Tag Sarah Ardizzone

Toby Alone

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Toby Alone
Timothée de Fombelle, illustrated by Francois Place
Walker Books
Translated by Sarah Ardizzone

This book is the first part of a two part saga, a fable with an almost thirteen year old hero, Toby Lolness, just one and a half millimetres tall.

The narrative opens in the middle of things with Toby lying injured, a fugitive from the miniature community that populate the Tree. His predicament is on account of his father, Professor Sim Lolness’s refusal to share the secret of his discovery of a process that harnesses the tree’s energy, for the potentially devastating effect.

When greedy industrialist and dictator, Jo Mitch, learns this, he banishes the Lolness family to the tree’s lower dark, damp branches, then imprisons them and a death sentence is passed. Toby escapes and is on the run from an entire world that sees him as a threat to their way of life.

Eventually, near the Border between the Tree and the Ground beyond he finds a safe haven from his pursuers with a family that includes daring young Elisha Lee, The two form a special friendship and then set out to rescue his parents and divert an environmental greed-driven disaster as well as the personal one.

The author of this novel creates an immersive world, and there is betrayal, and occasional violence that may shock some readers. At its core is an ecological message that never becomes heavy, as it’s interwoven with themes of courage, friendship and love. There’s a satisfying, albeit rather abrupt cliffhanger conclusion that leaves readers, especially this one, eager to get hold of the sequel, Toby and the Secrets of the Tree. Making the whole adventure even more intriguing are Francois Place’s black and white illustrations.

The Garden of Inside-Outside

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The Garden of Inside-Outside
Chiara Mezzalama and Régis Lejonc (trans. Sarah Ardizzone)
Book Island

Inspired by the author’s own childhood experience (in 1980 her father was appointed Italian ambassador to Tehran when Iran was at war with Iraq), this is an absolutely wonderful graphic novel style presentation with suberb illustrations by Régis Lejonc.

Chiara and her brother spent their days within a garden of an ambassadorial residence surrounded by high walls. Inside this garden with its fountains, pomegranate trees, a pond with an ancient carp, and a wealth of hiding places they were safe from the violent war that raged Outside.

One day while playing in their garden the children spy a young boy peering through the iron gate. He takes a risk and climbs over the wall. Chiara’s brother and their dog run away but despite having no language in common, Chiara and the boy whose name is Massoud, strike up a friendship.

Much alarmed, Chiara’s brother wants her to inform their parents but she keeps quiet and her new friend becomes ‘ the Persian prince of Outside-Inside’ while Chiara is a lion-taming princess; their garden his sanctuary.

But when Chiara tries to mix inside and outside the story suddenly turns and their friendship comes under a threat of her own making, her friendly gesture seemingly spurned; or is it?

Powerfully written and crafted with consummate skill, (this is a superb translation by Sarah Ardizzone), we readers really feel as though we’re standing behind Chiara’s head as she tells her enormously thought-provoking story. The illustrations truly do evoke the tranquilly of the inside sanctuary and the dark horrors and fears of the war as it rages in the city outside.

I’ve never seen anything quite like this before: what a wonderful demonstration that friendships truly can transcend boundaries and walls against all the odds.

Emmett and Caleb

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Emmett and Caleb
Karen Hottois and Delphine Renon
Book Island

Emmett and Caleb are neighbours and good friends. Despite having totally different morning rituals, they manage to spend much of their time together going for walks and enjoying nature.

Come summer late riser Caleb is unusually, awake early and he wants to give his pal a present to celebrate their long-standing friendship. Having pondered hard, he decides to write Emmett a poem: ‘Emmett, you look handsome in your hat and you’re not fat.’ and give it to him after they’ve consumed their meal. This however, doesn’t quite go as well as he hopes: Emmett focuses on the superficial errors rather than the content of the message and so finds Caleb’s effort funny, which upsets the writer who snatches back his work, taking drastic action.

Emmett ponders, gently admonishes himself and decides to make recompense. By sunset the two are reconciled

Autumn brings forest walks, damp earth and the harvesting of nature’s bounties – a truly golden time for the pair.

Then in the winter it’s time to celebrate Caleb’s birthday with a party, presents, a special cake and dancing;

it even snows as midnight strikes.

This celebration of friendship, life’s simple pleasures and the gifts of nature, translated from the author’s original French by Sarah Ardizzone, is enchanting. In her illustrations, Delphine Renon beautifully captures the warmth between the two characters as well as the inherent beauty of each season.

A quirky delight to read aloud or equally, a lovely book for those just taking off as independent readers.