Whispers and Roars by Patrick Guest, Ill. Jonathan Bentley
Patrick Guest and Jonathan Bentley who created the beautiful picture book Windows have collaborated once more in this wonderful new release, Whispers and Roars. For many children and adults, the negative ‘inner’ voice they often hear can affect their mental health and overall well-being. In this very telling and thoughtful narrative, a young girl tries to deal with the constant thoughts that plagued her in her daily interactions.
The textured cover with the word Whispers in soft flowing cursive font and the word Roar in a bold oversized font is a powerful introduction to the story. Followed by glorious front endpapers in deep green tones, the story begins with an introduction to the whispers who appear as floating creatures with tales, scales and over exaggerated faces.
There’s a place over the mountain
that overlooks my home.
It’s a field within a forest,
its where the wild whispers roam.
They swirl themselves around you,
wanting you to play,
hoping you’ll believe in them
and hear them every day.
As the young girl goes through her day the colour palette is often darkened and the whispers become bolder and bolder. They follow her and the feeling of aloneness is keenly felt. As she tries to shake the negative thoughts and focus on positive thoughts and feelings from both within herself and the people around her, the colour palette lightens to shades of yellow. Finishing with the back endpapers, a riot of golden colour and a calming visitor.
The clever and perfectly constructed rhyming text is brilliantly complemented by the full page striking illustrations. The visual impact of these illustrations adds a surreal atmosphere and clearly portrays the varying feelings of the young child on her journey. In the final pages is a letter to Parents and Carers from a certified counsellor providing strategies when sharing this book with children.
Whispers and Roars is a must-have for home, school and public libraries. As well as being a visual treat, it has an important message to share.
Themes: Doubts, Resilience, Self-belief, Anxiety, Hope, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Rhyme.
Kathryn Beilby