Juliet M. Sampson (text) and Anne Ryan (illustrator), Follow the rainbow, Ford Street Publishing, August 2023, 32 pp., RRP $17.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781922696335
Ruby loves all that is around her—the clouds with their everchanging shapes, the green vast paddocks, and the animals of the countryside in which she lives. Ruby also loves Tavish, her trusty dog that joins in all her adventures. When the clouds turn grey and a few drops of rain fall, Ruby notices that a rainbow has appeared. “I wonder what‘s at the end of it, Ruby asks Tavish”.
So Ruby and Tavish set out on a quest to discover exactly where the rainbow ends and what is to be found there. Their journey involves walking vast distances across their farm, and posing this important question to all they meet along the way. However, it proves difficult to find an answer; that is, until Ruby’s Auntie Anne calls her home for lunch.
The text of Follow the rainbow evokes the precious joy of childhood— imaginative play, untethered curiosity, inventiveness—and the treasured companionship of a trusted friend, in this case, Ruby’s dog Tavish. The language is deliberately sparse, giving just enough away to ensure we turn those pages to see if someone really does have the answer to the age-old question—what is at the end of a rainbow?
Juliet M. Sampson leads us gently through the pages of the story. There is no need to rush, every word is important as it cleverly engenders just enough curiosity to make sure the audience stays keen for this riddle to be solved. In addition to the text, the beautiful artwork of Anne Ryan is pure joy. Ryan has chosen collage and mixed media techniques to illustrate Follow the rainbow, filling every page with bright coloured images in a multitude of painterly pattern and texture. The images are visually recognisable in their contemporary rendition which brings additional creativity to the book.
This delightful book is more than a pleasure to read and browse through. Sampson should be commended for the well-considered choice of characters. The adults in Ruby’s world are her Auntie Anne and Uncle Harry, a lovely extension of the usual depiction of family and home. In an era of family fluidity, I appreciated Sampson’s consideration of inclusion and acceptance of ‘otherness’.
Follow the rainbow is a read-again-and-again book. The conclusion is heart-warming; it will bring a sweet smile to readers and listeners as well as art lovers and creative souls alike. The publisher’s website includes teacher notes and a range of classroom activities.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mors
