It’s an exquisite picturebook, with detailed life-like illustrations taking us into a completely fictional world. Most of the openings are framed full-colour recto pages facing a white verso page, scattered with small, sepia cameos interspersed between the verbal text. But there are some full colour spreads too – my favorite is the mega close up shot of the dog’s nose on Opening 6. There is so much detail in the illustrations, and there are so many visual connections and interpretations to make that its perfect for talking about with small groups of children. Why are lime green octopuses everywhere? Why does Maurice Hope have so many owl dolls?
By Levi Pinfold