The great realisation by Tomos Roberts
Illus. by Nomoco.HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9781460759806.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. An optimistic look at the follow on from the
COVID-19 year that we have all had, is revealed as the author
strives to help children learn from the effects of the virus which
has swept the world. Some would love the world to go back to simpler
times, and revisit times past where things always seem to be so much
greener, and this author's attempts at encouraging children to see
an alternative path are commendable.
A spoken word poet, film maker and performer, New Zealand born
Roberts wrote his poem in response to the pandemic sweeping the
world, worried that children would be affected with the negative
avalanche surrounding us all.
His poem, viewed 60 million times on youTube, was an instant success
and snapped up by HarperCollins who enlisted Japanese artist, Nomoco
to apply her glorious watercolour images to the words. So the book
has been published, ready for children to read and think about life
after the pandemic. The book will encourage discussions around the
post pandemic world, and what children think can be done better.
Prior to COVID-19, the world's people had become too neglectful of
each other in their wasteful, instant lives, clicking on their
phones for goods, and despite the cities growing bigger and some
societies having access to all they could want, many people were
just alone. When the virus hit, people were told to stay at home.
And here, people reverted to the old ways: smiling, clapping for
thank you, talking to each other, going for runs, leaving the car
keys untouched.
A positive image is given of people keeping in touch, watering the
garden, growing vegetables, dancing, singing and baking. The
question at the end of the book 'so why did it take a virus to bring
the people back together?' will be one talked of in many
classrooms, as children dream of a better tomorrow.
Theme: Pandemic, COVID 19, 2020, Fear, Hindsight.
Fran Knight