But one night he has a dream about being tossed about in a little boat on a stormy sea. He doesn't sleep well and the next day he's tired and cranky. Then his friend Snombo drops by and goes on and on about his poetry. It's more than Milo can handle and he snaps at Snombo — who slinks away, hurt.
A breeze gets up. It turns into a gale, then a full-blown storm. All through the night the wind rages and when Milo wakes up he finds his nice kennel is no longer in a decent part of town. It's been picked up by the wind and deposited on the top of a skyscraper!
How on earth is Milo going to get home?
Tohby Riddle's books are always just that bit different. He never writes down to children, instead challenging them in words, concepts and illustrations to look a little deeper and think a little more. Milo is no exception. There are all kinds of messages here on friendship, being true to yourself, coping with adversity, being open to adventure, not getting stuck in a rut. But they're all wrapped up in a whimsical storyline and quirky characters that invite kids to explore the pages for the sheer pleasure of it, not what they'll learn.
As an aside, I'd like to see a sequel focusing on Carlos the bird. Any migrating bird that wears comfy sneakers because 'You see so much more when you go by foot' deserves his own book, in my opinion!
Title: Milo, A Moving Story
Author/Illustrator: Tohby Riddle
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $29.99 RRP
Publication Date: April 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760111632
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
