One day the giant wakes up in his cave. He has slept for a very long time and goes in search of the people who once knew him as their friend. But the people don’t remember him: he has slept for so long that no-one knows who is anymore, and they are afraid of him and run away. But two children recall having read about the giant in a book, and they befriend him. Soon the town learns to trust and care for him again.
I must be honest – I wasn’t sure about this book upon my first reading. I found the giant a little scary-looking and thought young children might find that too! But I feel this is exactly the point. If we find something a little difficult or frightening, we need to look a bit harder. As I’ve perused the pages some more, I’ve noticed the beautiful artwork (collage and photos) for kids to pore over with those small details that children love to discover. The words are simple and easy to understand and show the vulnerability of someone who looks like they wouldn’t get sad easily. There are lots of messages here about friendship and inclusion and I’d recommend it for reading in class with early primary-aged children.
Reviewed by Amanda Brinkman
Age Guide 4+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophie Masson AM was born in Indonesia of French parents, brought up in France and Australia and now lives in regional NSW. She is the multi-award-winning author of many books, for children, young adults and adults, and in 2019 received an AM award in the Order of Australia honours list for her significant service to literature. Her most recent titles for children include Sabina and the Cats of Rome, illustrated by Laura Wood, Christmas Press 2024, and Satin, illustrated by Lorena Carrington, MidnightSun Publishing 2023, which received a Notable Books citation in the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
Lorena Carrington is an acclaimed illustrator and writer based in regional Victoria, known for her intricate photographic montage illustrations. Some of her recent books include The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books with Lara Cain Gray (author) and Timothy Ide (co-illustrator), Leaf Letters, Kate Forsyth’s Long Lost Fairy Tales, and Satin with Sophie Masson. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including a 2024 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book of the Year for Satin.
0 Comments