Dim's Write Stuff

Occasionally, one happens upon a book that resonates hard, impacts deep and lingers on. Sketch by Jacques Goldstyn is one such book; a picture book for older readers that speaks to those that feel contrary to the norm. And in a month where I seem to be happily adrift on a sea of art-infused books, Sketch is a tale that sits satisfyingly among them. Sketch is born to parents whose hearts are compassionate and wise. From the outset, he wasn't quite like other babies despite everything being anatomically 'normal', he wasn't drawn quite like anyone else . His parents didn't care, loving and nourishing his energetic joie de vivre and wild exuberance along with his deep-seated love of art.  It is this passion however that further distances Sketch from his more ordinary contemporaries. Sketch lives in a town that is orderly, plain and depressingly practical. His divergent way of thinking and drawing simply does not correlate with such boundaries which is bearable until...

Do you remember making abstract ink art with your toddler? You know, the type involving splodges and straw blowing? Perhaps you were more into spotting cloud shapes. Maybe finding patterns in chaos is more your thing. The geometry of the natural world and its accidental occurrences is not something we consciously celebrate. These two picture books however standout because of their focus on simplicity and artful creativity. Read on, or better, experience the incisive visual literacy of these books first hand. What's That Splat by Johanna Bell & Amelia Luscombe I love the feel, look and premise of this book. Let's talk about the bevelled, rounded corners first. These give the book a cosy, comfortable feel suggesting there's nothing scary inside here, just a bit of fun. Lusciously thick GSM (page density) guarantees a long life of frequent page turns and reinforces connectivity with the target audience, ostensibly two-year-olds and above, plus it's easy to turn. Colou...

Today's delightful double-whammy comes loaded with well-meaning flavour, colour and fun. These two picture book gems would make great Easter basket additions but are standalone, any time reads, as well.  Hatch and Match  I'm normally wary of seek and find books that use rhyme as a vehicle for treasure hunting, but this inadvertent Easter-suitable title is pure delight. Bunnies are quickly dispensed with as we focus on a tree chockas with chooks, that's chickens to the uninitiated. And what colourful chooks they are, each sporting a unique colour scheme and pattern.  Our sleeping hens are awakened by the dutiful rooster and immediately set out to locate their eggs. Where could they be? Well it's simple if you follow the match and hatch pattern prompts! Spry lyrical narrative and pages and pages filled with eye-popping rainbow colours transforms the reading experience into the best egg hunt, ever ! All tied together with a satisfying reflection on differences and sames. A...

My ability to draw is only slightly less inspiring than my ability to handstand. I can however, picture my stories as I write them with razor sharp clarity, in my head at least. Translating these internal storyboards to a real life illustrator is not always easy so I'm lucky that illustrators like, Siobhan McVey who provided the striking visual narrative for, Oswald Messweather , are adroit enough to create strong ' visual partners ' for my words without my input. I was fascinated to learn that when a storyline and language resonate powerfully enough with a potential illustrator, their creativity leaps into unsolicited action. In other words, sketches and images, characteristics and colours flow authentically and without hesitation. The organic way a visual narrative uncurls in an illustrator's head, eventually spilling onto the page to hug and caress my words is, for me, the most magical part of the picture book making process. To experience more of the magic, read thi...

One of the most sensible, go-to gift ideas for any new parent is a book. Never mind newborn can’t even focus yet let alone read; the thought of gifting something so rich in inspiration and entertainment to share with baby as they grow and learn about their world softens and warms every heart. Here are a handful of recently released board books that will fill any gift basket, or nursery bookshelf, with sunshine and joy. Kindness Makes Us Strong This sturdy little picture book is robust enough to endure the tug and pull of eager little hands (and mouths) and pretty enough to brighten any bookshelf. It’s part of a series (Love Makes A Family ) by vibrant author illustrator, Sophie Beer featuring simple statements that underpin the quality of kindness; of having it, sharing it and living it. Beer’s trademark bold, bright retro-sque illustrations shout positivity and display strong themes of diversity and duality reminding us kindness is not only how we behave but who we are. ...