To the End of the World, Far, Far Away
Ronda Armitage and Victoria Turnbull
Walker Books

An accidental spillage by little bear, Louis, makes Mum a bit cross. Louis cries and decides it’s time he headed off, far, far away right to the end of the world. With bag in hand, he pauses, turns to Mum and asks, “Will you be sad when I’ve gone away?” Mum then goes into dramatic mode, describing how her tears will create a great sea, wherein the waves will ask about her sadness and then transmit her words to the marine creatures.

She’ll then climb a tall mountain atop which she will beseech the wind to help her in her search. The forest trees she visits will carry her distressed message to the creatures there.

Will that exhaust all her sadness, Louis wants to know. But no, even his own toys will start to cry for nobody will be there to tuck them up and hold them tight at bedtime.

By now readers and listeners will have realised that Ronda Armitage’s dramatic “going away” tale is showing the depth and breadth of motherly love enacted in a kind of game that both parties thoroughly enjoy playing. Who better to illustrated this than Victoria Turnbull whose scenes are filled with wonderfully whimsical details at every turn of the page, while the changing expressions on the faces of the two characters are a delight.

Like this game that’s likely played over and over by its protagonists, the story too will be oft requested by young children and read aloud over and over by parents and other adults.