Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!

By Marie-Louise Gay

By Marie-Louise Gay

Roslyn wakes up one morning knowing full well what is on her agenda for the day. Dig a hole to China, of course! Or perhaps the South Pole so she can finally meet a penguin. Enthusiastically she bounds down the stairs and recounts the plan to her father at the breakfast table, to which he simply inquires, “Will you be home in time for lunch?” While digging, she encounters some resistance from a worm and from a mole but does not allow this to dampen her energy. However, at one point she begins to lose hope that she will ultimately succeed until her father brings a picnic lunch and her imagination is sparked once more.

Clearly the pictures give information that the text does not as they portray Roslyn’s dynamic, childlike nature. We see her spring out of bed, send her breakfast cascading, and can feel as if we are there, watching her move zealously in a kaleidoscope of movement and colour. Torn paper and mixed media renderings are met with dashes of vivid colour accenting an earthy palette. Charming details are discovered with multiple readings, such as Roslyn’s stuffed pig with wings or her bunny slippers.

 

Samira Surfs

Samira Surfs

by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Fahmida Azim  

11-year-old Samira and her family are Rohingya refugees who have traveled by boat to Bangladesh. Unregistered, they must live outside the camp, are banned from formal employment, and are resented by some of the locals. This middle-grade novel starts off at Samira’s new home, “made of bamboo choppy by Baba’s bare hands”, a leaky roof, and a single room for their family of four. The tightly woven verses take us to the beach where Samira sells eggs to beach-goers. She would love to use some of the money for school, but her father wouldn’t send her even if they could afford it because she’s a girl. Fortunately, her older brother, Khaled, gives her English lessons.

We cheer for Samira as she sets out with quiet determination to show everybody how she can work to make money for their family, learn English, and learn to surf. After meeting a group of girl surfers at a local surf club where there’s an announcement for a contest with a cash prize, Samira is empowered to overcome her fear of water that developed after her grandparents died falling into the water from the boat when coming to Bangladesh.

Azim’s lively illustrations bring Samira’s world to life, highlighting both the beauty of Bangladesh and Samira’s spirit.  

Verse novel. 9-14

 

“I’ve learned that belonging, having a home, having a country, means everything, is everything.”