Charlie Archbold and Michelle Conn, Raised by Moths, MidnightSun Publishing, October 2023, 32 pp., RRP $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922858184 
“I was raised by moths.”
“You were not!”
“I was,” he replies.
“They looked after me until I was three. Moths won’t keep children longer than that. We get too big and people have too many questions.”
This picture book does indeed raise a lot of questions. Good ones. Raised By Moths is a surprising yet enchanting picture book written by the 2022 Readings Prize winner, Charlie Archbold.
At a fun fair, little Willow joins a boy on a ferris wheel ride. As the ride breaks down while they’re at the top, the boy tells the story of his unusual childhood. That he was raised by moths. The sky soon fills with the beat and hum of moth wings. More stories of being raised by animals are shared. Then, Willow remembers her adoption story as she pulls a horseshoe charm from her pocket.
Archbold’s text leaves room for children to stretch their imagination as to why the children believe they were raised by animals. It also shows respect for adoptees’ origins and shines a warm glow on accepting adoption as one of many ways families come together.
The artwork glows with warmth by debut illustrator Michelle Conn. Conn draws children with deep emotion and captures the wonder of childhood in their facial expressions. I especially love the pink and purple palette and the pops of colour on the fairground attractions fringed by fairy lights. The illustrations add layers of depth and meaning to the unusual story line which creates even more magic to this enchanting story.
Raised By Moths is a mysterious, intriguing book that raises questions and discussions about adoption and different types of families. Likely destined for the CBCA shortlist, this book is written for ages 3+.
Reviewed by Stef Gemmill
