For it is
this father’s undying love that has borne magic, mystery and wonder in
abundance with the birth of picture book, Tiny Dancer.
‘Tiny Dancer
is about making each moment count and living life to the full.’
A tortoise may live for over one hundred years. An olive tree, up to five thousand. But a mayfly lives for just one day.
Tiny Dancer takes us
from the dawn of birth, to the eve of death, in a thing of rare and exquisite
beauty.
Through Konomi the mayfly, we view the world with fresh-eyed wonder. Although she only has a day to live, she stops atop a reed on the river to appreciate her surroundings.
She dances with her sisters, she flies into the treetops in a whirl of energy,
and she sails back to her beloved river on a breath.
It’s
fortunate for Konomi and the reader, that the illustrations in this book
are both pastel-like in terms of colour, and luminescent in terms of wonder.
Our eyes are drawn from the huge, macro view of a whale, to the teeny tiny
world beside a raindrop.
The
captivating, unique characters and the construction of text into snippets of
poetry-like prose, are quite incredible. Each supports the other seamlessly,
creating a layered conversation of discovery.
The pairing
of author and illustrator here is an inspired one.
The awe,
wonder and majesty on the page are real.
A
celebration of the fragility and preciousness of life, for all ages.
Breathtaking.
Title: Tiny DancerIllustrator: Mateja Jager
Publisher: West Words, $27.95
Publication Date: 1 Aug 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781923044364
For Ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
