The Bridges
Tom Percival
Simon & Schuster

With parents so busy they seldom have time to play with her, Mia feels alone, so much so that it feels as though she lives far out to sea on a small island empty save for her.

One day an unexpected parcel arrives; it contains a book and it’s for Mia. Because she’s never had a book of her own before, this one feels extremely important and that’s before she’s even looked inside the covers. As she begins to read, Mia notices that something amazing is happening: with every word, Mia’s island becomes less empty. Gradually it fills with plants and creatures, and the air is perfumed with what to Mia feels like hope. As she continues reading a bridge starts to appear, growing gradually stronger all the while.

She leaves the island behind and a world of connections opens up with friendships and amazing possibilities in abundance.

Tom’s use of the bridges metaphor is SO well done for the target age of readers: for instance ‘Soon it was solid arches of dependable stone, easily spanning the distance between her and the small island she had now left behind.’ It’s wonderful to see how a slightly older Mia sees a lonely boy and immediately knows what to do.

Leaving her very first book on his doorstep, she passes on the love of reading to him, knowing that before long, his world too is going to be ‘full of bridges, connections, life and laughter’.

Promulgating the power of story and reading, this is a truly beautiful book both verbally and visually. A must have for primary classroom shelves and home collections to share, to give, to inspire and to cherish.