Pea Pod Lullaby

Soothing and lyrical, ‘Pea Pod Lullaby’ is part song, part poem and perfect for sharing. As a mother, baby, small child and their dog flee in a small, tattered boat. As they sail across the vast ocean, they are joined by a little bird and a polar bear in need of help, sharing what they have as they journey on through all weathers. The little bird flies away and the polar bear climbs off onto an ice berg to join three cubs and the family continue sailing until they reach the safety of land once more.

The family’s story is developed through the illustrations, making the book wonderful for ‘reading the pictures’ and initiating discussions about the plight of the family and the creatures they encounter. The polar bear they rescue, for example, is floating on a fridge, not ice as might be expected. Sharp eyes might also notice the little bird returning to the boat, clutching a leaf in its beak, just before the boat reaches land, just as the dove returned to the ark. Each picture is beautiful, telling a story of hope and compassion, of need and sharing, of love and togetherness.

A note at the end of the book tells the reader that the words were created in response to the illustrations. They send a touching message about the importance of caring for one another. The richness of the vocabulary and the powerful imagery might resonate more with adults than with children, but there is no denying their beauty or poignancy.

Pea Pod Lullaby

Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Old Barn Books ISBN: 978-1910646458