EK Books, Australia, 2026
Book design Mark Thacker
Jemima Parker’s gentle story of a creative and resourceful little girl reminds us of the importance of following through one’s ideas, of valuing small treasures and of helping one’s friends.
Poppy is determined to have garments with pockets so that she can collect natural treasures when she’s out walking in nature – after all, who doesn’t love a garment with pockets so there is somewhere to put one’s things!
With laudable economy and the help of her family, she repurposes old tshirts to make pockets, which she decorates with hand stitching. She then goes a step further and offers then freely to all comers at her roadside stall.
By incorporating a stream of friends from diverse cultures, the author gets another message into the story whilst also pointing to the wide range of interests our friends can have.
It’s a story with clear but not preachy messages of inclusivity and creativity, co-operation and gratitude, of the fulfilment we feel when we do something worthwhile that can both satisfy our own needs and help others.
The book also includes instructions for readers to make their own pockets.
Karen Erasmus has created the perfect visual story alongside the words. Her pictures are expressive of the personalities of the characters and full of interesting details that children will love. This is a joyous book.
Thank you to EK for my review copy.