Olivia is ageing. Memories are all that she has to
live with. Withdrawn and alone, her mind returns her to her childhood when she
was cared for by Nanny Clementine. Her visits to the park are her fondest
recollections.
The movement of the seesaw, the motion of the
swing, riding on the carousel, these memories come and go. It is her walks in
the park that are her constant companions. There she met the squirrel she named
Scruffle-Nut.
There she returned time and time again to see him.
Shy of the world and hiding behind a trunk, her
damaged animal friend hides to avoid the Bully-Bunch.
His tail is a stump, evidence of his worst experiences.
It is like when the young Olivia sets out with
Nanny and encounters the three girls from her class. I look the other way and hold Nanny’s hand a little tighter.
This one time, Olivia cannot find her little
squirrel, only the others. When she does, she drops him some crumbs which are
quickly picked up by the Bully-Bunch who chase Scruffle-Nut away. One more contact is all the young Olivia
gets. It stays with her forever.
This poignant and deeply emotive story is about
ageing, bullying, and which memories stay with us throughout our lifetime, and
why.
Being a great admirer of Corinne Fenton’s work, I
always pay close attention to her choice of words. She is exceptionally
perceptive; an observer. Her brevity and nuances contribute to the expansion of
her theme. In Scruffle-Nut, each
sentence is an emotion. The sadness of
Olivia’s life is juxtaposed with Scruffle-Nut’s to show how identical their
lives and emotions are. This is why they are drawn to one another.
Huge credit is given to Owen Swan for his stunning,
delicate and immersive interpretation of Fenton’s text and theme. This includes
the exceptional covers.
Title:
Scruffle-Nut
Author:
Corinne Fenton
Illustrator:
Owen Swan
Publisher:
New Frontier, $24.99
Publication
Date: October 2019
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9781925594768
For
ages: 4 - 8
Type:
Australian Picture Book
