Buzz Words Review
This first appeared on July 9th 2017 in BUZZ WORDS
Magic Fish Dreaming
Magic Fish Dreaming written by June Perkins, illustrated by Helene Magisson (GumBootsPearlz Press) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN 978-0-980731-18-7
Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe
Magic Fish Dreaming is a beautiful book of poetry, inspired by the people, creatures and country of Far North Queensland. To travel to FNQ through this delightful book of poetry is, quite simply, a treat.
Perkins is a Papua New Guinean Australian writer with a PhD on the topic of Writing Empowerment. She and illustrator Magisson have captured and delivered a series of age-appropriate vignettes that traverse clever, captivating poetry alongside divine pictures.
From dancing in the storm to finding ‘giggle poems,’ from discovering a secret fishing spot to glimpsing the flicker of a gecko, the ideas in this book encourage children to take time, to create space, to cultivate patience, to watch, to wait… to dance…
‘Storm Dancers’ –
She said, “I’ll dance with you,”
as the cloud’s violent sneezes caused
a flood in her garden.
He said, “I’ll dance with you
One of those anti-rain dances
But we can’t dance too long
‘cause we don’t want drought.”
The text and illustrations intermingle, to weave their magic not just through the core ideas of the poetry, but in and around the very pages themselves. With gorgeous and sometimes surprising messages delivered in a unique and unselfconscious manner, this is a book that emanates joy in every reading.
Instant gratification, armchair travel and lightning-fast images and sounds are a way of life in 2017. Rich, nourishing books like this one that bring conversation and evoke spirit of place, country and critter not just one time but over and over again, are on a different space-time continuum.
This book is recommended for children of all ages (even really old ones!).
