The little hardware shop by Hazel Lekkas. Illus. by Dasha Riley

First time author, Hazel Lekkas, has written a picture story book based on her parents’ years as owners of a hardware shop in the multi-cultural western suburbs of Melbourne. Each page shares the journey of an elderly man who tells his story across the years as he remembers how the hardware shop and its hardware were so important. The story begins with his birth and what was needed to prepare for his arrival, his early years, childhood, teenage years, adulthood, owning his own home, starting a family, and finally becoming a grandfather.

Every page has black and white line drawings with bright flashes of colour until the final double page where the hardware shop is revealed in full colour. The accessible text flows well and the author has cleverly labelled many of the hardware items in both English and one of the 18 languages spoken in the author’s suburb where she grew up: Maltese, Ukrainian, Chinese, Arabic, Croatian, Italian, German, Somali, French, Macedonian, Polish, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Greek, Spanish, Samoan, Armenian and Danish. 

This is a simple, yet important book to share with young students as it highlights the diverse culture to be found in Australian schools and public libraries.

Themes: Multicultural, Diverse Languages, Hardware, Family, Time passing.

Kathryn Beilby