Zana Fraillon (text) and Phil Lesnie (illustrator), The Curiosities, Lothian, September 2021, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780734417848
This is an unusual, haunting picture book which lingers in the mind long after closing the covers. It concerns Miro, who wakes up one morning to discover that the Curiosities have chosen him as their nesting place. At first they are not obvious but gradually they exert an influence on Miro so that he sees, feels and experiences things differently.
Others begin to notice the Curiosities, especially when they are very loud, and Miro feels overwhelmed. But threads of knowing begin to twine to help overcome the feelings of darkness and connect him to those around him. Thankfully Miro can still see hidden wonders and the author asks the reader if they can too.
The illustrations are in muted tones of browns, greens, and blues. The Curiosities are ghostly translucent figures in white. Phil Lesnie was inspired by the Philippines folktales of his mother’s culture, so the village and its people are portrayed as a traditional rice-growing community. Zana Fraillon is mother to a child with Tourette Syndrome and wrote this book to help young readers empathise with and understand those with neurodiversities and disabilities.
However, these two pages of explanations at the end of the book are not necessary for the reader to be able to interpret the story in whatever manner they choose. This could be a great discussion starter or the basis of classroom investigation and debate.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
