Sarah Milne has had great success with her much-loved picture book Kiwis and Koalas, and now she returns with her newly anticipated book Kiwis and Koalas: Bridge to Anywhere.
Lily’s cousins are visiting from overseas, so Lily shares her magical bridge at the bottom of her garden. But this time, they can go further than Australia just by closing their eyes and imagining a place they want to be.
Olivia misses her Granny in England, but when she opens her eyes, they can all enjoy the famous sights of London. Tama thinks of his late Grandad enjoying snow in winter, and when they open their eyes, they enjoy the Christmas markets in Germany. As each of them thinks of people they love and places they have heard of, they visit many places around the world before returning home again.
This is a whimsical book with a heartfelt message at its core. As the author succinctly says, ‘The people we love are never far away when we can feel them in our hearts.’
Illustrator Laura Bee’s illustrations are a delight, and she shows many sights the children enjoy in the story, from the double-decker buses in London to Egypt’s Pyramids to China’s Great Wall to eating gelato in Italy.
So many families have loved ones living abroad, so this beautiful picture book will resonate with many families. This book will prompt many heartfelt discussions while also exciting children about many of the interesting places to visit in the world and the experiences to be enjoyed in different countries.
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
Beatnik Publishing