Jacqueline Johnson (text), Frances Espanol (illus), Sarah, Misty and Scribbles’ Journey to the House by the Sea, Partridge, 20 January 2015, 40pp., $15.95 (pbk) ISBN 9781482829907
Inspired by the vision-impaired clients she works with, Jacqueline Johnson has written this book to raise awareness of young children who have vision difficulties. Sophie’s toys are placed in boxes by the packers when Sophie moves to a house by the sea. The packers aren’t careful with the toys and that is how Sarah the doll loses an eye, Misty the rabbit has damage done to the part of the eye that you can’t see and Scribbles the bear gets nasty scratches on his eyes. As a result the toys keep bumping into things and falling down the stairs. The other toys laugh at them, whisper and point. Solutions are found to help them and finally they gain mobility and can live safely and happily in the house by the sea and also go down to the beach.
The illustrations extend the text and help provide further information about guide dogs, a long cane and a short cane as aids and the need to keep floors uncluttered. This simple story gets its message of social awareness and inclusion across with uncomplicated text and illustrations. It could be the impetus for discussion and reflection. Suitable for 4-8 year olds.
Reviewed by Julie Long