Hold on Tight

Hold on Tight by Sara Acton (Scholastic Press)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-74283-349-1
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

What would happen on a windy day if you let go of Mum’s hand and blew away? This lovely poetic picture book explores the possibilities. Soft ink and watercolour illustrations fill the pages creating breeze and movement rustling though the book. The gentle pictures and pastel palette match the gentle weightlessness of the story. The imagination of these pictures is inspiring. The rhyme is good, but the placement of the text on the page ensures that it is the rhythm that dominates. And this increases the dreamy flow of the experience.

The language, storyline and illustrations all work beautifully together making this is a delightful book to be swept up into. And I love that we are brought gently, but firmly, back to earth at the end of the book. I’m sure any young child would love to be the child in the story, floating high above earth with the wind, autumn leaves, lady birds and raindrops.

Hold on Tight is a dreamy book, just right for all children who would love to fly.