The Wonder by Faye Hanson

The Wonder by Faye Hanson
Buy The Wonder by Faye Hanson at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Anne Thompson
Summary: A boy filled with wonder and a story that shares that wonder with everyone. A stunning and joy filled picture book to browse again and again.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 40	Date: October 2014
Publisher: Templar Publishing
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1783701148
Share on:

Don't judge a book by its cover, they say. It was the beautiful cover that made me want to try this gorgeous book and still I was not prepared for the stunning illustrations that make up the journey into the imagination of the little boy in this thoughtful story.

On the first page we meet the boy, tucked up in his duffle coat, as he starts a normal school day. As we follow him through the park, on to the bus and past the lollipop lady we learn that his head is full of wonder at everything he sees. This is a child who asks questions and is full of thoughts and daydreams. Sadly, the adults he meets on his journey do not encourage this attitude, not the bus driver, lollipop lady, his class teacher or the science teacher. But then it is time for the art lesson. His teacher gives him a blank piece of paper and, as is often the way, the little boy doesn't know what to draw. Use your imaginationsays his teacher. So he does, with simply amazing results.

The illustrations at the start of the story showing the diminutive boy, overshadowed by the larger figures of the adults, are sepia tinted and slightly reminiscent of old fashioned picture postcards. However there are flashes of bright colour depicting the boy's imagination and giving a taste of what is to come later. During his art lesson, as he begins to draw and we turn the page as he starts to let his imagination take flight the change to breathtaking, vibrant illustrations bursting with detail is stunning. The way in which the illustrations work with the text to convey the story is extremely well done. As he finishes his painting and we return to the classroom the illustrations now contain a delicate colour, as though the magic of his daydreams has brightened up his day.

For a young child this will be a lovely story to share and to examine the beautiful illustrations in detail together. Slightly older children may appreciate the idea of not being afraid to use your imagination and to simply have a go without fear of making mistakes. For adults it is a thought provoking book emphasising how important it is to allow children the time to discover, play and daydream. After the story ends with the little boy taking his picture home to show his proud mum and dad and you turn to the endpapers of the book the final illustration shows that he did continue to use his imagination and follow his daydreams with success. A wonderful story, superb illustrations and a valuable message.

Thank you very much to the people at Templar Publishing for sending this copy for review.

Another lovely picture book about art and encouraging creativity in young children is the amusing The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

Please share on: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

You can read more book reviews or buy The Wonder by Faye Hanson at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Wonder by Faye Hanson at Amazon.com.

Comments

Like to comment on this review?

Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.