Tiny Dancer
By Patrick Guest & Mateja Jager
Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran
Tiny Dancer is a heart-capturing picture book written by acclaimed picture book author Patrick Guest and illustrated by the amazing artist Mateja Jager.
In the author notes Guest writes how his words for this story, which arose from a sad place, sat patiently for many years waiting for the perfect illustrator. And now cloaked in Jager’s exquisite, ethereal artwork, Tiny Dancer tells the story of Konomi, born to embrace life for just one day, for she is a mayfly and one day is her lifespan.
The opening spreads remind me that there are colours in this world I have not even imagined, including a stunning shade of my favourite colour pink. The story starts by sharing various lifespans : flamingo – eighty years, whale – two hundred, olive tree – still growing after five thousand years. Konomi, however, only has one day, and she immediately starts taking in the wonder of the world around her. The spectacular illustration of the sunrise illuminating the reeds on which Konomi sits will inspire all readers – adults and children alike – to seek out the beauty of our world and to be present in the fleeting instants when light slows down time creating moments of breathtaking beauty.
As Konomi continues to spend time revelling in the awesome wonder around her, she lives, plays, grows, experiences joy and spins in happy hues of orange, pink and purple, all in the space of one day. Even when Konomi lays to rest on the riverbank where she was born, sadness is overcome by feelings of fulfilment for a life enjoyed.
While the gentle poetic text guides the reader through the joys of life – individual freedom, community living, learning, growing, trusting, feeling, knowing – the artwork lifts the narrative into an other-worldly experience, refreshing readers’ minds with new appreciation for all life, long and short.
Tiny Dancer is an extremely special story filled with awe and holds the power to transform young and old readers in its pages, holding their attention in splendour, inspiring them to marvel and willing them to ponder and question. I hope you’ll allow yourself to be lost and found in this stunning book.
Dirt Lane Press 2025
Patrick Guest
Mateja Jager
Sandhya Parappukkaran is the author of award winning picture books including, The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name (Notable book, winner of the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year New Illustrator Award and a finalist in the QLD Premier’s Literary Awards), Amma’s Sari (2023 CBCA Notable book and a finalist in the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Award), Stay for Dinner (winner 2024 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Literary Award) and her latest, Words That Taste Like Home.
