Leaf-light by Trace Balla

This is another stunning graphic novel/picture book/nature diary that will be adored by Trace Balla, nature and graphic novel fans. Leaf-light is a companion book to Landing with Wings as it features Miri and her mum in their new community, however it also works perfectly as a standalone. As the front cover professes, this is 'a story about caring for each other', and this is inclusive of both people and animals. The front endpapers show a map of Miri's small community in Djaara Country (central Victoria) and introduce us to who lives there. 

The main story is about Miri and her neighbours caring for an orphaned emu chick but there are multiple threads running through that focus on her connection to the community, their care for one another and how they work together to make their world a better place. One of the neighbouring families are Dja Dja Wurrung people so some local cultural practices and Djarra language are also worked in (with permission from and consultation with elders). 

As with her other similar publications (Rockhopping, Rivertime), the illustrations (hand-drawn with an Apple Pencil on an iPad Pro) are bursting with detail and labelled flora and fauna. The story is told through a mixture of narration, speech bubbles and rich, labelled illustrations. At first glance there is a lot going on in every page, but if you take your time and allow the author to guide you through, you are in for a rewarding and nurturing reading experience. Young kids will love perusing this themselves, and it is of course, totally unnecessary to read every word on the page. For this reason, multiple readings are beneficial, with new details revealing themselves. This is another special book from Trace Balla that is entirely deserving of a spot on every library and home bookshelf.

Themes: Community, Nature, Kindness.

Nicole Nelson