Reviewed by Karen Hendriks
Jevita Nilson is an Australian children’s author who creates stories that encourage children to explore the world around them. Her debut picture book Happy Hearts was published in 2020. Our World Full of Wonder is her first non-fiction book which will be followed by a third in 2025 with CSIRO.
Jess Racklyeft is a multi-award-winning illustrator and author of children’s picture books. Jess previously worked in publishing before becoming a full-time illustrator.
Our world is full of amazing natural wonders: there are extraordinary places found right here on Earth that are not only magical, but true. This book takes you to some of those places
Jevita Nilson has written about wondrous places. She really does inspire children to want to explore. The opening spread uses sparse text to create awe. Floating in space, there is a world full of wonder. Shall we go explore? The book unfolds with double spreads for each special place. A repeat refrain opens each spread There is a place where… Rather than revealing the name of the place, the text describes the place, and the illustrations show them. Rather than giving answers the text inspires the reader to find answers and wonder where the place could possibly be in our big wide world.
The language used is light and lyrical, to spark awe and wonder. The word choices are enriching and satisfying. There is a place where ocean creatures roam a multi-coloured maze, where giant rays glide through gleaming waters, and turtles paddle past wavering coral. The verbs give a sense of place and movement, and Nilson uses things children know to build imagery. e.g. fairy-floss water ripples. The ending beautifully links to the beginning. There is a place filled with wonder: our world, our home. Shall we go explore? The back matter lists each place featured in chronological order with its name, location and facts. A handy glossary gives the meaning of scientific words used in the text.
Jess Racklyeft’s signature illustrative style shines out distinctly from the front cover. A blue space background with tiny dots for stars and Earth front and centre with a world map that shows the places featured inside. The title is in a striking yellow font. The endpapers resemble coloured lights with brush strokes in pastel colours across a white background. The title page shows the title inside the sun and birds flying across which draws the eye to page turn into wonder. Racklyeft’s use of both moody and joyful colour really does show the wonder of such magical places. Her colour palette is candy for the eye. Perspective zooms in and out to advantageously show each unique place in its own light.
Some double pages beam bright glorious colour others show the view of the place through a child’s eyes. I love the spread with the tall trees as three children are looking up into the dappled canopy. The way nature shows herself in different places is captured. In the back matter there is a world map included with each place numbered and two children floating in space looking down. Beside the glossary on a white background a map of the world shows the places featured.
Our World Full of
Wonder is a picture book that is gloriously magical but also about true places
which is unique. This is a book that entices the reader to want to go explore
places in our world. You can’t help but not fall in love with our world. It’s a
special read for children 5-9 years, and will be enjoyed by many age groups.
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