Tiny Wonders

Bursting with colour, Tiny Wonders is the story of a small child trying to bring wonder back to her town through the language of flowers, from talented Korean-Australian artist Sally Soweol Han.April thinks if her town was a colour, it would be grey. Everyone is too busy to stop and look around. How can she help them slow down?When she remembers the happiness that dandelions brought her grandmother, April comes up with a plan...Bursting with colour, this is a sweet story about flowers, family and the wonders children wish for.

This story has been told plenty of times but it's one that is always worth listening to: the idea that our world has become so busy, so grey, so predictable, that sometimes it needs a child to stop and find ways to bring the colour back. Young April, driven by the memory of her inspiring and optimistic grandmother, resolves to challenge the grey by wishing for dandelion seeds. When they miraculously appear, she patiently plants and nurtures them until, after a cold winter, they blossom and bring cheer to her community. Although the arc of the story is entirely evident from the beginning, there is a little confusion in the illustrations: the first pages are, as expected, evocative grey sketches of April's world (with her bright red overalls representing her energetic contrast with her surroundings) but from the moment she begins searching for adults to help her with her quest to grow dandelions, the images, somewhat prematurely, become bright and detailed, suggesting it is April's innocent enthusiasm and hope that bring the world alive, rather than the magic of the flowers. This message is a delightful one, but visually seems to undermine the transformative power of the dandelions bursting into bloom, which has been built up as the climax. Still, this heartfelt book is a nice reminder to both young children and adults that it's always important to stop and smell the ... dandelions.Anica Boulanger-Mashberg, an editor and writer, is a bookseller at The Hobart Bookshop.

Sally Soweol Han is a Korean-Australian artist who is passionate about creating stories and illustrating heart-warming picture books for all ages. She is fascinated with traditional techniques and most of her illustrations are hand drawn and painted. Sally was awarded a gold medal at 3x3 Illustration Awards 2017 and has recently been longlisted in World Illustration Awards. Sally is devoted to illustrating whimsical work for picture books, in the hope of delivering warmth and joy to all readers.

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