Nina Nill is best known as an illustrator in the children’s literature world, having brought two highly praised picture books to life with author Ali Rutstein. Here, Nina is both author and artist of a gentle look at moving to a new country, including challenges and wins, from a child’s perspective.
The exact ‘from’ and ‘to’ of this story are left open to interpretation, with the characters, architecture and household trappings quite diverse and eclectic, but still showing two distinct landscapes. There are very few words (no more than 10 per spread) but rich illustrations leave the reader in no doubt about the character’s evolving feelings towards this big change. Two spreads showing the range of things the family packs, then unpacks, will be terrific for shared reading and expanding vocabulary, covering everything from a loaf of bread to a typewriter. Some objects will be instantly recognisable, some might require some conversation about what they are or to whom they belong. The endpapers should not be missed, providing an aerial view of a plane leaving one city and arriving in another.
This will be appreciated by younger readers (3 to 5 years) who are experiencing change, or any reader who enjoys taking time over a book to explore detailed illustrations. It will be particularly useful in conversations about what makes a home.
