For All Creatures, by Glenda Millard & Rebecca Cool

For weavers and wisps.
Fr silk spinners and spiderlings,
lace and loveliness
and for webs, we are thankful.

There are some picture books which are so beautiful, so complete, that one wants to hug them and to read and reread, even without the audience of a young child. For All Creaturesis one of those. The text is almost a prayer (though certainly not for any denomination or specific belief set) – expressing ‘our’ gratitude for the wonders of nature – creatures big and small, from around the world, before offering, finally, thanks for babies and all people.

Millard’s text is a lyrical delight, with alliteration abounding and word choice surprising and delightful – on a night filled with images of night animals, she gives thanks not just for nocturne, night and nectar but also for upsidedownness. Cool’s illustrations are superb. Using a mix of acrylic paint and fabric collage, she fills every page with rich, wonderful colour, patterns and textures. Young readers will enjoy exploring both the animals and plants on each page, and the details of the collage embellishments. Especially intriguing (and clever) is the use of strips of measuring tape for the stripes of the tiger.

Just perfect.

For All Creatures, by Glenda Millard & Rebecca Cool
Walker Books, 2011
ISBN 9781921529818

This book can be purchased in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.