Today's read heads to the trees, which is something which makes me smile. One of my younger brothers spent an awful lot of time in a tree. We grew up in a house, which was directly across the street from one of the city's biggest parks. My brother would dress in green, take a little picnic lunch, and climb up into a tree, which hung above a sidewalk. He'd sit up there and watch people walk right underneath him, completely unaware that he was there.
So, I'm curious what this little girl is up to as she sits in a tree, too.
HIDDEN
by Larissa Ferenchuk & Fiona West
EK Books
Picture Book
32 pages
ages 4 to 8
COMING JUNE 10th!!!
A little girl helps her neighbourhood connect with each other in this touching story about friendship, inclusion and sharing.
Do you ever feel like you can see the whole world, but no one can see you? Hidden amongst the leaves of a fig tree, a young girl watches as the people in her street busily go about their day, disappearing into their homes or cars without looking up. She tries to get the neighbours’ attention as she moves through the branches, but no one notices. As the girl watches her neighbours, she wonders how she can get them to see her – and everyone else around them. A plan begins to form, involving generosity, kindness, and a lot of figs …
Hidden is a heart-warming story which shows how one child’s idea has the power to build relationships and bring a whole community together. In a time when many people feel disconnected and isolated, this story is an important reminder that everyone – young and old – deserves to be seen, included and feel a sense of belonging in their community.
Full of hope and heart, Hidden is the perfect way to introduce little readers to the importance of sharing and treating everyone with kindness.
MY TIDBITS
A little girl loves to sit in the tree and watch the world around her. Nobody sees here sitting between the leaves, but she sees her neighbors come and go as they go through their daily lives. She's never a part of it and, at one point, begins to consider becoming a part of the happenings, but she also wonders if there's a way she can be part of the community and still sit in her tree.
It's easy to identify with the young girl as she sits in her tree, hidden from the rest of the world. Not only will readers most likely want to climb a tree like that themselves and sit up on the branches, but the thought of remaining unseen while watching everyone else awakens a little curiosity and fun. The scenes are very familiar situations as children play on the street and people drive around in their cars. It's enjoyable, and yet, the author weaves in a subtle sense of loneliness and isolation, too. About mid-way through the book, there's a shift as the girl finds reason to go beyond the tree and become a part of the happenings around her. It's not forced but flows naturally. And even when she does get involved, it's not over the top. Rather, kindness and smaller acts bring meaningful interactions. Still, the tree isn't forgotten, either, but offers a rounded atmosphere to the entire read.
The illustrations allow the scenes to come across clearly while staying in a playful style, which fits nicely with the lyrical flow of the words. The poetic descriptions in the beginning slide into a slightly more tale format as the girl changes her habits from watching the world around her to taking a more active role. It's makes a gentle read-aloud, which fits well to calmer story times.
There's a nice message surrounding the importance of community, and it also inspires as it shows how simple acts of kindness can brighten another person's day. In other words, it's a positive read to enjoy.
And here they are...
Larissa Ferenchuk is a writer who loves all things magical and whimsical. She spends hours dreaming up new story ideas that can inspire and empower children, including her first book, Two Rabbits (EK Books, 2024). Larissa also works with Primary School and Preschool children in her role as a School Services Officer.
Larissa enjoys participating in activities in her local community in her spare time. From being a member of her local fruit and vegetable swap group, to gardening at home and in a community garden, she has found that being involved in your local community creates a sense of connectedness and a feeling of belonging.
Larissa lives in Adelaide with her husband and three children. When her children were younger, they had a treehouse in a beautiful old fig tree in the yard – the perfect place to hide and watch the world go by.
Fiona West is a Zimbabwean-born Australian artist and illustrator based in Brisbane. Her sensory, playful approach combines the freshness of pencil, crayon, paint and collage into whimsical, quirky illustrations. Fiona has worked in the arts industry in South Africa, London and Australia, and has a Doctorate in Visual Arts through Griffith University, Brisbane.
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