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

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Review: Small World

Oh, how I adore this picture book.

It’s like a giant hug. The perfect book for reading with little ones snuggled close by your side.

It’s all about the life of a little girl called Nanda.

When Nanda was born, the whole of the world was wrapped in the circle of her mother’s arms: safe, warm, still.

As Nanda grows, the world grows and changes around her. 

Her family expands, she meets friends, she goes to school, she learns and studies. The world continues to change around her, and she takes her knowledge and experience into space as she becomes an astronaut.

What I love about this story is that it isn’t only Nanda’s story. Nanda is me and you, everyone and anyone. We are all born and we all grow. The world changes around all of us as we learn. We all choose futures and achieve things big and small.

The language in this book will spread tendrils of warmth throughout your body. It flows in such lyrical, flowing beauty, with repeated sections throughout that tie the story together wonderfully.

Her ears heard a crackle of voices. She gazed out into ink-black space and saw...

The illustrations, too, are stunning. Bold and bright. Funky and colourful. 

We can all achieve great things, just like Nanda, and Small World is a book to prove to kids that they can too.

Title: Small World
Author: Ishta Mercurio
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Publisher: Abrams, $24.99
Publication Date: 2 July 2019
Format: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
ISBN: 9781419734076
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book