The Glad Not Sad Book

By Kim Michelle Toft

Reviewed by Margarite Igras

Multi-award-winning Australian author and illustrator Kim Michelle Toft has written several picture books showcasing the beauty and importance of Nature and its role in our lives. Her books stand out with their luminous detailed hand-painted illustrations, and catchy prose-style text. Some of her titles are well-known such as One Less Fish, The World That We Want, Turtle’s Song, and A Sea of Words. In this, her twelfth environmental picture book, she challenges the reader to count forward and then backward as we journey through a vivid world of animals, insects, forests and the marine world.

The book has two covers and can be read from the front or back until the middle, where the illustrations and text are turned around. The front covers the numbers one to six, focusing on feeling glad, with repetitive text, I’m glad there is a tree, I’m glad there is a spider. The back of the book covers number six to twelve focusing on not feeling sad, with repetitive text, I’m not sad there is a turtle, I’m not sad there is a bee.  Each page is filled to the brim with details of our environment, from plant life to animal groups, insects and even being human and glad there is a love…shining in the world.

The book showcases Kim’s amazing hand painted silk illustrations. Each page shines with vibrant, contrasting colours and minute details of plants animals and insects. The simple text directs the reader to search the pages for eight bees, nine seahorses or four bears. There are additional details at the end of the book, especially, the work involved in producing these amazing illustrations.

The book has a positive message. In the author’s words, I want to capture its beauty and help educate our next generation to the importance of its preservation. Though the book is directed at 3 to 6 year olds, I am sure the older reader would gain enjoyment from the illustrations especially the art of silk painting.

Silkim Books 2024

Kim Michelle Toft