The Hats of Marvello

Amanda Graham (text) and Lavanya Naidu (illustrator), The Hats of Marvello, Angus & Robertson, March 2023, 304 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781460761670

Olive lives in a dry corner of Australia, where rabbits are a pest to be captured and destroyed, but when she suddenly finds herself looking after one hundred rabbits, she enlists her friends to help take care of them and send them back to where they came from. But where is that?

The rabbits appeared shortly after Olive bought an old hat from an op shop in town for her year 5 play. This was also around the time a stern man with a British accent appeared who has his own plans for the rabbits. This story moves effortlessly between the realistic world of an Australian country town to England and the fringes of a magical world, and something called a rabbitway.

The illustrations by Lavanya Naidu add to the wistful nature of this book. Part mystery and adventure, this story is perfect for those readers who like a little bit of magic with their books… and lots of cute furry rabbits.

 

Reviewed by Deborah Abela, author

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