Jemima Parker’s debut picture book, Poppy Makes Pockets, is a delightful story that follows Poppy’s vision to transform ordinary clothes into magical ‘treasure collecting outfits’ by the power of adding pockets. Beautifully illustrated by Karen Erasmus, Poppy Makes Pockets’ themes of creativity, problem solving, sharing and community make it an excellent choice for home and school libraries.
Poppy is a keen treasure collector but on her walk she discovers that, along with the precious objects she finds, she has no pockets to put them in. On closer inspection of her wardrobe she finds that many of her clothes are not pocket-worthy. Poppy begins to notice her friends’ treasures need more pockets too. What can she do? Then she has an idea. As Poppy shares her pocket making idea, connections with friends, family and her wider community begin to grow.
At its heart, Poppy Makes Pockets quietly revels in the joy of making the ordinary, everyday moments, and shared experiences special. The slice of life view of the neighbourhood families Poppy interacts with will spark conversations surrounding diversity and appreciating what makes each child’s object precious and pocket-worthy invites discussions around perspective taking and differing viewpoints. As an early years educator who values fostering imagination and creativity, the refrain ‘Poppy had an idea’ throughout the story is a big tick for me.
Karen Erasmus’ artwork captures the essence of Poppy’s pocket making perfectly. A seamstress herself, Karen understands the value of adding a pocket, her endpapers showing the step-by-step process a satisfying bonus. Poppy’s ideas, imagination, creative energy, and ability to follow through on her plan that results in relationship and community building paired with Erasmas’ thoughtful and appealing illustrations combine to make Poppy Makes Pockets a standout.
Keep an eye out for Jemima’s upcoming picture book titles with EK Books and Scholastic Australia
