Review:
Scribble sunset by Ann Shenfield
Hachette Livre (Lothian Children's
Books) 2008.
(Age 7+) Ann Shenfield, a prize winning animation filmmaker, has come
up with a delightful picture book that will fuel the imagination of
anyone who reads it. A little girl is determined to find the sunset and
on the way she scribbles down her thoughts about the clouds she sees, a
magpie and its babies, and Jones, the one person she doesn't want to
think
about.
Her musings raise all sorts of ideas about perspective in art and the
whimsical illustrations could stimulate the reader to ask questions
about different intriguing paintings and art works. These could be used
to send the reader off on a quest to investigate them.
Perception, about art and people, is another major theme. As the little
girl muses: 'Some things depend on where you're standing.' - a line
could be a line or it could 'be the ocean with a glorious sunset over
the horizon.' The author also explores, in a very gentle way, how the
little girl's perception of Jones changed when they reached the ocean
and she got to know him.
I loved this book and the ideas and pictures lingered in my mind long
after I read it.
Pat Pledger
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© Pledger
Consulting, 2007