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Photo: Diego_3363

Shirley Hughes is one of our favourite illustrators in this house and although we’ve read and enjoyed many of her books (though not all 200 or so she has illustrated nor all 50+ she has written), over Christmas we came across a book of hers that was new to us – Abel’s Moon.

Abel Grable arrives home after a long time away from his family. He may be a missionary, or an explorer, or simply a sailor but whatever he is, it entails long periods away from his family travelling through jungles and swamps, in “remote places where there were no electric lights or street lamps, only the moon to guide the way.“.

His family, of course, are delighted to have him home and thrilled to hear his stories of adventure in lands far, far away. In fact, his young boys are so keen to hear Able tell and re-tell his stories that Able decides to put them to paper.

Photo: Hitchster

Soon the time comes for Abel to leave the family once more for work. With Abel gone, his stories are read and re-read until they are known by heart by the family who miss Abel so much. With such longing it is no surprise that the boys take to playing in the garden where Abel’s desk has been left. They use the desk to create a jungle camp, a boat, and then a moon machine which perhaps could take them one day to “give Abel a wonderful surprise by dropping in on him, wherever he was“.

This is a story that could make you cry. A story of love, loss, the power of imagination to find ways through to connect with the ones you miss and long for. Although heartache is in some way at the centre of this story, it is ultimately a joyous tale, about how one can acknowledge one’s sorrow and still find a way to feel close to those far away.

All this sounds so terribly serious, especially for a picture book for young children, but the story is told sensitively, gently, with warmth but without sentimentality, in a way that entrances M and could certainly provide both parents and children with solace and hope should they ever be in a similar situation.

Abel’s family are so full of love and joy, despite the periodic hole in their lives and Shirley Hughes’ drawings capture that warmth incredibly well. As is typical of her style, her pictures are full of detail, the kids look slightly unkempt, the mum rosy cheeked and curvy, the house slightly chaotic and dilapidated but full of life.

By Anatoly Liberman

First I would like to respond to the comments on my discussion of spelling reform. I was aware of the continuing efforts by some groups to simplify English spelling, but I think their chances of success are slim, because there is no public awareness of the damage done by our erratic spelling system. We need respelling bins, similar to the now ubiquitous recycling bins. (more…)

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