Milo: a moving story by Tohby Riddle
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760111632
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Friends, City life, Relationships. A picture
book for older readers, the title alerts readers to the double
meaning of the story, particularly when the cover illustration shows
Milo and his kennel perched precariously on top of a tall building.
Milo lives a quiet, ordered life. He has a number of friends with
whom he has adventures and when they are at home during the night
call out to each other across the rooftops of the city. But one
night, he dreams he is on a boat, with high winds and choppy seas.
He tosses and turns, restless and sleeping badly. When he wakes he
is tired and impatient, so much so that when his friend, Snombo
calls he rudely sends him away. He instantly regrets his rude words
to his friend and that night a storm erupts, leaving Milo and his
kennel stuck on a roof. Alone he ponders his plight and the events
of the previous day. A migrating bird, Carlos flies in and helps him
from his kennel onto the roof of the building and during the night
they talk and swap stories.
In the morning a window cleaner comes to work and in return for
helping him down from the top of the building, he helps the window
cleaner finish his work.
He returns with his kennel to his usual spot, surprised that his
friends are there looking for him, even Snombo. He recounts his
adventures and during the celebrations he apologises to his friend,
Snombo.
That night he dreams again of being in a boat, but this time the
seas are calm and the boat still.
This charming picture book illustrates the importance of friends, of
working to keep them, of the adventures that friends have together.
Riddle's illustrations in a mix of colour wash, collage and
photographic images are a treat. They will have younger readers
searching for instances of city life as they hum the tunes of In
the good old summer time, and Give my regards to Broadway.
The New York setting will intrigue readers who will be able to pick
out sights of that city. Riddle's whimsical approach to the group of
friends, shown as dogs dressed in their apparel from the mid
twentieth century is further enhanced by the sepia colours used,
giving the whole a very old fashioned look.
Like all of Riddle's books, the more it is read, the more the reader
sees.
And it is worth the effort.
Fran Knight
Editor's note: Teacher's
notes are available.