Pea Pod Lullaby

Pea Pod Lullaby is part song, part poem and perfect for sharing… Each picture is beautiful, telling a story of hope and compassion, of need and sharing, of love and togetherness.

* Through the Bookshelf blog *

Read as a bedtime story, a class book exploring displacement and finding a new home or as inspiration for children’s own writing, there is so much to gain from this gorgeous book.

-- Kate Heap * ScopeforImagination blog *

A beautiful and poetic story of bravery and seeking refuge written by Glenda Millard, her words intricately woven across the water-coloured pages of Stephen Michael King’s incredible illustrations. A nod to climate change, this book also offers a different perspective as it’s not just people who search for safety but animals too.

A life-affirming story of bravery against all odds, Pea Pod Lullaby is a must-have for every book shelf. A reminder that our world is changing and we need to embrace everyone and everything that lives on our planet.

-- Sarah Broadley * MyBookCorner blog *

... a powerfully affecting, deeply moving book that speaks to people of all ages... This sublime picture book offers a heartfelt message of caring, connectedness, love and hope; it's one to treasure.

-- Jill Bennett * Red Reading Hub *

... an emotional but delightful book to read. It raises many questions and is put together so well... This book would make a great read to explore within school settings. It would also make a gorgeous gift.

* Mamma Filz blog *
I am the lullaby/ you are the melody/ sing me.

These opening words introduce Pea Pod Lullaby, a gentle but thought-provoking hymn to how we should live in harmony, connecting with each other and caring for our world.

Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King both acknowledge that the original idea for the lullaby was inspired by a Leonard Cohen song, and conceived when contributing to a publication to raise money for the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital Children's Cancer Centre. This story is sadly all too familiar today: a mother and her children, one a newborn, and their dog flee a war-ravaged land by boat. They journey over the sea to a new beginning. Along the way they welcome a lost polar bear ironically adrift on an empty refrigerator.

Deeply evocative, the story can be interpreted as a metaphor for the many difficult and dangerous journeys we might need to take during a lifetime. Themes of courage and resilience are reflected alongside the need to trust and support one another and hold out hope against seemingly insurmountable odds.

This picture book is a seamless collaboration between words and image: beautifully crafted, carefully positioned minimalist couplets overlay the rich and lyrical watercolours that convey much of the narrative. Each image uses colour and light skilfully and each opening depicts different possibilities that can be explored at length and revisited many times. Other literary journeys are alluded to (for example, The Owl and the Pussycat). Interestingly, although we might initially assume it is the mother who is singing to her baby, the 'you' consistently supports or nurtures the 'I' suggesting it is also the baby's lullaby ('I am the small green pea you are the tender pod; I am the diving kite you are the bow-tied tail'). At the same time the choice of 'you' ensures the reader is directly addressed throughout this meditation. While outwardly calm and reflective, this haunting and inspirational picture book is a deeply layered, eloquent exploration of different kinds of love, including the love for a mother and her child, care for the creatures who share our world and deep respect and concern for our environment.

* Judge's citation *

I love everything about Pea Pod Lullaby. The story works on three levels. It could be a lullaby, a simple tale about a family that sails from one place to another, or a metaphor for the journeys faced by displaced people. Such a perfect book.

-- Louise Nettleton * Book Murmuration bl