Witchfairy,
another book from Latvia, translated by Laura Watkinson, is about Rosemary, a
fairy with a difference.
Rosemary doesn’t want to be sweet and nice, stay
clean and quiet. For her birthday she wants roller skates instead of a wand.
Her mother is aghast at the idea, forcing Rosemary to choose to leave home, and
live in the witch wood.
Where the witches live, Rosemary can get dirty,
shout, play and do crazy, childish things without reprimand or restriction. She
discovers witches aren’t nasty and cruel; that they love adventure, the
unusual, and freedom. That’s what Rosemary loves too.
When Mum starts to miss Rosemary terribly, she sets
out to find her. She discovers her child wild, happy and carefree, and finds
that sharing the untamed environment with Rosemary brings them closer together.
Mum finally recognizes that children need the freedom to be themselves, to
discover their world and their place in it. Now Rosemary doesn’t need to be a
witch or a fairy, but can be both together and happy.
This stunning book of many themes, mainly
compromise, examines the protective side of parents and their natural longing
to keep their child from harm. It also allows the reader to see the child’s
point of view and their need for freedom to express themselves; to be and
become who they are.
Carll Cneut has created an atmosphere of joyous play
and independent movement through the book with his brilliant illustrations
which are in perfect harmony with the text and themes. The unique yet
appropriate faces of the characters add to the luxurious quality of the book,
its impressive layout and design. The choice of salmon pink for the fairy
against a similar lighter watercolour wash background was perfect. The pointed
hats, and long noses on the character’s faces fill the pages with fun and at
times sadness, but always with beauty and elegant expression.
Title:
Witchfairy
Author:
Brigitte Minne
Illustrator:
Carll Cnuet
Publisher:
Book Island, $32.95
Publication
Date: October 2017
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9781911496076
For
ages: 6+
