Jacinta Farragher (text) and Manka Kasha (illustrator), Joy’s Journey, Little Steps Publishing, March 2022, 28 pp., RRP $16.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781922358554
Joy is a young girl who has heard about a magical paradise where a wise teacher lives, and wishes come true. She is keen to find this wonderful place, so Joy sets off on an adventure which takes her through all the seasons, introduces her to animal friends and the discovery of fascinating places. However, after all the adventuring, the magical paradise Joy is seeking may be closer to home than she realises.
Joy’s Journey is a lovely adventure through all nature has to offer and the realisation that it is the discovery of these things along the way, rather than reaching the destination, that is the most important part of any endeavour. There are challenges for Joy who does like to do things her own way and, in resolving these, Joy opens-up a whole new world.
Farragher expertly uses rhyme to guide us through this delightful escapade. Each page of text encourages us onward to the next part of Joy’s Journey and the illustrations fill every page with wonder in their contemporary style and beautifully rendered colour.
Joy’s Journey is lovely to read to oneself, a beautiful book to enjoy visually and a delightful experience to read out-loud to youngsters.
Reviewed by Jen Mors
