'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday 10 May 2010

Review: Isabella’s Secret


Title: Isabella’s Secret

Author: Jane Tanner

Illustrator: Jane Tanner

Publisher: Puffin Books, $14.95 RRP

Format: Softcover

ISBN: 9780140555677

For ages: 4-6

Type: Picture book

About: It’s hard to imagine any little girl not loving this book. Tanner is responsible not only for the writing but the illustrating as well, and as one who is woeful at drawing, I am wildly envious of her talents.

Tanner’s reputation as an award winning Australian writer/illustrator is richly deserved. This book is treasured in our home as I am sure it would be in many others. Tanner has been shortlisted for various awards, among them the CBCA Book of the Year Award.

The story depicts a little girl called Isabella lying in the garden and being approached by fairies to come and play with them. Who could refuse such an offer? And thus begins Isabella’s journey into a magical world every little girl longs for at some point. Isabella shrinks, learns to fly and when she leaves this magic land, she does so, knowing that she can return one day.

The book heightens the reader’s appreciation of the world around them and sparks the hope that maybe, just maybe, they could fly with the fairies too. Magical spells are written in rhyme so the young reader or listener can learn them off by heart too.

The typeface is beautiful and Tanner’s drawings are exquisite. The delicate use of embossment of silver and gold serve to heighten the delicate and ethereal nature of the fairies themselves.

A wonderful escape from reality for reader and child.

- this review by Sarah Pietrzak

Author website

This book is available online