All New Must Have Orange 430, explores themes of consumerism and the environment. It was shortlisted and awarded as an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Children’s Book of the Year Award in 2019 and was the winner of The Wilderness Society’s 2019 Environment Award for Children’s Literature, Picture Books. His second book is The Gift, which was published in September 2019. This book deals with loss, kindness and the joy of giving. It was a Notable Book in the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and was shortlisted for the 2019 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.

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.

Hot Dog by Doug Salati

It is a hot day. The dog is hot but luckily his owner has a plan. First they have to navigate the hot and busy city streets. The pavement is so hot and everything is way too noisy and busy. In fact the little dog finally collapses and refuses to walk on. 

Luckily the lady is able to hail a taxi and they travel, slowly, to the train station. Then there is a ferry ride. Their intended destination is the beach so it is lucky that there is a beach umbrella shop right beside the ferry wharf. On the beach the dog is free to run and roll and enjoy the ocean spray. He collects rocks and pebbles and his owner makes a beautiful picture on the sand. Finally, it is time to go home so she gathers the pebbles and the pair of friends retrace their journey by ferry, train and on foot. The city is so much better now that the weather has cooled down. At home they enjoy a snack and then head to bed for a night of sweet dreams. 

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has been waiting for this book to arrive in Australia. Hot Dog won the Caldecott Medal in 2023 but until this year the price was way too high for a school library budget. In the US this book was published by Alfred K Knopf but the copy we have here is from Pushkin Press UK.  Now that this book is a good price AUS$25 I highly recommend you consider adding it to your library - a perfect book to read on a very hot summer day.

In Australia we would call this a Sausage Dog but in the US he is a Wiener Dog which you could associate with hot dogs (the food)! Weiner is a German word meaning sausage. 

In this conversation Doug Salati talks to Horn Book. See other books by Doug Salati here.

Salati expertly captures the stifling claustrophobia of hot and crowded city streets. One can almost feel the palpable temperature shift when the colors on the pages move from vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows to blues and greens, like a tonal reprieve. Happily, the book avoids demonizing cities in favor of the country, showing instead how a bad day affects your every sense. Spare poetic text also perfectly captures this small canine’s mindset. Kirkus Star review

Practically a wordless book, the storyline delves deep into the mindset of an average dog, an average owner, and the cool seaside breezes that can pivot a day from miserable to marvelous. ... For my part, the thing that struck me about the book right from the get go was the way in which you empathize with this little dog. You feel the heat that it’s experiencing. The loud sounds. The crowded streets. Is it possible to convey sensory overload through the printed page? If so, Salati has mastered it. SLJ Betsy Bird. (Click this review extract to see Doug Salati talking about his book)

Minimal, impressionistic free-verse text beautifully sets scenes and conveys character and emotion, expertly matched by the illustrations. Claustrophobic vertical panels, angular lines, and hot oranges, reds, and yellows (of the city) give way to expansive, sometimes full-spread horizontal panels and cool blues and greens (of the island escape). Horn Book

When I read Hot Dog I thought of this very old book:

One Lone Swallow by Corinne Fenton illustrated by Owen Swan

This book is set in Florence, Italy and when you read this post I will be there! I am penning a series of posts for my blog ahead of time because it might be difficult to access a computer.

This is the story of a swallow who sets off across the city to find her mate. She has to leave her babies back in the nest and so there is a huge urgency to her quest. 

There are wonderful words in this book - lingered, ruffled, flimsy cobwebs, and silvery beams. And some beautiful phrases - writing music with her wings; beyond the charcoal edges of the ancient city; (the) blue velvet night draped whispers over the timeless city.

The swallow soars across 1805 Florence and we see cityscapes from all angles depicted by Owen Swan in soft shades of purple, tan pale blue and grey. Her mate is eventually found but he is tangled in shoemakers' twine. The female struggles to release him and at that moment a huge rat arrives - a moment of extreme danger.

This book would be so perfect when you talk about narrative arc - you could draw a graph of the way the story moves through low and high points before reaching that all important happy reunion and ending. Prescribed writing programs for children (I am not really a fan) use the term tightening tension. 

I also love the way the opening words are written in glorious sweeping calligraphy.  

Corinne’s text gently reveals the mother’s plight, with enough suspense to keep little minds guessing as to what might transpire for the lone swallow and her family. From piazzas and cathedrals to the foot of Michelangelo’s statue of David, the illustrations are rich with history, and Owen Swan gives a subdued colour palette life, placing the reader firmly in the landscape of Florence with an aerial view of the enchanting city at dusk. Reading Time

The angle of the city buildings and structures are brilliantly illustrated showing Italy 200 years ago.  The style is muted and dusky, showing iconic Italian landmarks from a birds-eye point of view, including the statue of Michelangelo’s David, as an integral aspect of the story. The book has a gentle and flowing rhythm that lends itself to a perfect bedtime read. Story Links

But it is not the courage and determination of the swallow in her mission that is the hallmark of this story, but the beautiful, lyrical description of her journey accompanied by the exquisite, soft illustrations that are the perfect match. The Bottom Shelf

Here is an interview with the author Corinne Fenton about her book. You can find other books by Corinne Fenton on her webpage. Pegi Williams page has a copy of the Teachers Notes, which were originally available on the publisher web site, for this book. 

Fox and Sons Tailers by Paddy Donnelly

This idea seems so original to me. Tailers who make tails! You are sure, also, to enjoy all the tiny details in the illustrations. 

In the street scene you will see a shop called Harecuts and a stork delivery service. Among the myriad of city dweller animals I saw a koala, walrus, zebra, flamingo and several elephants. This reminded me of books illustrated by Australian illustrators - Andrew Joyner (The Swap), James Foley (Stellaphant), Gus Gordon (Herman and Rosie) and Tohby Riddle.

On the shelves of the tailer's workshop the book titles are so funny - The big book of tiny animal tails; Fairy Tails; Folk Tails; and The art of Tailering. Rory comes from a family with generations of tailers. Rory is learning the trade. Tails are needed for all sort of occasions - parties, weddings, starting school and so on. Rory, though, has become a little tired of the way every day is the same and the way his dad follows such strict tail making rules. Surely there is room for a little creativity. Rory sketches his ideas and then late at night he makes tails that are sure to be way more fun for the customers. 

One day an important customer arrives. He sees one of the tails created by Rory and in a lovely moment of affirmation his dad accepts that Rory does have wild and wonderful ideas. So, they set to work and make the customer the most amazing feather tail and the family business is saved and once again popular with all the people (animals) of the town. 

You can see inside this book here. I highly recommend adding this book to your school library. It is funny, yes and clever, yes, but it is also heartwarming to see dad accept Rory has really good, creative ideas - so further generations will enjoy their working years at Fox and Sons (and maybe even daughters) will join the family firm. 

Bookseller blurb: Rory's dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps his dad in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails - which isn't always easy! But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas ...

This is an absolutely beautiful, heart-warming book about the power of creativity and the special father-son relationship. It also reminds adults and children that we should never forget to try thinking outside the box every now and again. Paddy Donnelly’s illustrations are full of adorable detail, from lovely background touches to a cast of sweet, characterful animal characters. Book Trust

Paddy Donnelly is an Irish illustrator now living in Belgium. He has over 15 years' experience as an illustrator and designer, and especially loves working with a textured, painterly approach. With a fondness for illustrating the sea and animals, Paddy tries to inject a touch of humour to his work wherever he can. Coming from a graphic design background, Paddy is comfortable working in different illustration styles depending on the needs of the project.

Awards for Fox and Sons Tailers: 

• LAI Children's Book Awards: age 0-5 - 2023
• Literature Association of Ireland - Winner
• IBA2022-Shortlist-Kids-Junior
• Children's Book of the Year (Junior) - 2022
• Irish Book Awards - Short-listed
• Children's Picture Book Awards
• The English Association - Short-listed
• ULKA Book Awards: 3-6+
• UK Literacy Association - Short-listed

Here is an interview with the author. I was pleased to see he mentions our Shaun Tan and his book The Rules of Summer. 

Here are some other books by Paddy Donnelly: