I seem to have hit a few reads this month, which inspire creativity. Today's read stays in that theme. This time, we're going to take a look at a girl who makes pockets. I've always enjoyed sewing, so this was a 'must read' for me. But I am curious to see what this character does with pockets and why she makes them. There's only one way to find out. So, let's open this one up and find out what she's up to!
POPPY MAKES POCKETS
by Jemima Parker &
Karen Erasmus
EK Books
Picture Book
34 pages
ages 4 to 8
Poppy finds a crafty solution for carrying her treasures in this uplifting story about creativity, upcycling, community spirit – and the joy of pockets!
Poppy picks up the most amazing things when she’s out exploring, from glossy feathers to rattling seed pods to shiny buttons. But she’s missing something very important: pockets to carry her findings!
After an unsuccessful wardrobe search, Poppy’s creativity is sparked. With some crafty textile upcycling, she makes her own pocket-covered outfit. It’s such a success that she opens a stand in her street offering pocket-making for all. But what happens when Poppy runs out of fabric, and people still want pockets? Can Poppy and her neighbourhood friends come together to find a solution?
Girls’ clothing almost never has practical pockets, which affects how girls play, move, and navigate life. Poppy Makes Pockets celebrates of the joy of pockets, and highlights that girls need them too. It also explores themes of upcycling worn-out clothing, inspiring young readers to think about sustainable and creative solutions to problems. Full of positivity and joy, this delightful story will entertain little readers everywhere, especially those who love collecting treasures.
MY TIDBITS
This one hits a problem that me and my daughters have always complained about—the lack of pockets or big enough ones on clothes. And it shows how a young girl solves this issue.
Poppy finds little treasures whenever she's outside, but most of her clothes don't have pockets to keep them in until she arrives home. Grabbing leftover fabric pieces, thread, a needle, and other sewing accessories, she creates simple pockets on one of her dresses. They work great! Then, she notices that others around her seem to be having the same problem she did. So, she opens up a pocket stand and begins her own little adventure.
This is a book to inspire and motivate readers to get creative and tackle problems with a little ingenuity. Poppy is a cheerful girl and easy to like. Her problem is also one, which many readers will understand. Her sewing skills might seem complicated to some, but the author has added directions at the end of the book to help readers create their own pockets if desired. The tale also lets the sense of helping others and friendships within the community shine. The diversity is also not forgotten as various customers come to Poppy's stand. So, it's a positive read with quite a bit of goodness wrapped into the pages.
The text brings across the tale clearly and smoothly. While it creates a lovely read-aloud, it's also fitting for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words, to pick up and discover on their own. The illustrations are created in watercolor and let the scenes come across with familiarity while holding a sense of gentleness. And the directions for the craft at the end round everything off nicely.
And here they are...
Jemima Parker is a writer and sewer with a degree in Visual Arts (textiles). She is passionate about nurturing creativity in children. She is a Canberra-based creative working across disciplines, and is also a Visual Arts and Law graduate. Jemima spends her days as a communications professional. She is passionate about writing and illustrating for children. She loves dogs, telling stories and coffee – all the coffee. Jemima has more picture books coming soon with Scholastic Australia and EK Books.
Karen Erasmus is an illustrator based on the south coast near Melbourne, Australia. She is a qualified teacher who enjoys teaching illustration and design to TAFE students. When she’s not drawing and designing, you’ll find her sewing or out cycling on the Peninsula.
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