The Whisper

This gorgeous book by Caldecott Honor author Pamela Zagarenski is a testament to the power of wordless picture books to open the imagination and let it soar. A little girl is lent a special book by her teacher to take home for the night. When she opens the book she is completely enthralled by the characters within – lions, bears, rabbits, kings and princesses – but there are no words. A whisper on the wind invites her to make up her own stories to match the pictures. The little girl writes down the beginning of each story she is creating but then leaves it open at a crucial moment for the reader to continue. Each double page spread of exquisitely detailed illustration has numerous characters and potential storylines awaiting the imagination. In this way, the book can be used as a tool to engage children with storytelling and activating the worlds living inside their minds. It is also a delightful story to read on its own. Highly recommended for readers aged 4–8.

Angela Crocombe