Since Mrs Singer went away all the neighbours helped Mr Singer. Evan and his mum bring food and stories, Marco and Rhonda bring food, the Shailers clean the house. Dr Marc looks after his garden, and ‘everyone encourages Mr Singer to look after his dragons and his dragon tree’.
When Mrs Singer lived there, the house was full of fun and laughter But since she went away Mr Singer has changed. He’s grumpy, never smiles and is always talking to himself. It isn’t long before the dragon tree loses its magic.
One day Evan knocks on Mr Singer’s door. He’s holding a piece of paper. He asks if they can do ‘Folding – like we used to?’ Can they make a dragon? Mr Singer doesn’t want to try. Evan sits at the table and tries his best, scrunching up the paper as he fails to create a dragon. Slowly but surely Mr Singer is drawn to help. ‘Fold and crease. Press a bit harder.’ Until a dragon is made. Evan asks Mr Singer to make his own dragon. Shaky hands reach out, tears well in his eyes, together they start folding dragons. Small hands helping old hands and vice versa.
This is a tender story. As we begin, Lucia Masciullo’s illustrations of Mr Singer have no colour, like his life, unlike the pages featuring those who live around him. As Evan visits him and Mr Singer begins to remember how to find joy in living, the colour returns, page by page.
Cheng is such a thoughtful writer, bringing us a story about how a child can help remind us that we can find happiness again among those around us. A story of great depth and one beautifully told.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 5+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (…or sometimes it’s Christopher, or Mr Cheng, but I really like Chris).
I am a husband, a writer, a teacher, an uncle, a godfather, a brother, a friend and even a pal!!
I didn’t start out being a writer. In fact all I ever wanted to do was be a primary school teacher. Today all I ever want to do is to write. I know my best book is yet to come.
I grew up with my family in a large federation house in Sydney. Primary school was fun (I still know some of my magical primary school teachers), high school was okay and eventually I snuck into University – what a blast – to get my teaching qualifications and eventually my Masters of Arts in Children’s Literature. Not many males trained to be teachers at my university!
Visit Christopher Cheng’s website
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Lucia is an award-winning children’s book illustrator born and bred in Livorno, Italy. She moved to Australia in 2007 and she now lives and works on the beautiful Gold Coast.
Lucia has collaborated with several top Australian and English Publishers and illustrated tirty books, among which the CBCA Honour Book and Prime Minister Award shortlisted Come Down, Cat!, written by award-winning author Sonya Hartnett, CBCA shortlisted Family Forest, and the best-selling series Our Australian Girl.
When not a work she likes running, watching anime, and eating home made pizza.
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