Margrete Lamond (text) & Monty Lee (illustrator), Tilly in a Tangle, Dirt Lane Press, November 2024, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781923044289
Included in the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Picture Book Notables list
Tilly keeps her fragile boat shipshape and fixes the snaggles as they appear. She steers away when she gets too near rocks. Is she merely doing what Frog and Duck tell her or acting independently? When dirty ditch water spills into the pond Tilly finds herself tangled inside, but starts mending her boat her own way. Frog and Duck merely criticise and throw out orders. Tilly asks for them to be still and slowly the boat uncoils. Duck and Frog acknowledge her skills. The humanoid dragonflies continue to sing Zip, Zap. This is a gentle story encouraging independent thinking, making your own decisions and calmness in the face of challenges.
Monty Lee’s quirky illustrations were created with watercolours, oil crayons and colouring pencils and digital collage, and successfully reflect the watery environment and the many eccentric animals Tilly has around her. The pictures are an essential part of the narrative, telling the reader many things not included in the words. Lamond’s language is frequently unexpected and unusual and will extend the experiences of the young reader.
For me, Tilly in a Tangle would be better suited to the Early Childhood category.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
