Book Review: Oink, by David Elliot

Available in bookshops nationwide. 

Sometimes all you want is some quiet time. Time to not hear your name, to have no one in your personal bubble, time for just yourself. I know it’s not just me!

Pig is in the same boat – er, bath. The bathroom is free. The water in the bath is the perfect temperature. Silence is golden. Until there’s a knock on the door …

David Elliot has a gift for expressions. Pig’s face runs the gamut from blissed-out, to puzzled, to concerned, then annoyed, then heartily fed up. Everyone else in the story is in various stages of delight at the shared bath time experience. It’s a great time (except for Pig), until someone forgets their manners.

I enlisted the help of my trusty side-kick, 7-year-old Lucas, to help me review this book, as my class were enjoying their summer holidays so I couldn’t read it to them. Lucas LOVED being able to read the limited text all by himself (the only text is pretty much animal vocalisations), and as a teacher I loved that he used the punctuation to add expression! He thought it was very funny, but interestingly, didn’t pick up on the subtleties of the illustration, especially the bath went wrong.

It’s always one of those things I wonder about when reading to children – should I point out detail in the pictures if the children don’t see the joke? I don’t know if there’s a right answer to that question, I think it depends if it’s going to be one of those stories you read over and over again, so there are opportunities for children to discover the joke for themselves. And Oink definitely deserves to be enjoyed over and over again. It’s a wonderful book for all ages, and a perfect gift for parents of toddlers, who will totally get it.

Reviewed by Rachel Moore

Oink
by David Elliot
Published by Gecko Press
ISBN 9781776572144

Book Review: Snark, by David Elliot after Lewis Carroll

Available in bookshops nationwide.

The creativity of authors and illustrators has always been a marvel to me, but Snark is a masterpiece that outdoes them all. How does a writer come up with such an amazing idea – to complete the backstory of Lewis Carroll’s best known Jabberwock and Hunting of the Snark poems?

David Elliott is based in Port Chalmers and has written and illustrated many award-winning books. He has also illustrated for others including Joy Cowley, Brian Jacques, Margaret Mahy and Australian John Flanaghan. This experience is evident in Snark which shows both his artistic, creative and linguistic skills.

David Elliot took as his starting point those mysterious poems which use ideas and language in ways new and exciting to the original readers, but still enticing to us today. I grew up reciting, “Twas brillig and the slithy toves..” Here we have the story of the individuals who set out to hunt the Snark. David Elliot has given a wonderful portrait in paint and in words of each of the participants in this ill-fated journey. He takes the information from Carroll’s work and builds it into a fuller portrait. The art work in this book is a joy on every page. By using pencil and wash with a limited palette, he creates images of energy and excitement. The expression on faces, the details of plants and maps, the towering cliffs and the valiant ship are all drawn superbly.

Within the story we are also given the two poems around which the story is based. This allows us to remember the details so important to understanding the tale. The Boots reveals the true story for the first time. What actually happened in the tulgey Wood, who got into trouble with the Jabberwock and what was the Snark? All these will be revealed when you delve between the pages.

Not only do we have the original poems beautifully illustrated anew, the tale of the actual voyage and its conclusion, we also get wonderful explanatory notes at the end. Here we are given the detail that those of a more scientific bent will be seeking. There are actual photos and diagrams, original items and historical facts to support the story. This lends a more serious gravitas to the book which some may be misguided enough to describe as fanciful.

I loved it. It is such a surprise to discover I was not the only reader who was dissatisfied with the abrupt ending to Carroll’s original poems. I am so grateful that the very creative and determined Mr Elliott has provided me with this beautiful book. I will not be sharing it with anyone else over the holiday season. Everyone ought to buy their own copy.

Reviewed by Kathy Watson

Snark
by David Elliot after Lewis Carroll
Published by Otago University Press
ISBN 9781877578946

The Margaret Mahy Medal for outstanding achievement in literature goes to David Elliott

Storylines Children’s Literarture Foundation warmly invite you to attend the presentation of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for outstanding achievement in the field of children’s literature and/or literacy education on Saturday 29 March 2014 at Kings School, Remuera, Auckland.

The recipient of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal presents a lecture which is subsequently published. The Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal is New Zealand’s highest honour awarded to an individual who has achieved in the field of children’s literature.

This year’s recipient of the Margaret Mahy Medal is David Elliot. He has published more than thirty books, illustrating both his own texts and stories by writers such as Margaret Mahy and Janet Frame, and for the acclaimed American Redwall series.

Prior to the presentation of the award, the Storylines Children’s Literature Foundation of NZ Inc. holds its annual meeting, followed by the presentation of a number of awards. All AGM paperwork can be viewed online. Members must be logged onto the website to view.

These include awards for new manuscripts: the Storylines Joy Cowley Award; the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award and the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much Loved Book, one which has been in print for many years but not received a national award. Also being launched is the Tom Fitzgibbon Award winner 2013, Juliet Jacka.

Books will be available for purchase on the day and the opportunity to win a David Elliot print.

Registrations are now open and tickets can be purchased online. Alternatively, a registration form can be downloaded and posted.

ENDS