Chalk boy by Margaret Wild
Ill. by Mandy Ord. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760630683
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Visual literacy, Homelessness,
Community, Social isolation. Bernard draws a boy in chalk on the
pavement outside a busy railway station in the city. People are
brushing past from all angles, hardly noticing the pavement artist
as he works. Heedless of what is happening, some of the crowd
eventually stop from looking at their mobile phones or drinking
their coffee, and watch the boy come to life. They crowd around,
taking snaps on their phones, eventually drifting off to their
destinations.
Bernard reminds the boy that life is ephemeral, but he does not
care, as life is wonderful
That night it begins to rain, and the chalk boy begins to fade.
Bernard hears his cry for help and covers him until morning, when he
will do one last picture.
This thought provoking scenario, full of reminders of the shortness
of life, of the necessity for people to connect, will draw in
readers as they see the implied criticism of our daily lives:
rushing from one place to another, neglectful of what is going on
around us, unable to see those in need in front of our eyes.
As the boy asks for help when it begins to rain, people walk over
him, one man taking a selfie with the railway station behind him,
others rugged up against the weather, intent on getting home, the
plight of the boy beneath their feet ignored.
Cartoonist and graphic comic writer, Ord has a visual freshness, a
darkly confident cartoon like style which will appeal to readers.
They will readily see the variety of people shown in her work,
appreciate the criticism of modern life and sympathise with the
street artist, whose work is ignored. Each page displays aspects of
modern life in a city, and readers will readily share what they see.
Award winning author of children's books, Margaret Wild often
surprises with her deeply felt stories of the way we are and this
will make every reader stop and take notice.
Fran Knight