What the Sky Knows by Nike Bourke illustrated by Stella Danalis

 

My friend and I recently visited an enormous secondhand bookshop in the Southern NSW town of Berrigan. There were so many children's (and adult) book treasures. That is where I spied an old copy of What the Sky knows. Once upon a time this book was a library book (the date due slip is still inside) and it lived in Barooga which is near Berrigan - down on the Murray River.

I read this book to heaps of children in my former school library back in 2006 and twenty years later it has lingered with me (see my post from 2019). What the Sky Knows was published in 2005 and it was shortlisted in two categories for the CBCA’s Book of the Year (Early Childhood and Picture Book) in 2006. YES, I can heart you saying - but this book is long out of print and that is true - but I worry so much about our rush to find the newest book or newest thing or newest fad - which can mean older things like this scrumptious picture book are overlooked or lost in all the 'noise'. 

There are two things to notice about this book - one is the brief, but beautifully poetic text and the other is the retro-style collage illustrations. You can see the style of illustrations on this web page from Stella Danalis. 

I want to know what the sky knows

How to be blue

or grey

or pink

How to make clouds

or stars

Have tea with the angels

Hold the sun like an orange

or carry birds

I want to know how to make rain fall

or leaves dance

How to be so loud mum can hardly hear herself think

or so quiet she can't find me

I want to sail to the ends of the earth

And ride the wild winds home

If you can find this book in your school or local library it would be a wonderful text to use in an art lesson - you could share the text without the illustrations. Let the group work on their own creative images and then share the work by Stella Danalis. I would then share Mallee Sky as a contrasting text.

Bookseller blurb: This stunning picture book invites the reader to fly with birds and angels, float with clouds and balloons, to change colours, blow breezes and stir up storms. What the Sky Knows challenges the traditional way of reading picture and text. Stella Danalis has used visual tricks and jokes in a very contemporary manner which will immediately engage young readers. The illustrations are bright and vivacious, and like the text, full of imagination, curiosity and wonder. They make a strong initial impact through bold images and good use of primary colours. The variety of shades, patterns and textures, which are skillfully embedded within the pictures, create a collage effect. This additional detail contributes to the richness of the picture book and its ability to engage the reader. Follow a dreamer's journey through the vibrant landscapes of a child's world.

I think this might be the only picture book by Nike Bourke. Stella Danalis also illustrated Schumann the Shoeman.

2010 Shortlisted CBCA Picture Book of Year