What Will You Make Today?

By Maura Pierlot
Illustrated by Triandhika Anjani
Reviewed by Margarite Igras

This non-fiction picture book, written by the award-winning author, playwright and filmmaker, Maura Pierlot is packed with wonderful full-page illustrations by Triandhika Anjani.

What will you make today? is a child centred book, that focusses on all the things a child can do to make a difference, by dreaming, listening, being involved, imagining, doing, and being aware. Set in a clearing, surrounded by trees, a creek, and birds in the sky, we see several tents in a large circle and can envisage friends and children on a camping holiday. We observe as the children participate in all kinds of activities. Some are about self: making friends, your bed, breakfast. Others are about the environment: planting a tree, cleaning up rubbish and caring for our fauna. On a bigger scale, children are directed to a better future through career choice, being proactive, and caring for the planet.

Each page contains one line of text, the beginning of which is repeated on each page – Will you make …with some of the surprising offerings of your bed?  your breakfast?  believe?  noise? friends? a discovery? a plan?  make things happen?  There is something rhythmical and poetic about the use of the repetitive phrase. The responses show that there are so many possibilities In a world where anything’s possible.

The colourful, detailed illustrations in this visual narrative, makes the text sing. Will you make a home? shows a bird or possum box being remounted on a tree by a group of children and Will you make something for today? involves three children planting a tree which tomorrow will provide shelter and a home for animals.

A thoughtful beautiful book, for children young and old, teeming with possibilities. The simple text will engage the reader to the end, whilst the illustrations have so much detail to discover.

Teacher’s Notes
Storytorch Press 2023