The Enchantment of Golden Eagle by Margaret Wild illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Margaret Wild: ‘I hope readers will understand that people can say something in anger (in this case, the curse put on the bird). And that those words can be regretted and forgiven. It would be good if this story can open up discussions about consequences, atonement and, especially forgiveness, because if we can forgive, there is the possibility that things can change for the better.’  Interview with Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright (see the Teachers Notes)

After reading The Enchantment of Eagle here are some questions that occurred to me:

• Can you ever really 'own' a wild creature? 
• Did the eagle owe an extra loyalty to the family because they saved him when he was just a fledgling?
• Do you understand why the eagle needed to fly away?
• What is a curse?
• Should you always keep your promises? 
• What is guilt? 
• How do you repair a relationship when words are spoken in anger? 
• Why is it important to say sorry and how to you express this from your heart?
• Why are wolves always representative of danger?
• Think about feeling safe and unsafe and how this is explored in this book

Think about the title - enchantment - that is such a powerful word. It implies magic and has overtones of the fairy tale genre. And Margaret Wild writes of Golden Eagle not 'the' golden eagle. Is this a unique creature with magical qualities? Then we have the word golden. This implies precious and wise and important.

Symbolism of the golden eagle: The golden eagle is a powerful symbol that encompasses a wide range of meanings, including strength, freedom, ... and resilience. Its significance varies across cultures, but it consistently represents the ideals of power, guidance, and the ability to rise above challenges. Whether viewed as a divine messenger or a symbol of personal growth, the golden eagle holds a revered place in the spiritual and cultural narratives of many societies. Source

You will find some beautiful vocabulary when you share this book with your library group or young reading companion - fledgling; venture; gazed; summoned; exhilarating; "he batted about'; enfold; curse; pitiless; hollowed-out; tattered; rejoicing; and larking about.

Publisher blurb: One day, Ella and her little brother Leif found a fledgling with a broken wing. They took him home, wrapped and fed him, and watched over him for seven days and seven nights. In time Golden Eagle was well enough to fly away, but he loved the children, so he promised to stay with them at the edge of the dark forest. Until one day, the wind whispered and the breeze caressed his feathers, and Golden Eagle forgot his promise ...

The publisher links the themes in The Enchantment of Golden Eagle with another award-winning book by Margaret Wild - Fox - illustrated by Ron Brooks. With a group of older students, it would be good to compare these two books - read them side by side - and then talk about themes such as guilt; fear; promises; betrayal; and forgiveness. The Enchantment of Golden Eagle is one of those multilayered stories that you could share with your younger students and then also discuss with an older group. I would then pick up Robber Girl by Margaret Wild as another example of a text which showcases Margaret Wild's skill with writing.

The publisher page has a link to some detailed teachers notes. 

A new book by Margaret Wild is certainly something to celebrate. She has written well over 70 books and even at age 76 does not seem set to stop. I expect to see The Enchantment of Golden Eagle listed by the CBCA as a 2026 notable title. 

Read some reviews:

The publisher marks this as suitable for readers 7 to 12, older than the typical picture book market, and online Teaching Notes offer suggestions up to Year 6. This is valuable recognition of the potential of picture books to inspire rich learning well beyond the formative literacy stage. Story Links

Interview with Paperbark Word (Joy Lawn) I love the word “enchantment”. As you say, it is so evocative.  With its associations of spells, magic and mystery, I hope it will spark a reader’s curiosity to open the book and read on.

Highly recommended for all! Kids' Book Review

This is a compelling story that will have the reader turning the pages to the end so they can discover whether the eagle, seen by many cultures as a symbol of strength and freedom, survives the curse, whether it returns and what happens next. The Bottom Shelf

This is a gentle book that reminds us about forgiveness and letting go and loving what you have in life. The Book Muse

From Stephen Michael King: Golden Eagle is my seventh book with Margaret Wild. You might remember the piglet series: Piglet and Mama, Piglet and Papa – then there’s the pocket dogs (everyone’s favourite books). Margaret Wild was instrumental in turning me into a published author/illustrator (with my first book, “The Man Who Loved Boxes”), so it’s always a giant privilege to work with her. 35 plus years ago – when I was working as a General Library assistant, I created a display of her and Julie Vivas’s book “The Very Best of Friends”. I’ve loved Margaret Wild’s work from that very first visual.

Other books by Margaret Wild with art by Stephen Michael King:

And two sequels

A Leaf Called Greaf by Kelly Canby

Bear is suffering the loss of three of his siblings although we don't know this at the beginning. There is a hint in the illustration where you can see the outlines of three bears drawn in white pen sitting on a tree branch above Bear. We know these other three bears are not there because the text says:

"In the shadow of a tree that felt larger than life itself sat Bear, all alone. The wind bit and flicked at his fur. The cold scratched at his nose."

Stop for a minute and think about some of the word choices in this sentence: "felt larger than life itself" - overwhelming is a word we might use. And what about the word "bit" - sharp and painful. 

Then a leaf falls off the tree. 

"(it) floated its way down onto Bear's belly. It was the greenest, most beguiling leaf Bear at ever seen."

YES, you really did just read the word beguiling. And yes, this is a children's book - that's why we read books to our children - so that they can encounter rich words like this. 

What about this leaf? It feels special, it smells special but here comes another 'crunch' word. 

"It reminded him of mourning."

Wait a minute is that a typo - mourning - surely it should say morning! Oh no - go back to the title. Greaf - is this a book about grief? Yes, it is because now Bear has this leaf, he carries it everywhere. 

Now onto this sentence which broke my heart:

"On the rare occasion Bear felt playful, he would wrestle with Greaf, as he once had with his brother and sisters."

If you know about grief, then you know it can be really hard to allow yourself to be happy. There is often a feeling of guilt because we wonder if we should laugh or play while we are supposed to be feeling sad. But grief changes in life just as it does in this book. The leaf was once a green and soft and it smelt good but over time we watch the leaf change. Finally, has become "rough and brittle and crisp and tense". And "for the first time in a long time, Bear let it go."

Thank you, Kelly Canby. Your book is profound and uplifting and never saccharine. In fact, this is such a deceptively simple story which is beautifully explored through text and illustration. There is so much to talk about and think about here on the topic of how we handle one of the deepest human emotions - grief. 

A Leaf called Greaf is a CBCA 2025 Picture Book of the Year Notable title and it is one of three of four books that I am certain will be shortlisted. Check out my post about These Loved Things by Josh Pike. And I also think A Leaf Called Greaf will make the final set of winners. 

One of the things that I think is important in Picture Book judging, when we think about an award such as the one from the Children's Book Council of Australia - relates to the universality of the book. Is this a book that could be shared with a child in another English-speaking country? Is this a book that should travel beyond our shores? Would you be excited to see this Australian book for sale in London or New York. Is this a book that transcends and age classification? (You could read this book to a child aged 6 or 7 and equally to an older child or gift it to an adult). I can answer YES to all of those questions when I think about A Leaf Called Grief. Also a fabulous picture book like this should expect readers to 'join the dots' - to have to think about the story and its deeper meanings. 

From the simple, huggable, emotive drawings of Bear to the deeply evocative background colours that speak of isolation, struggle and gentle acceptance, the illustrations summon up a lot of feelings. Reading Time

You can see inside this book here on Kelly Canby's webpage and she also shares some other review comments. Click on her name which is a label for this post and you will find other splendid books by Kelly Canby.

Some years ago, I penned a post here about an adult book called Bedtime Story by Chloe Hooper. She was looking for books to share with her very young children on the topic of loss and grief and death. Even though her partner did not die, and her children are much older now I hope she has a chance to see this glorious book because I'm sure it will touch her heart, and I think it might match her hopes for a book that she could have shared with her children. 

Please take four minutes to watch this video about the importance of talking about grief with our children and listen right to the end because her final words are crucial. Then try to find these brilliant companion books:

The Last Goodbye

Fox: A Circle of life Story

The Bear and the Wildcat

Waiting for Wolf

The Dead Bird

One Bee too Many by Andrés Pi Andreu illustrated by Kim Amate

I love the little touches of humor in this story which I am sure any adult sharing this book with a young child will really enjoy such as this:

"One day, the bees met in the hive to discuss why they were always so cramped. They didn't have enough space to play sudoku, Parcheesi and or even checkers."

On this page the bees are reading their newspaper - the Honey Times. And on the page where the bees are talking about how to find this terrible extra bee the law book has the title - Bee Laws by Bee Good. You might also spot a Rubics cube, security cameras, and a machine called a pinocchiotronic - yes it's a lie detector.

The bees are in a housing crisis. They employ three architects - naturally things in the hive are based on a hexagon. The experts conclude there is one bee too many and immediately accusations fly around the room - this is such a disturbing scene:

• a foreign bee
• an immigrant bee
• a dirty bee
• a robber eating OUR honey
• it might carry germs
• it wants to take my job

How can the members of the hive find this extra bee. Should they assign a number to each bee - no. The lawyer suggests everyone needs a passport and birth certificate; and the linguist suggests listening to every bee as a way to detect a foreign accent.

Finally the Queen Bee steps in with her words of wisdom and the obvious solution. 

There are fabulous words in this book - incredulously; dramatic pause; hysteria; requirements; worrisome; and chilling conclusion. 

Adults will quickly recognize the allegory with parallels to immigration and racism issues of the present day and perhaps grasp the lesson of the queen bee. If only we could find such human wisdom. Friends Journal

Featuring surreal and elaborate illustrations reminiscent of Catalan modernism, readers are sure to find new surprising details in every read. Originally published in Spanish, it has won prestigious awards such as the White Ravens List, Golden Medal of the Campoy-Ada Award, and USA National Children Literature Award. from Dymocks bookseller page

I would like to find the context for this quote from the back cover of the book: “The picture book comes across inconspicuously, but it is the most beautiful and cleverest philosophical book that has been on the book market for a long time” ―Hans Christian Andersen Committee - I am not sure if the author or illustrator were perhaps nominated for the HCAA Award.

Another reviewer quoted on the back cover uses the words - whimsy, delight, moving and captivating.

Listen to a sample of an audio reading. Kim Amate comes from Spain and Andrés Pi Andreu is originally from Cuba but now lives in the US.

Pair this book with:

Scary Bird

It is not related to this book but in February I will also be reading and talking another bee book by Australian author Megan Daley illustrated by Max Hamilton.

Egg by Clare Atkins illustrated by Harrison Vial

 

This is my favourite type of picture book – a book with layers of meaning which can be enjoyed by a very young child but which will also challenge older children to think more deeply about the allegorical meaning. 

Clare Atkins said: "We sat on the grass in the sun and brainstormed themes we were both passionate about: migration, dislocation, racism, colonialism, difference, climate change, culture, history, authorship and many more."

With an older group it would be good to pair this book with The Island by Armin Greder (for older readers) or Scary Bird by Michel Streich. 

There are huge themes in this book - migration, racism and discrimination, fear of the unknown, climate change and refugees. 

This is such an interesting book. It has a deeper story than the one implied by pastel colour palette and the cartoon-style eggs. I do like the tactile cover and the story clue which is revealed when the cover is stretched out in full, and we can see a tiny island covered in trees. The end papers are based on the gentle movement of the ocean, and we see this image used to bookend the story firstly with the arrival of one ‘egg’ and later when lots of seeds are on the way. 

The egg conversation, written with indented lines and no speech marks, is innovative. I like the different fonts – a formal one for the narrator and informal one for the Egg residents.

Using a simple line, the illustrator manages to give each of the central characters of Little Egg and Strange Egg a distinct personality. The way the flashback page is framed with the commentary eggs in the corner will help readers to identify these are scenes from the past. I love the character of Little Egg and the way he/she/it shows kindness. The smallest egg is a true hero, and the silence of Strange Egg speaks volumes. 

I do wish we knew why the shade trees disappeared from the island – is this meant to be about global warming?  SO much to discuss with your students. 

• What is the egg? Or did you think this was a potato from the start?
• Does this make you think about the seed of hope and new ecological sustainability? 
• Is this book about finding a source of hope and difference in a parched same-same world? 
• Is the new egg an asylum seeker washed in from afar, the same but suspected of being different? 
• Who are the other eggs? Are they closed-minded adults or environmentally irresponsible citizens or perhaps politicians or just people with fear of the unknown or fearful of change? 

Paperbark words interview with Clare Atkins: I wanted Egg to be a book that could appeal to readers on multiple levels. Younger readers might giggle at the funny talking eggs and enjoy seeing Brave Egg and Strange Egg’s friendship develop and change. Older readers might pick up on the themes of migration, racism and discrimination, fear of the unknown, climate change and refugees. Parents or teachers could whiz through reading it to kids, doing funny egg voices, or take their time and discuss the ideas behind it.

Egg is a 2023 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Notable Picture Book. 

Take a look here to see work by Adelaide illustrator Harrison Vial.

Bookseller blurb: A truly unique picture book about a newcomer arriving to an island inhabited by superstitious eggs. This thought-provoking story raises gentle questions about displacement, environment, xenophobia and climate refugees. When something strange washes up on the eggs' island, they are scared. It looks like them. But different. What if it hatches? What if there are more of them? Most of the eggs hope the newcomer will float back to where it came from, but one little egg is not afraid. Can their friendship prove there is nothing to fear?

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Willodeen's mother, father and younger brother have been killed in a fierce fire. Willodeen now lives with two elderly ladies from the village - Mae and Birdie. They are kind and loving and they share their quiet wisdom with Willodeen while also giving her freedom to be herself.

The village of Perchance is a special place because every year hummingbears arrive to nest in unique trees found near the town - blue willow trees. Their nests are made using the leaves from these trees. The hummingbears chew the willow leaves and blow bubbles which they then stack into nests. Doesn't this sound magical. People come from far and wide to visit Perchance each year to see these small winged creatures and their nests and during this time the villages hold markets and fairs. This is their main source of income.

BUT (you knew there would be a but) there is another creature that lives in this area - screechers. Yes they do make a dreadful screeching noise, but worse than that, they spray a dreadful smell:

"The smell is hard to describe. Put a hundred rotten eggs in your mind. Then add some scoops of dead fish and a splash of skunk spray. You'll have a general sense of things."

Unfortunately a tourist has fallen victim to this dreadful stench and so the town council have offered a bounty for every screecher that is killed. Now go back and think about the balance of nature. The sceechers are nearly all gone, very few hummingbears have arrived, wildfires are more prevalent, and this year the village won't make any money from the visiting tourists. 

Willodeen cares for a small hummingbear with damaged wings which she names Duuzuu. She also acquires, in a slightly magical way, a baby screecher which she names Quinby. Willodeen is a scientist. She observes the behaviour of screechers and of course she knows, because of the bounty the screechers are nearly all gone. This year no hummingbears have arrived. She also notices Quinby loves one special food - peacock snails and peacock snails live under the roots of those blue willow trees. With all the hunting of the screechers, nature is out of balance but can Willodeen convince the council that she has solved this problem and that they need to stop killing the screechers. screechers, humingbears, willow trees and peacock snails are all connected. 

Willodeen has a wonderful friend in a boy named Connor. He is clever with crafts. He actually made a model screecher as a birthday gift for Willodeen not knowing Willodeen's tears would have a magical effect.

I have had this book on my to buy/to read list since I first saw it in 2021. The publishing industry is a mystery to me. The US hardcover edition of this book costs AUS$36 which was way beyond my personal book budget. Now the UK have published copy in paperback and it has arrived here in Australia for only AUS$15. The US publisher is Macmillan but luckily for readers in Australia this book has been found by Welbeck Flame from London. AND also luckily the cover was not changed because, apart from the wonderful author Katherine Applegate, it was the cover that first attracted me to this book. When you buy or borrow this book make sure you take time to read the quote from Greta Thuberg - you could use this as a way to introduce this book to your students. 

When I was a child my family used to rent a tiny garage sized holiday house. The house, as is often the way, had an odd and old collection of books on their shelves. One I read around age 12 was Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. All through Willodeen I kept thinking about the way nature is in a fine balance and the way Rachel Carson alerted the world to the ramifications of our human actions on animals, plants and habitats.  These are the huge themes explored in this book but they are explored in a way that is very accessible for younger readers aged 8+. 

Here is a delightful video where Katherine Applegate talks about Willodeeen.

The young folk and (of course) the animals are engagingly wrought in this tale with a strong ecological message. Kirkus

Katherine Applegate is the author of The One and Only Ivan and many other wonderful books including Odder and the book I recommend highly to everyone - Wishtree. You should also add her Endling series to your reading pile. 

Two Giants by Michael Foreman

Two giants named Sam and Boris lived in harmony on a small island enjoying sunny days and in winter the soft white snow until the day they found a single pretty shell on the beach. 

"For the first time in their lives they began to argue. And as they did the sun went behind a cloud and and cloud became bigger and blacker. ... Before they could put their shoes on, a huge wave completely covered the beach. The wave swept away the shoes and the shell. The giants were furious and threw stones at each other as they ran towards the mountains to escape the flood."

The two giants are now positioned opposite one another on the top of two mountains. Over the years their battle continues as each day they throw stones (huge boulders) at each other. Meanwhile the weather stays cold and windy in direct contrast with the past when the two were friends.

This s a simple, sweet, classic story. It’s funny and it’s silly in places, and it’s told perfectly for children. So, when rocks are being thrown it’s not in a nasty, violent way, for example, but in an over the top one. The sort of thing only giants would do. Silly giants. There’s a message, though. Of course there’s a message. This one is about friendship and making mistakes, and forgiving people. It’s about how you shouldn’t let a silly falling out ruin your relationship with someone, and about how you can make up, be friends again, and go back to the adventures you used to have. The Book Bag

Michael Foreman illustrated his first book in 1961 and as recently as 2021 he has produced his most recent book: Noa and the Little Elephant. He has been nominated twice for the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Medal. 

I saw this book for the first time yesterday. One of the library staff where I volunteer asked me if the library should keep this book - it is a book from 1967. The library copy was purchased in 2011 and it is in top condition but sadly it has only been borrowed once. I think this is a terrific book which teachers could use to talk about conflict and friendship. If you act really quickly here in Australia (June 2023) you can pick up a bargain copy of the 2015 reprint of this book with the cover above. The original cover is not as appealing and has a slightly different title - The Two Giants.

Michael Foreman books can seem simple but often explore deeper themes:

You could also look for these terrific books:

Mrs Spitzer's Garden by Edith Pattou illustrated by Tricia Tusa

This is a very touching story about the wonder of teaching 

and the far-reaching impact of a teacher. 

A wonderful gift to give.  A Book and Hug

I am just penning a short post tonight as I have been working all day in a school library where every book, yes every book, thousands and thousands of them, were tossed into over 50 boxes so that painting and new carpet could be completed. The packing of the books was not done systematically and so the Teacher-Librarian has had to manage the huge task of reinstalling the shelving, setting up new furniture, culling parts of the collection, managing classes (and book returns) and then sorting and shelving all of those endless piles of books. There were times when I thought we would never reach the end.

It is perhaps timely to mention Mrs Spitzer's Garden because at times, such as the one I have described here, it is easy to loose our teaching joy and to forget that most of what we do each day should be about the precious children.

At the start of each year the school principal gives Mrs Spitzer a packet of seeds. She plants the seeds and over the course of a year, with her care and nurturing, the seeds all grow.

"She knows that different plants need different things. And that each plant has its own shape. Some of the plants grow quickly, pushing upward, eager, impatient. Some grow more slowly, unfolding themselves bit by bit. ... And some need gentle care, a special watching-over."

Mrs Spitzer's Garden was first published in 2001 but it is such a special book it is still available (although here in Australia it is over $30). If you need a gift for a teacher this book would be perfect. You can see inside this book here. 

Mrs. Spitzer is a teacher in nursery school, much like the kindergarten teachers who initiate a child's foray into school life. But her students are unusual: they are seeds. Nevertheless, Mrs. Spitzer knows her job. She, with her experience, knows how to nurture each of the seeds. She works hard and prepares ground to allow their growth. She is a proficient gardener and knows exactly how to create a beautiful garden. Curled up Kids

A very loving book, a tribute really, to the teachers of the world and beyond them to all people who nurture children. Kirkus Star review

I just made another amazing discover. Tricia Tusa is the illustrator of a book by our Australian author Mem Fox:

Picture book themes - letting go, accepting change

 

I recently read these two books about letting go; about courage; about change; and about risk taking both of which are told through as a parable or fable. At first glance you might think these are books about trees, leaves, seeds and autumn but really they have much deeper themes and they have such contrasting illustration styles.

Little Tree lives in the forest with the other trees. When Autumn begins all of his companions shed their leaves but "he just hugged his leaves tight." Seasons come and go but Little Tree just won't let those leaves go. The forest trees around him grow taller and taller until "one summer, Little Tree could no longer feel the sunlight." Finally he does let go and something miraculous happens. Read more about Little Tree in these review comments:

A strong picture book with an important message that is cleverly told, this book encourages young readers to embrace change and the uncertainties of life. Waking Brain Cells

In Little Tree, Loren so perfectly captures what it means to move on with courage and bravery. ... I believe that everyone, children and adults alike, will bring their own experiences to this book and come away with renewed hope and encouragement that it’s OK to move on and let go. Reading with Mr Teut

In this video Loren Long talks about his book and the deeper themes he wanted to share. 

My second book, Stay Little Seed, was originally published in Italy with the title Chissadove. When the wind blows all the seeds fly away - north, south and "even who knows where." But one tiny seed stayed. The tree and the seed form a relationship with the tree protecting the little seed until one morning a magpie plucks the seed off the tree. Luckily the magpie drops the seed. The tiny seed is not "who knows where" it is very close and over time it grows into a new sapling. Read more about Stay, Little Seed in these review comments:

Stay, Little Seed celebrates the rhythms of the natural world and shares a gentle message for all of us, no matter our age: Sometimes, by letting go and being brave, we begin life’s greatest adventures. A Book and a Hug

Careful nurturing begets the launch into the unknown: Valentini celebrates both as natural and fitting. Kirkus

Cristiana Valentini comes from Italy and Philip Giordano lives in Japan. You can see the whole book here.

Fox by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ron Brooks

"Through the charred forest, over hot ash, runs Dog with a bird clamped in his big, gentle mouth. He takes her to his cave above the river, and there he tries to tend her burnt wing."

These are the opening lines of Fox. Look at the word placement. Clamped followed by big and then the beautiful word - gentle. We immediately know so much about Dog.

But Dog has his own problems. He is blind in one eye and Magpie, with her burnt wing, will never fly again. This pair of unlikely friends need to support each other. Dog waits for Magpie to heal and then he persuades her to climb on his back. He runs swiftly to the river "so swiftly it is almost as if he were flying."

"Fly Dog, fly! I will be your missing eye, and you will be my wings."

Now comes the complication. A fox arrives. Fox with his "haunted eyes".  "He flickers though the trees like a tongue of fire."

Again look at the word placement - flickers like fire - this fox is dangerous. Fox joins the pair of friends but Magpie sees him watching her. She smells his envy and rage and loneliness. Three times Fox whispers to Magpie trying to tempt her away. He promises he can truly make her fly. Magpie is tempted. She climbs on his back but Fox has a terrible plan. He runs far away and then stops and shakes Magpie off his back.

"Now you and Dog will know what it is like to be truly alone."

Magpie is tempted to just curl up and die but then she thinks of her special friend Dog and so "slowly, jiggety-hop, she begins the long journey home."

When Ron Brooks read the three pages of this text he replied to his publisher:

"I love it! I must do it. And it will be utterly unlike anything I’ve ever done, just you wait . . . I think it’s maybe the most powerful picture book text I’ve ever read. It is a great big, fat, juicy-great novel of wonderful writing—honed down to three gloriously transcendent pages! Amazing! Biblical! I am so grateful for the opportunity this affords me to really break some barriers, new ground."

Every single thing about this book is important and powerful and wonderful. This book is one of the best picture books ever created in Australia. Here are some excellent teachers notes. Here is a preview of the Story Box Library video of Fox.

I have two personal connections to this book. Many years ago I attended a book conference in Hobart, Tasmania. There was a session with Ron Brooks. It was held in a tiny room and only a handful of people attended. Ron was very late arriving as it was the daylight saving change over weekend and he had forgotten to change his clock.  We sat in this small room and waited. Ron arrived about an hour late full of apologies. Then he picked up Fox and read it to us. I cried through the whole book. A couple of years late a close friend of mine visited Ron. She asked him to sign my copy of Fox. Ron Brooks did so much more. He wrote me a special message which I treasure and included a drawing of Magpie.

Subtle, striking, this story of friendship and betrayal is a modern day fable that will remain an Australian children’s classic. Kids Book Review

With Fox, she brings a poet’s sensibility to the writing of a mesmerising and powerful work about the elemental need for companionship in our lives. Her writing bristles with urgent action and sings with suggestive imagery; it is pared back, sometimes playful, and always emotionally resonant. In this way, it carries the very essence of what the story is about – the arcane battle between innocence and evil, kindness and cruelty, love and hate. IBBY President Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright

Tanglewood by Margaret Wild illustrated by Vivienne Goodman

I started my review of this CBCA Short listed book by looking at the subject headings assigned by the National Library here in Australia for Tanglewood.  My labels are quite different.  They have put Families, Fellowship and Trees.  Well at least we agree this is a book about trees or more specifically about one tree growing on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean.

One reviewer wrote :

This beautifully illustrated story does indeed discuss living and dying, loneliness, time and family, bravery and commitment, hope and determination

The text in this book seems very simple with the story of a tree on an island that is visited by a lone seagull but the message is profound.  The tree experiences a whole range of emotions which I think older children will certainly relate to.  The illustrations superb.  Moving from whole page to small boxes - square and rectangular they echo the emotions expressed by Margaret Wild. For example on the page :  "But nobody ever came."  there is a single white cloud in a huge sky of blue.

I am predicting this book will receive a prize in the CBCA awards but as you know I loved Herman and Rosie and I think The Coat is a special and important book and I am in awe of the work by Jackie French in A day to Remember so we will have to wait and see.

I am excited to read this book right across our school and it will be interesting to hear the reactions of the youngest children and compare these with the older students.  We will also look at other books about trees including The Great Kapok tree, A bear and a tree, and The Giving tree.  We might also look at some books about islands and spend a little time with Jonathon Livingston Seagull.

Here is a set of teaching notes.  Here is a short review.  In this blog a teacher shares his lesson content using Tanglewood.

The Coat by Julie Hunt illustrated by Ron Brooks

The Coat is the perfect book to be selected for the CBCA short list in the Picture Book of the Year category because it is a picture book that will linger with you long after you finish reading it just as John Brown Rose and the midnight cat  did all those year ago.

I am so happy that so many of the short listed books this year have made use of their end papers.  Ron has included two scenes of the countryside in The Coat - one in sepia and the other in full colour.  Perhaps this is a reflection of the life of the man - he lives his life in a small way, his self esteem is low, his life perhaps lacks colour, then he takes a journey with the coat and his life is transformed. On the final end paper we see a mirror image of the same scene but this time it is in full colour.  The leaves on the trees almost seem to shine.

This same theme is used through the book with the colours added as the story progresses.

The coat needs the man to set him free.  The man needs to coat to reach his full potential and by the end of the book the coat and the man are equal partners moving onward through the journey of life.

I love one of the tiny details in this book.  Julie Hunt writes "the man blinked and stared.  He noticed it was the sort of coat someone important would wear.  It had a velvet collar and a buttonhole that looked as if it was waiting for a flower."  Ron Brooks includes this flower on the last page (and on the front cover). "Where are you going?' the doorman asked.  'When will you be back?' 'Who knows,' said the man. 'Who knows,' said the coat.  And they strode off into the night."

I am not an art scholar but here are a number of reviews many of which explain the artist and painting references used by Ron Brooks.

When we read this book over the next few weeks in our school library I plan to also share a very early book written by Ron Brooks called Timothy and Gramps.  It might be interesting to compare these two books.  It would be good to look at another early book too The Pochetto Coat by Ted Greenwood which is also illustrated by Ron Brooks but sadly I no longer have this book in my school library.

One final thing.  I was once lucky enough to hear Ron Brooks speak at the CBC Conference in Hobart and he explained that the font for Fox was very important to him and he struggled for a long time to get this right.  The final 'font' was inspired by his son's simple handwriting.  In The Coat Ron has used Callie Hand - which is a font that looks like neat and even handwriting with a slightly old fashioned feel.  One thing is certain every single detail in these illustrations and in the book design has been very carefully thought through.  My favourite page is the one where the man pulls out the straw and the creatures and puts the coat on.  "It was much too big but he felt like he might grow into it."  This is the heart of The Coat.

The flower by John Light

I am currently reading a selection of picture books that we added to our library this year. The Flower is an interesting allegory about the subversive information available in books. Brigg reads about flowers in a banned book. There are no flowers in his futuristic and bleak city. Wandering the streets Brigg sees a picture just like the one from the book he smuggled out of the library. He buys the picture and discovers it is a seed packet. Using dust collected from the streets he nurtures the plant and in time his room is filled with beautiful flowers.

In a scene reminiscent of Josephs Yard by Charles Keeping, one morning while Brigg is at work, the automatic cleaning system sucks his plant away.

Look for this special book in your library. The illustrations (here is a lovely web site for the illustrator) are perfect and so is the ending which is filled with hope for the future.