Tag Emma Chinnery

Enchanted Beach

jillrbennett Leave a comment

Enchanted Beach
Esther Freud and Emma Chinnery
Walker Books

A boy shares with readers the joys that each season brings him and his family when they visit the beach, not just in the summer when he relaxes on the sand, shell to his ear listening to the musical sounds, but in the winter, the spring and autumn too. ‘When autumn’s here I fly my kite. / Chase the seagulls. hold on tight. / Typhoons, whirlpools, fog, a gale. / A rainbow when the sun meets hail.’

You can almost feel the chill of the seawater on winter days as they all plunge into the waves with a shriek and then beat a hasty retreat back to the shore.

The sing-song narrative is mostly in rhyming verse and for the most part reads well aloud though I don’t advise sharing it sight unseen as there are a few bumpy bits.

Emma Chinnery’s detailed scenes are a delight and beg to be lingered over; the more you look the more you see. Young children might create their own stories using a picture, be it large or small, as the starting point: Emma Chinnery’s style reminds this reviewer somewhat of Simon James’ watercolour illustrations.

My Friend Andy

jillrbennett Leave a comment

My Friend Andy
Emma Chinnery
Little Tiger

Fluffy the dog, narrator of this story tells how every day s/he walks through the city to the park with best friend Lilly and her Mum. Each morning they walk past Andy, another dog but Fluffy is never allowed to stop and play with him.

One day though, Fluffy chases a ball out of the park and gets completely lost in the city. In all the hustle and bustle Fluffy’s cries for help are drowned; but then Andy comes along with his Dad. Realising that the little dog is lost, Andy’s Dad takes Fluffy in his arms and they walk to a quiet place for a sing song that eventually lulls them all off to sleep.

Next morning they start searching for Lilly and having spent the whole day so doing as night descends on the city, Andy’s Dad spots a ‘Missing’ sign giving Fluffy’s address tacked to a lamp post.

So they head straight there and a joyful reunion takes place. Sadly Andy is not asked in to play and as Fluffy and Lilly snuggle together in bed it’s clear to Lilly that something is still upsetting the dog. Fluffy tries to explain but is unsure Lilly’s understood. However, the following morning on their way to the park something special happens …

Emma Chinnery’s poignant story will surely make readers aloud especially, think deeply about how they view homeless people. Non-judgemental child listeners I suspect, will be more intent on rooting for Fluffy, hoping for a reunion with Lilly and later with new friend, Andy. Emma’s watercolour scenes of everyday life in the busy city capture so well what is never said about how people perceive the homeless.