This
limerick-style rhyming picture book by the talented Blabey is unique as it is
beautiful. Graced with exquisite, evocative images created with acrylic paint,
pencil and pen on watercolour paper, the story follows the tale of the ghost of
Miss Annabel Spoon – a dour and sour presence haunting the village of Twee
(seven miles from the sea).
Poor Miss
Annabel Spoon. The residents of Twee are resplendently petrified, suffering
distemper and fits at every turn… as Miss Annabel appears in the night. How can
they rid their town of this horror?
Well, says
young Herbert Kettle – maybe they should ask Annabel why she is here.
Seems
simple enough.
As Herbert
trudges through the terrifying forest to the ghost’s haunted house, his fear is
palpable… but when he knocks on the door and sees Miss Annabel’s face… could it
be this ghoul is simply in need of a friend?
This is a
beautiful, fable-like book. The images are simply enchanting, the story
heart-wrenching, and the image of Annabel Spoon beginning to cry is truly
stunning (and utterly heartbreaking). Many of the pages are suitably dark and
haunting, but the humour and charm shines through. I’m loving the images of a
gushing Annabel as she realizes she may have just found a friend.
Blabey does
a brilliant job with his limerick rhymes. They are stylishly done, emotional
and oftentimes funny. A clever, enchanting and emotive story.
Title: The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon
Author/Illustrator:
Aaron Blabey
Publisher: Viking, $29.95 RRP
Publication
Date: 3 October
2011
ISBN: 9780670074747
Format: Hard cover with dust jacket
For
ages: 6 – 10
Type: Picture Book
