Kate and Jol Temple (text) and Terri Rose Baynton (illustrator), Move That Mountain, Scholastic, April 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760974275
Move That Mountain is beautifully illustrated by Terri Rose Baynton and tells the tale of a group of puffins trying to move a beached whale. Spoiler alert! The book can be read front-to-back and back-to-front, with the reverse reading turning around the defeatism of the original reading. Although this results in some forced phrasing, overall, it is a clever technique that children will enjoy.
The creators have a previous book using this technique, Room On Our Rock which received critical acclaim. These stories allow young people to explore complex topics, such as sharing resources and demonstrating compassion, in an age appropriate manner.
Scholastic have invested in high quality matte paper which gives the book a luxurious feel (makes the title a great gift option!) and the overall design is excellent, including the typeface, which is large and easy to read. It is a great read-aloud book and will be enjoyed by ages 3+.
Reviewed by Jessica Dowling
