Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Somewhere You Can Dream, is a twenty-six cm square hardcovered children’s book by award-winning children’s author and poet, Janeen Brian. She is a South Australian writer of children’s books who prior to 1990 was a primary school teacher. She published her 100th book in September 2016. She now has 110 books published in both trade and educational areas. They range from picture books, short fiction, novels, poetry and non-fiction and many have won awards and been translated and distributed worldwide.
In her latest creation the author and illustrator highlight where children like to go or be. Each of these destinations is either in the home or out in the environment and are places where they enjoy the company of other children. The author then offers a different alternative when she says, ‘But if I had to make a choice, I’d choose a smaller spot where I could sit, just me, alone and dream and think a lot’.
The text is presented on pages beautifully illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper, who creates children’s books and works as a lecturer and researcher. She makes gentle, story-rich illustrations using pencil and paint, inspired by nature and the hidden magic in our everyday lives. She has illustrated over 12 picture books.
The colours used throughout this book are muted blues and greens with splashes of yellow and pink tones. The figures of the children on these pages are active and bright-eyed as they explore the environment around them. The cover, outside and in, shows children in the open air flying their kites.
This is a well-presented children’s book for young readers.
Somewhere You Can Dream
(2026)
Author: Janeen Brian
Illustrator: Hilary Jean Tapper
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9 781761 181764
$24.99; 36pp