Tull Suwannakit, Downtown Sewertown, Ford Street Publishing, March 2023, 32 pp., RRP $26.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781922696243
When the diggers come and destroy the animals’ home, they flee to the city. But the city is an unforgiving and scary place. The only place that fox, badger, rabbit and mouse can escape the scorn and wrath of the city folk is the dirty and smelly sewer, so unlike their idyllic countryside. The animals decide to make it their home by building a beautiful underground town, a paradise they call Sewertown.
The animals love their new home, but eventually, the people find this new city and the animals face more rejection… until a brave little girl intervenes.
Downtown Sewertown is a stunningly-illustrated picture book and a modern fable about empathy, acceptance and making the best of things. Woven throughout the text and illustrations are subtle themes of environment, refugees and bravery. Children will easily understand the metaphor of the animals and apply it to the real world, and they will pore over the beautifully detailed, hand-drawn illustrations.
Written and illustrated by CBCA notable author-illustrator Tull Suwannakit, Downtown Sewertown is suited for lower primary-aged children.
Extensive teacher notes, along with curriculum links, are available on the Ford Street Publishing website.
Reviewed by Pamela Ueckerman
