May 2024 Literature Review

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker

(Walker Books, 4th April 2024)

In this parable – a stark warning of warnings of what’s to come if we continue in our failure to connect with the planet and what it needs, Aaron Becker paints the picture of a futuristic Noah’s Ark. The earth is flooded and devastation is all around. The animals of the now destroyed zoo are both endangered and in danger. But there is one beacon of hope: NOA is an android and – it would seem – the last one. Arguably, this robot may have been part of the construction that could have contributed to the deforestation and resultant flooding in the first place…yet has now become part of the solution. Animals are scooped into NOA’s giant satchel; they are placed high above the water level on the last of the ruins. Then the Last Zookeeper sets about crafting an ark and, animals on board, sets sail. But further danger lies ahead: NOA and the ark are shipwrecked in a terrible storm. Can this lead to the greatest of discoveries though? This is simply stunning…as all of Aaron Becker’s creations are. Becker’s handle on social media is @Storybreathing and that could not be a more apt description of the life – the colour, the shape, the movement – he breathes into the narrative of this gloriously profound book. Connection, companionship and communing with nature are woven through the pages in abundance. Perfect for readers of any age.

The Boy who Loves to Lick the Wind by Fiona Carswell, Illustrated by Yu Rong

(Otter-Barry Books Limited, 7th March 2024)

Fiona Carswell’s first book depicts a story of two boys who are neighbours. Told through the eyes of one of the children, he watches ‘the boy next door’ and wonders what he’s doing. And in that way that a curious young child might, he asks the boy’s mum and she says, ‘He’s licking the wind. You should try it.’ He’s invited along to the beach, seeing as ‘the best winds’ can be found there. And as the boys play they connect in very different ways. The boy next door ‘doesn't always speak with words’: sounds and movement are his preferred way of speaking yet this is presented as every bit as valid as verbal communication (which, of course, it is). all too soon it is time to leave the beach and it is sad but, on their way back to the car, ‘we stop. And the boy next door sticks out his tongue and licks the salty, swirling air. So do I. And it is the BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD.’ Illustrated in such an uplifting way with use of bold primary colour that still manages to have a softness to the palette, this book is simply gorgeous! An utterly joyous exploration of one child’s autistic experience, Carswell brings an authenticity to the narrative as she is telling a story on behalf of her own, autistic child. And in her author’s note, she explains the differences that we cannot see within the two boys and that the boy next door ‘sees, hears, understands and interacts with the world differently.’ A brilliant book that should be included in all EYFS and KS1 book corners to support discussions around acknowledging differences in a positive way and holding space for each other so everyone can simply be who they are.

My Friend Tree by Dawn Casey, Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout

(Ivy Kids Eco, 4th April 2024)

Printed in the UK, completely on post-consumer recycled paper, the subject matter of this glorious (and tear-jerking, if we’re honest!) narrative poem – a tree – could not be more fitting. Two children’s lives: their childhood; their adolescence and into adulthood centre around ‘My friend tree’. The tree is there year-round to hold, cheer up and spur on, for it doesn't just provide a solid constant for the children featured but also a host of creatures. The children ‘feel love for my friend tree and, somehow, I feel Tree loves me.’ The children’s point of connection is the tree and, starting out as strangers (with a small amount of cheeky conflict!) they become companions and, as they each grow, so too do the seeds their tree has dropped that they plant and carefully tend. Now adults, then comes the sweetest of proposals: one proffers to the other a perfect acorn that glints in the sun… SUCH a beautiful book of light, colour, emotions, life-cycles and guardianship of and love for not just our earth but also each other. Godbout’s exquisite use of colour in her pastel illustrations create a sense of tenderness throughout. Perfect for children of all ages, we think, and would work well as a whole-school text.

Poetry Comics by Grant Snider

(Chronicle Books, 28th March 2024)

In an age where children’s literature is seeing so many different – wonderful – combinations of genre within, this is another such book that is so powerful for engaging children who may feel more affinity for comics and graphic novels. Not only are the comic-strip style spreads background to the poems, they are also an integral part of the conceptual understanding and interpretation of each poem. Structurally, the book is organised into the seasons (hence the connection to nature that is the golden thread of this month’s theme!) Some are ponderous as in the ‘Ode to the Acorn’ where the poet wonders, ‘How does something so small hold inside it the promise of an oak?’ Then there’s the metaphorical exploration of conformity and compliance in ‘Hive Mind’, each line within the poem positioned into its own section of honeycomb. There’s exploration of loss in the ‘Lament for a Lost Bicycle’ where the owner feels a deep sense of connection for the bike and all of the adventures they shared. And there are poems about confidence, comfort-zones and conversation. Perfect for children in key stage 2, in particular those who are not very confident readers as there’s the sophistication of idea with ease of decoding without an overwhelmingly large amount of text.