Zana Fraillon (text) and Ross Morgan (illustrator), The Gargoyle, Lothian Children’s Books, June 2023, RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781734421241
The Gargoyle is beautiful both in text and imagery. It is for older readers who delve into the complexity of language, challenges of ideas, emotional moments on moments on moments of the past where there are Moments of despair. Moments of hope. Of dreaming. Moments that mean nothing. Moments that mean everything.
An old and weary gargoyle is forced off his rooftop and shuffles onto Central Railway with his heavy suitcase. He boards the train when he is noticed by a boy. The crowd ignores the gargoyle. The ticket collector admonishes the gargoyle and throws him of the train. But boy looks achingly at it. The gargoyle leaves the crumbling case on the train. When the boy opens it, shimmery bubbles burst out of the case. It reveals the gargoyle’s memories of dancing, dreaming, and moments of kindness, happiness, sadness, endless days and infinite nights. All that remains in the suitcase is a heavy, gnarled, weathered and worn rock; tattered feathers; an old brass key; and a small seed. The case crumbles, when a single tentacle of green sprouts through the gaps in the tumble down bricks of the station. The boy waters it, bringing hope for the environment.
The author and illustrator create an exquisite picture book for our time. Youth holds our future, and we need to embrace it.
Suitable for 8 and any age. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
