Glenda Millard is the author of the teen novel The Stars at Oktober Bend, short-listed for the Carnegie Medal in 2017, as well as A Small Free Kiss in the Dark. Stephen Michael King has illustrated, written and designed many picture books for children and collaborated with Glenda on The Duck and the Ducklings, selected by the International Youth Library as a White Raven picture book.
Pea Pod Lullaby is part song, part poem and perfect for sharing…
Each picture is beautiful, telling a story of hope and compassion,
of need and sharing, of love and togetherness.
*Through the Bookshelf blog*
Read as a bedtime story, a class book exploring displacement and
finding a new home or as inspiration for children’s own writing,
there is so much to gain from this gorgeous book.
*ScopeforImagination blog*
A beautiful and poetic story of bravery and seeking refuge written
by Glenda Millard, her words intricately woven across the
water-coloured pages of Stephen Michael King’s incredible
illustrations. A nod to climate change, this book also offers a
different perspective as it’s not just people who search for safety
but animals too.
A life-affirming story of bravery against all odds, Pea Pod Lullaby
is a must-have for every book shelf. A reminder that our world is
changing and we need to embrace everyone and everything that lives
on our planet.
*MyBookCorner blog*
... a powerfully affecting, deeply moving book that speaks to
people of all ages... This sublime picture book offers a heartfelt
message of caring, connectedness, love and hope; it's one to
treasure.
*Red Reading Hub*
... an emotional but delightful book to read. It raises many
questions and is put together so well... This book would make a
great read to explore within school settings. It would also make a
gorgeous gift.
*Mamma Filz blog*
I am the lullaby/ you are the melody/ sing me. These opening words
introduce Pea Pod Lullaby, a gentle but thought-provoking hymn to
how we should live in harmony, connecting with each other and
caring for our world. Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King both
acknowledge that the original idea for the lullaby was inspired by
a Leonard Cohen song, and conceived when contributing to a
publication to raise money for the Royal Melbourne Children's
Hospital Children's Cancer Centre. This story is sadly all too
familiar today: a mother and her children, one a newborn, and their
dog flee a war-ravaged land by boat. They journey over the sea to a
new beginning. Along the way they welcome a lost polar bear
ironically adrift on an empty refrigerator. Deeply evocative, the
story can be interpreted as a metaphor for the many difficult and
dangerous journeys we might need to take during a lifetime. Themes
of courage and resilience are reflected alongside the need to trust
and support one another and hold out hope against seemingly
insurmountable odds. This picture book is a seamless collaboration
between words and image: beautifully crafted, carefully positioned
minimalist couplets overlay the rich and lyrical watercolours that
convey much of the narrative. Each image uses colour and light
skilfully and each opening depicts different possibilities that can
be explored at length and revisited many times. Other literary
journeys are alluded to (for example, The Owl and the Pussycat).
Interestingly, although we might initially assume it is the mother
who is singing to her baby, the 'you' consistently supports or
nurtures the 'I' suggesting it is also the baby's lullaby ('I am
the small green pea you are the tender pod; I am the diving kite
you are the bow-tied tail'). At the same time the choice of 'you'
ensures the reader is directly addressed throughout this
meditation. While outwardly calm and reflective, this haunting and
inspirational picture book is a deeply layered, eloquent
exploration of different kinds of love, including the love for a
mother and her child, care for the creatures who share our world
and deep respect and concern for our environment.
*Judge's citation*
I love everything about Pea Pod Lullaby. The story works on three
levels. It could be a lullaby, a simple tale about a family that
sails from one place to another, or a metaphor for the journeys
faced by displaced people. Such a perfect book.
*Book Murmuration blog*
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