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A Quiet Girl
by Peter Carnavas
Published by University of Queensland Press (UQP)
ISBN 9780702260025
A realistic story told in an illustrated picture book about a quiet girl, Mary, whom I'd describe as naturally reserved. She lives with her family in what may appear to her as a noisy home. Her family are not unusually noisy, they're busy with every day life.
In this cacophony when Mary wants to speak, ask a question or speak to her mum, dad or siblings they don't hear her. Her quietly spoken voice and has a reserved nature means she fades into the background.
There are numerous occasions featured for example when mum's is drying her hair, Mary is trying to tell her what happened when she met a bird.
Mum tells her to speak up, but of course Mary doesn't, she has a gentle voice. She goes to her tell her brother who is busy listening to something on his phone, then she tries talking to her dad, but he's busy in the kitchen making something in the noisy blender.
So what's a gentle girl to do? Mary tries to speak up and does things to get her family's attention, like climbing up a ladder or jumping up and down whilst her parents are gardening, but their noisy tools drown out Mary's voice.
Rather than keep tryng to make herself heard, she becomes aware of all the wonderful things around her. The beauty in nature, a spider hanging by a thread, all sorts of things but now her family hardly notice her at all.
Mary disappears into the background and one day her family suddenly realise she's missing. They go searching for Mary, all around the house, up and down the street... but she's not really missing.
Gentle natured Mary shows her family what they are missing. It's a lovely book for young children to understand different personalities while reading a sweet story with a little mystery and happiness. It is also a good book for kids with gentle voices / personalities. The colours and illustrations perfectly match the story, both story and illustrations are by the author.
