The Hush Treasure Book
‘Treasure’ is a perfect word to describe this curated collection of gems from a golden line-up of much-loved Australian authors and illustrators. The Hush Music Foundation is known for producing soothing music for use in children’s hospitals and they have now created a book and accompanying CD that is filled with comforting, imaginative titbits of the highest quality.
Much of the content is rhyming and will capture the imagination of a wide audience. There are gentle bedtime poems by Doug MacLeod and Glenda Millard that tell of night-time and nature and can be read aloud like lullabies. For slightly older readers there are plenty of funny moments and a very mysterious story by Jackie French. There is even a maze page and an absolutely charming ‘Recipe to Catch a Wish’ by Jacqui Grantford that will enchant young dreamers.
With contributions from Shaun Tan, Margaret Wild, Alison Lester and so many other significant talents, this book will be a lovely and valuable addition to your family bookshelf. It’s perfect for reading together or for a child to quietly dip into as they enjoy and revisit their most-cherished pages. My own favourite is Bob Graham’s offering: a brief yet moving piece about a man and his dog.