It was raining outside. It kept raining. And raining. Their grandmother called it The Great Flood. The water was creeping up upon the land. People started to leave the city. They kept leaving until there was just a boy, a girl, their pet rabbit and their grandmother left. They tried to leave but it was too late. They climbed the stairs of their apartment building, climbing to escape the rising water. The rain kept coming. The wind blew hard. Grandma held them tight.

The next day all was quiet. The world felt silent. They stood on the roof and looked out to see water all around. No streets, no signs, no people, just water. They waited for help, but none came.

Days turned to weeks, to months. Grandma said, ‘Never lose hope. Life can be meaningful even in the darkest of days.’

Grandma taught them all she knew. How to tie knots, how to garden on their rooftop home. They learnt how to fish and let no part go to waste. They built a cosy home in the shed.

The water washed up treasures against their building. A lifejacket, shoes and a notebook among others. In this notebook they wrote all that Grandma had taught them.

They ate simply, told stories and felt the love of being together. All the while the water continued to slowly rise. The days passed as the seasons came and went.

Grandma was frail and becoming weaker. The boy and girl continued as she had taught them. They looked after the garden as she had. They sowed the seeds and weeded out the bad ones.

The storms kept coming and they grew stronger. It rained. And kept raining. It would not be long before their garden would be underwater. They decided to build a raft. They built a strong raft using the knots they’d learned from Grandma. They would sail out to find land. They packed the raft, and Grandma was proud of them. She told the children that ‘The garden provided us with gifts, more than we could wish for. Now the time had come for her to protect the garden. To watch over it.’ Grandma would not make the journey.

This is an exceptional book in so many ways. The story is told with minimal text alongside the artist’s illustrations, which are a mixture of watercolour, graphite powder, gouache and acrylic paints. The book took seven years to create. The artwork is simply outstanding and brings emotions bubbling to the surface as we read.

Higher Ground is a multilayered story of resilience, bravery, sadness, the passing of knowledge and wisdom, the environment that cares for us and for which we should care in turn. It’s about the feelings of togetherness, love and hope.

It’s simply special.

Reviewed by Rowena Morcom

Age Guide 6–100

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tull Suwannakit is an Australian book illustrator and author for children with background in animation and fine art.

Tull received a Bachelor of Art degree from The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, USA. He began his artistic career as a set designer and character sculptor for animation studios in New York City before migrating to Australia, where he became a graduate of the Master of Fine Art program with Distinction at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

Some of his books were included among the Notables list as part of The Children’s Book Council of Australia and shortlisted for Speech Pathology and Crystal Kites book of the year awards. Tull is also a 3 time recipient of Bangkok International Book Fair Picture Book of The Year Award in 2007, 2010 and 2014 respectively.

When Tull is not writing and illustrating his books, he runs art classes and workshops for children and adults at his art school in Melbourne, Malvern School of Art.

Visit Tull Suwannakit’s website