Grace and Mr Milligan

Caz Goodwin (text) and Pip Kruger (illustrator), Grace and Mr Milligan, Marshall Cavendish, December 2022, 32 pp., ISBN 9789815009811

Grace loves living near the sea, next door to Mr Milligan and his goat Charlie. The three of them regularly spend time together: they go to the beach, eat strawberries, grapes and apples and with a large dollop of cream. All is fine until Charlie get sick and dies of old age. Mr Milligan loses his enthusiasm for life which worries Grace. After some time, her solution is a picnic for Mr Milligan where she restores his equilibrium with lots of memories and … a large dollop of cream.

There are several challenging themes for readers – death and dying, grief and loss — but Goodwin has introduced them empathetically and sensitively, leaving lots of room for discussion. The theme of friendship as an antidote to loss is portrayed throughout the book, strengthened by the love and happiness which Grace has shared with Mr Milligan.

Kruger’s illustrations use primary colours. Each page turn produces a different format – from whole page illustrations to pages framed by the white page. The characters’ faces show clear emotions through very simple lines. I enjoyed Kruger’s focus on gardens which echo Mr Milligan’s love of gardening.

Included on the Early Childhood Notables list, I think it’s a good contender for the CBCA Short List as well.

Reviewed by Maureen Mann

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