KIDLit :: This Small Blue Dot :: Zeno Sworder

With a strong message of interconnectedness, hope and empowerment, This Small Blue Dot follows a little girl exploring the big and small things in life. From contemplating our place on this ‘blue dot’ to the best Italian, Chinese and Indian desserts, the book provides a broader, more inclusive view of who we are, where we come from and where our dreams may take us.

Delivering big lessons with playful humour, the precocious young narrator shares her take on nature and the environment, wisdom from elders, embracing difference, the power of imagination and broccoli. Through this character – loosely based on his eldest daughter, whose crayon drawings decorate the endpapers – Sworder channels the lessons he took from his Chinese grandmother and British father. ‘Because my daughters would not grow up hearing their voices I wanted to pass on some part of who they were and what they had taught me … In passing these lessons forward it was important to me to do so in the same spirit of generosity and fun that they gifted to me. There is a saying that you sail through life on a carpet woven from the love and wisdom of your ancestors. I benefited greatly from such a carpet and I made this book hoping that my daughters will as well.’

This gorgeous nonfiction picture book is about a young girl welcoming a baby to the world by introducing them to the small wonders, big lessons and other important stuff that make being a child so special.

The illustrations are just divine – I love the combination of the realistic grey shaded pencil drawings with the bright crayon bits that show the details the protagonist imagines.

I absolutely adored this book. It would make a perfect present for a new baby, or to read with a child who has a new baby in their life. If you know me and you are expecting a new baby anytime soon, you should probably expect a copy of this book too – I can’t wait to share it with friends.

xo Bron
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This Small Blue Dot by Zeno Sworder
Out now from Thames & Hudson Australia
Source: Free copy kindly sent to us by the team at Thames & Hudson Australia (thank you!). All views are my own
Category: Non-ficiton picture book
Format: Hardback (32 pages)