The Faraway Island by Dianne Hofmeyr
When a sailor can't bear life on ship any more, he jumps overboard and swims to a big barren rock. There he cares for a half-drowned cockerel and plants rice, hiding away when a boat arrives. The sailors are amazed to see rice growing and keep coming back, leaving plants and game-birds, until the island bursts with tropical fruit and wildlife. But soon the Queen of Portugal hears about it and demands to meet the person responsible.
This engaging story about what it means to be happy, perfectly complemented by Daly's intricate illustrations, will appeal to children of five and above|| The story is told simply and elegantly and there is effective use of dialogue to show the thoughts and feelings of the different characters. || Essentially a tale of the melting and mending of a heart. Our hardened sailor has given up on himself and needs to learn to trust others and see value in himself. By the end of the book our faith is duly restored in humanity and our ability to heal. Perseverance, forgiveness and belief are common themes in traditional and folk tales and that is not where the similarities with this book end. The text has a lyrical quality and would make a good oral story... please enjoy the book for its gentle illustrations that beautifully capture a different time. || What makes this story book special is the illustrations. Excecuted in bright blues, greens and golds, Jude Daly's delicate watercolour palates are a joy to behold. Bejewelled with dainty human figures, ornate interiors and animals and plants of every kind, they sparkle with vitality, and the innovative page layouts further enhance the reading experience. || Visually this is a lovely book, and the tale of the developing garden is one that can lead to discussion, and maybe even some gardening by young readers and their teachers or parents.
Dianne Hofmeyr grew up on the tip of Southern Africa. She graduated as an art teacher in Cape Town and has written several teenage novels and picture books. she has won the M-Net Award for fiction and has two IBBY Honour Books.
To visit Dianne's website click here
Jude Daly lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, writer and illustrator Niki Daly. Her books include To Everything there is a Season, The Little Blue Slipper, The Elephant’s Pillow by Diana Reynolds Roome (winner of a US Parents’ Choice Silver Award), The Faraway Island by Dianne Hofmeyr, Let There Be Peace and Sivu’s Six Wishes.| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781845076443 |
| ISBN 10 | 1845076443 |
| Title | The Faraway Island |
| Author | Dianne Hofmeyr |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Quarto Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2008-04-17 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |