The littlest Quig hatched in the Cloud Tower along with
his siblings. He had a stumpy tail, and weak fins.
He feared the great empty
space below. This made him different. His siblings grew stronger every day,
swinging, jumping and jeering at his inability to match their progress. They
named him Stumpy.
Stumpy became an outsider. The others made that clear.
But the little one was afraid. What was he to do?
While the others were away exploring and playing,
Stumpy slowly found his way down into the street to find he didn’t know what.
All that he discovered was that he didn’t belong there either.
His siblings continued to scorn him. They dared him
to jump! Told him the darkness was where he belonged.
But Stumpy was alone and didn’t want to be. He had
to overcome his fears.
First he cowered and clung to a branch. Then he
stood up. He crawled to the edge, and then leaped across the space to the other
side. He clung limply, but clung, pulling himself up. Stumpy looked across from
where he had come.
He had done it once, so he could do it again, and
again, and again! And he did!
In the brilliance of morning light, his siblings
found him, sitting on the edge, clutching on for dear life. Again they dared
him to jump. They shouted and jeered until he left his perch and floated. Then
he spread his wings and flew!
This exquisite picture book full of metaphor and
symbolism is enhanced by Andrew Plant’s deliberate choice of colours.
Striking red, orange and yellows indicate Stumpy’s
fears but also his courage and determination to overcome them. The dark colours
symbolise the depth of his despair; his sharp sense of not belonging; his
difference being the chasm between himself and his siblings.
I found this book deeply moving; stunning in every
way. The wordless pages accentuate Stumpy’s determination which is projected as
a powerful and decisive force; vibrant and pulsing.
Strong themes addressed are: differences,
overcoming fears, self esteem, bullying, and never giving up. It comes from a talented
creator that has a catalogue of successes such as Pippa, The Poppy, and Glitch being only a few.
This book stands out and is outstanding!
Title:
Jump
Author/Illustrator:
Andrew Plant
Publisher:
Ford Street Publishing, $16.95
Publication
Date: March 2020
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781925804461
For
ages: 4 - 8
Type:
Picture Book
