The Invisible

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Tom Percival employs the symbolism of value and worth of today’s society through a child’s experience within his thoughtful picture book. Through Isabel’s creation we are made aware of so many ‘invisible’ people. Yet the old lady planting flowers becomes an outlet and beacon for Isabel. She leads with this action too, to bring colour, optimism, the springing of something different into her own and others’ lives. Tom Percival. Το να αισθάνεται κάποιος πως είναι αόρατος και πως δεν ανήκει πουθενά είναι ένα πολύ βαρύ συναίσθημα για όλους τους ανθρώπους πόσο μάλλον για τα παιδιά που έχουν μια έμφυτη χαρά και αισιοδοξία. Author Tom Percival has created a beautiful, poignant book that I feel emphasises these points well, as well as showing that sometimes it is the little things you do that can create a difference and that by coming together we can create a big difference. The people in the story might not have increased their monetary wealth but they increased their happiness and people deserve to be happy. This full colour picture book uses muted shades for much of the story – showing us just how cold and dark it is and how awful it is to be ‘invisible’. The beginning of the story has colour – but it is all edged with cold, and icy windows. It is not until the end of the book – when winter has passed, when the sun and spring add to the wonderful colour the new community has created by all working together. This is a very gentle story with a potent and persuasive message, that small acts can add up to a huge change. Whilst being selfless it also shows that Isabel and her family have all benefitted by the actions she has instigated.

Children really enjoyed hearing a story that was different to mainstream genres and storylines, this made them think about what they were reading.Isabel’s family does not have enough money to pay the rent and bills, meaning they have to move out of their home. Tom Percival handles this with the utmost care and compassion.

Tom Percival has based this story on his own lived experiences. There are too many still living this experience. The spread accompanying this text shows Isabel’s parents, united. The father has a protective arm around the mother. They smile as Isabel plays in the snow with her puppy. Tom Percival ήταν κάποτε ένα παιδί αόρατο, γιατί μεγάλωσε σε μια φτωχή οικογένεια. Σε ένα ετοιμόρροπο τροχόσπιτο, όπου τον χειμώνα πάγωνε κυριολεκτικά. Χωρίς ηλεκτρικό. Με βρώμικο νερό. Με ρούχα δανεικά και πολυφορεμένα. Όμως, μεγάλωσε με πολλή αγάπη και με πολλά βιβλία, χάρη σε μια κινητή δανειστική βιβλιοθήκη. Επίσης, μεγάλωσε μέσα στην ομορφιά και στη μαγεία της εξοχής. Αυτά τα χρόνια οδήγησαν τον δημιουργό στη συγγραφή και τη ζωγραφική.Και για να αποτίσει φόρο τιμής στην παιδική του ηλικία και σε όλα τα παιδιά που ζουν μέσα στη φτώχια, με στερήσεις και κινδύνους και πόνο, αποφάσισε να γράψει την «Aόρατη».What book do you wish you had written?‘How I came up with the meaning of life – A true story’ by Tom Percival. Because then I’d have nothing to keep me up at night! Gorgeous illustrations with clever use of colours helps tell this tale, reminding us to look up, be aware of others, and all important inclusion in our communities.

Tom Percival ρίχνει με τις λέξεις και τα χρώματά του (είναι απίστευτο το πώς καταφέρνει να κάνει τον αναγνώστη να κρυώσει, να πονέσει, να εξαφανιστεί) φως σε όσους συνυπάρχουν ανάμεσά μας και αισθάνονται «αόρατοι», αναδεικνύοντας με τρυφερότητα τη σημασία του να αντιλαμβανόμαστε την αλήθεια γύρω μας. Το βιβλίο αυτό καταρχάς δείχνει σε κάθε παιδί και ενήλικο ότι ανεξάρτητα από την οικονομική κατάσταση της οικογένειάς του μπορεί και πρέπει να διεκδικεί το δικαίωμά του στην ευτυχία και στην ομορφιά, πάντα με τη συνεργασία και την αγάπη των γύρω του. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. Isobel and her family don't have much but, as long as they have each other, then they know they will be truly happy. This is tested, though, when one day they have to uproot and move to the other side of the town. Away from the place she called home for so long and that was full of so many happy memories, Isobel soon realises that in the eyes of the any others, she is invisible. This feeling will, I am sure, resonate with many readers - both old and young - and is the primary reason for there being such an emotional connection to this story. However, rather than letting her invisibility define her, Isobel soon finds a way to make herself shine again....and in doing so, changes the perception of her new neighbourhood, too. The more Isabel goes unseen, the more she begins to see the other invisible people of the city – like the man who looks after stray animals in the park, or the lady who plants flowers in paint pots. All of the invisible people in her new neighbourhood are making a difference in their own quiet way. Perhaps Isabel can too…It was never really the ‘stories’ as such that engrossed me so much in her books as the portraits of her characters that were all so vivid and alive I would often think about something that one of them had done and think that it was someone I actually KNEW who had done it.

Hot on the heels of her Carnegie Medal win, Katya Balen wins the 2022 UKLA Book Awards for her novel, October, October (Bloomsbury Children's Books). You can see a short video where Katya introduces October, October and her earlier book, The Space We're In, here. Lo stato mentale in cui si trova la piccola nella storia può essere ricondotto ad uno stato di solitudine. Tutto inizia con una sensazione di distacco e altri “sintomi” tra i quali: What inspired you to write your latest book?The book Herman’s Letter first popped into my head when my girlfriend gave me a limited edition screen print by an illustrator called Simon Tozer of a bear holding a letter. The picture is called ‘The Last Post’ and I just loved the bear’s melancholy expression and wondered what he was doing carrying the letter and who it was for. My brain set to work on it and eventually came up with Herman’s Letter. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without my brain sometimes - it really is remarkably useful.Isabel and her family don’t have much money, but she loves their home and is grateful for all the things they do have. So when they’re forced to move across the city to a new neighbourhood, Isabel doesn’t feel like she belongs. It’s as though she’s becoming invisible – nobody seems to see that she’s there. The Invisible is a wonderful book that, despite its heavy subject matter, is filled with optimism and hope. Through his book, Tom Percival nurtures a discussion around poverty and the importance of kindness and belonging regardless of circumstances, handling everything with the utmost care and compassion. This story is loosely based on the author’s own experience with child poverty. He wants to make sure that children who don’t have much, are seen, and not ignored or forgotten. Isabel brings all The Invisibles together to help bring joy and beauty to their world. The message of hope the book delivers is powerful. It reminds us that small acts can make a big difference. It reminds us to look for the helpers. He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. On reflection this seemed rather more remote than beautiful, owing to the fact that he lived in a small caravan without electricity, mains water or any sensible form of heating. He thinks that he’s probably one of the few people in his peer group to have learnt to read by gas lamp.