Walls

Walls by Tania Ingram & Ruth-Mary Smith (Wombat Books) PB RRP $26.99 9781761111518

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Tania Ingram is an internationally published author who writes picture books, novels, and poetry. She has been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the year award and is a Premier’s Reading Ambassador.

Ruth-Mary Smith is an Australian illustrator with a special love of gentle emotions that she portrays in picture books. Her work is sweet, warm and whimsical. She loves using the traditional mediums of drawing and watercolour as well as making digital illustrations.

A Viking and a Knight are convinced they live on the best side of the book and they both disagree. An argument unfolds and a wall is built to keep their side safe from each other. A hidden danger lurks that both the Knight and Viking fail to see. This is a story about differences, prejudice and fear.

Ingram has cleverly written a text that speaks to a child reader and involves them in the story. Speech blurbs are used to tell the story which lets a child feel like they really are a part of the story. It is an effective way to use minimal text, show character, plot and move the story along at a great pace. It also enables Ingram to bring in some interesting words for vocabulary development. How Ludicrous! 

Each page has only one or two sentences ensuring the story is kept engaging and fun. Another clever move on Ingram’s part is she has allowed a lot of space for the illustrator to shine in her craft and to bring multiple layers to the story. Another skillful inclusion is the use of the gutter of the book which acts as a wall, too. She leaves the last two spreads totally to the illustrator which is brilliant.

Smith delights the reader with her illustrations in this book. They truly sing and capture attention with their cuteness. She has created two endearing characters of a boy and girl who are on each side of the wall too. They interact and play together while the Knight and Viking argue. They are not included in the text yet really level up this picture book and make it so much more powerful. The little Knight boy and the Viking girl feature on the endpapers. The colour palette has a fairytale feel and perfectly suits the story.  The Knight and Viking are striking with their body language and facial expressions. Both are so indignant and right that you can’t help but laugh. A powerful thought-provoker is that the images show the ignorance of both the Knight and Viking in comparison to the innocent wisdom of the children.

 Walls is a picture book that will resonate with children, parents, teachers and librarians because it is not only fun but powerful in its messaging. It is a true picture book in very sense because the text and illustrations are divine together. This book is suitable for readers 3-7 years.