THE UNDERWATER FANCY-DRESS PARADE
Davina Bell, illustrated by Allison Colpoys
Scribe (Penguin Random House) hardback, NZ$30
“I’m not brave enough
to be Captain Starfish,” whispers young Alfie.
A child’s fear is a powerful eroding force. The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade is a
gentle Australian picture book which seeks to ease the pain of apprehension and
offer a way forward. Faced with
appearing at a party or even a fancy-dress parade, Alfie becomes anxious.
In his dreams – beautifully interpreted in Allison Colpoys’
paintings – he feels that he is “carrying
the ocean all on his own.”
Caring and sympathetic, Alfie’s mother takes him on a
remarkable trip where he can overcome his fears and find new inspiration. [Yes,
I’m concealing the surprise but the title gives a hint.] Young readers will
find Alfie’s resolution is a single positive step in a long journey. They will
also find pleasure in the tiny details that mean so much to Alfie as he learns
to handle his emotions.
Look carefully at the passengers in Alfie’s bus; every page
of this charming book rewards a young reader’s careful re-reading.
Trevor Agnew
Publisher details:
The Underwater
Fancy-dress Parade (2015) by Davina Bell, ill. Allison Colpoys, Scribe,
Melbourne, 32 pages, hardback, NZ$30
ISBN 978-1-925106-20-6
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