Move that Mountain

Move that Mountain by Kate & Jol Temple, illustrated by Terri Rose Baynton (Scholastic Australia) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781760974275

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Move that Mountain comes from the same creators as the award-winning Room on our Rock. And, like the first volume, this one shows youngsters that there are two sides to every story. When the book is read from beginning to end, the puffins believe that they are too little to help a beached whale get back to the sea. But when the book is read in reverse, the puffins work together to find a way to move that mountainous whale.

With just 90 words, Kate and Jol Temple take children aged three and over on an intriguing journey of self-discovery. Simple text ensures that the themes of determination, teamwork and problem-solving lap gently at readers’ feet like waves upon a seashore, encouraging kids to dive into a world where even the smallest person can make a difference.

Muted blues wash over the pages, giving Terri Rose Baynton’s illustrations a cool fluidity that is calming to the eye. The warmth of action is brought to the fore with the oranges and yellows of the puffins’ beaks, which represent the strength required to bring about change.  

A clever and captivating book that is sure to be read again and again, Move that Mountain will inspire the next generation to fight for what’s right. Physical size doesn’t matter when kindness and compassion swell your soul.