GLEESON, Libby (text) Freya Blackwood (illus.) The Necklace and The Present Allen & Unwin (The Cleo Stories), 2014 unpaged $16.99 ISBN 9781743315279 SCIS 1676273
Two short stories about Cleo McCann, an only child with a vivid imagination, wisdom and empathy beyond her years. These are engaging stories with unexpected endings that tap into the most altruistic of emotions.
Illustrations powerfully support the stories, and could carry the book alone. Highly recommended.
reviewed by Chris Dayman