This is the story of a boy whose father is so close to him, yet so far away in spirit. A man whose days and nights are spent dreaming of flying away from the little house on the cliff.
All he wants is to fly and he spends his time creating beautiful wings to carry him away from this place.
It is a dream that his son describes as “a busy, bossy dream that would not leave him alone”.
One day this father is called away to war, leaving his wife and son alone. The years pass and the boy grows to become part of the dream to fly away and, after some adjustment to the wings, he makes it happen.
For the first time, this boy feels close to his father.
I am lost for words. This book… its illustrations are pure and magical, an intriguing mix of realism and fantasy. Its words are stunning and the reader feels pulled into this world completely.
This story truly makes you feel both the sadness and the joy with which this young boy lives, and which is passed from generation to generation in this family.
The essence of dreams is captured, the wonder, the danger, power and draw of dreaming big and being all consumed by the possibilities of the imagination. The sharing of dreams, yet the absolute loneliness of such a vision.
It is the story of an intangible bond between father and son, of loss and love and understanding.
A tale that will touch all hearts.
Title: Farther
Author/Illustrator: Grahame Baker-Smith Illustrator: Grahame Baker-Smith
Publisher: Templar, $29.95 RRPFormat: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781848771260
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture book
This book is available online
