Deeply moving, intense and imaginative, this picture book is about life and death, grief and loss, but still, a story full of hope and resilience. It is about the bond between a child and grandparent.
Grandma and the boy live together in a house filled
with love and dreams for the future. In her youth, Grandma had been an
architect, and had built countless impressive structures. But age had caught up
with her and it was time for her to leave life. How does a boy come to terms with such loss?
He follows in her footsteps. He is now the architect. He builds a giant structure of Grandma which immediately comes to life. Giant Grandma takes him to where they’d planned to go together. Her dreams become his reality.
Ross Montgomery’s first picture book is in the
sci-fi genre. This deep and seemingly dark story is filled with meaning and
emotion. It invites the reader’s personal interpretation.
Illustrator David Litchfield offers a magnificent
portrayal of the text with stunning artwork. His colours reflect the
contrasting parts of the story perfectly. Pictures full of light and bold
colour highlight the joy. Darker shades express the boy’s uncertainty and fear.
David Litchfield’s work is different and highly
detailed. As author/illustrator for his first picture book The Bear and the Piano, he won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book
Prize for Best Illustrated Book 2016.
Title:
The Building Boy
Author:
Ross Montgomery
Illustrator:
David Litchfield
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin, $24.99
Publication
Date: 31 October 2016
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9780571314096
For
ages: 5+
Type:
Picture Book