The goblin and the empty chair by Mem Fox
Ill. by Leo and Diane Dillon. Puffin, 2009. ISBN
9780670074211.
(Age: 5+) Highly
recommended. Mem Fox has crafted a
memorable story in the
classic fairy tale tradition, telling the tale of a kind-hearted goblin
who is
convinced that he is too ugly to be seen by anyone. He hides away in
his
castle, until one day he sees desolate farmer, who doesn't seem to be
able to
cope with his chores. The farmer's wife and daughter are also suffering
from
some unspecified loss. The goblin, working at night, helps them out,
believing
that the darkness will hide him. However the family members do see him
and invite
him into their home.
Fox's beautiful
text is studded
with memorable phrases, imagery and repetition. It is a delight to read
aloud,
slowly with emphasis. Beautiful framed illustrations by award winning
duo, Leo
and Diane Dillon, draw the reader into the story. Each page has a
border strip showing
what is happening before the text, and a larger picture that
illustrates a key emotion
of the story. A tiny gargoyle face on both sides of the picture is
fascinating
and adds to the reader's understand of the feelings that the text is
expanding.
Although the family's despair is not explained in the text, there are
clues in
the illustrations. It is these tiny pictures and clues that bring the
reader
back again and again to discover more richness in the book.
Both the text and the illustrations emphasise that
appearances
are not all important and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Compassion
and caring for other people have the power to help heal a terrible loss
and to
join people together.
Pat Pledger