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

Monday 2 January 2017

Review: Lines, Squiggles, Letters, Words

I so love a clever concept in kids' books, in a market that's sometimes overloaded with same, same or similar.

This darling narrative tale sits firmly outside the square, following the journey of little school-goer, Pedro, who is only just starting to read.

Pedro sees funny shapes and squiggles and lines everywhere he goes--but none of them make sense. He knows they're meant to mean something, but what?

Thanks to his creative teacher, Pedro begins to learn how letters sound, what they represent, and how they come together to form words and meaning.

Over time, the squiggles and lines and shapes all around him start to emerge, letter by letter, and create meaning.

Beautifully illustrated in retro block colour by the talented Madalena Matoso, Lines, Squiggles, Letters, Words is as beautiful visually as it is fascinating in text. Longer-than-normal word count makes it better suited to older independent readers, though it will be fully appreciated by the very young, when read to.

A wonderful celebration of the way words work, and a reminder than reading is as much as about visual literacy as it is about text literacy.

Title: Lines, Squiggles, Letters, Words
Author: Ruth Rocha
Illustrator: Madalena Matoso
Publisher: Enchanted Lion, $24.99
Publication Date: 15 November 2016
Format: Hard cover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9781592702084
For ages: 5 - 9
Type: Picture Book