Sandra Spavins EMILY-KATE by Meg Jordan (Iris)
This is a story about a little girl who temporarily goes missing on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal. It is a large-format picture book, but has more text than most books of this type. The average eight or nine year old should be able to read it, yet the story and language are simple enough to be understood by much younger children. It would be a suitable book for an adult to read aloud to a pre- schooler.
The book is delightfully illustrated with pictures that are colourful and rich in detail. A young child could pore over it for hours. The charm of the book lies in the rich atmosphere of the farm. The birds and flowers in the book are authentic illustrations of species found in the area.
The author has added some bizarre details. Emily-Kate’s mother, for instance, is shown calmly painting a wild cheetah from life in her studio. Such details tend to jar in a story which is otherwise an accurately drawn cameo of KwaZulu-Natal farm life.
The character of Emily-Kate does not quite ring true. At the beginning of the story she is a typical pre-schooler in a grumpy mood. After her adventure and a sleep outdoors, she becomes, not just calmer and more pleasant, but exaggeratedly sweet-tempered, polite and helpful – literally too good to be true.
In spite of these reservations, Emily- Kate deserves a place on a child’s bookshelf. Reading it will be an enriching experience for a child unfamiliar with this way of life.