Help! We Need a Story

Harris, along with recent winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for best newcomer to picture book, Ilustrajo, collaborate in this celebration of storytelling and the boundless power of imagination. With effervescent rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this is a playful call to arms against boredom, illustrating how the creative arts can inspire and delight.

Our tale commences in the jungle with Artie the macaque, equipped with pad and crayons, sketching a nearby cockatoo. His artistic endeavour is interrupted by his fellow animal friends who slump and mope in boredom, leaving them feeling glum and dreary. Inspired by their lack of imagination, Artie conjures something magical – a storybook! Within its pages, he places his companions on fantastical adventures with dragons, robot sharks, and zombie hens, leading them into space until they enjoy pink ice cream on the beach. Inspired and empowered by the story, the animals are prompted to craft their own tales and begin to see the world around them through a different lens.

Harris’ rhyming couplets and use of onomatopoeic phrases make this a pleasure to read aloud, with the type and position of the words mirroring Artie’s infectious enthusiasm. The pace and rhythm of the text complement the mood of Artie’s world – it is slow and gentle when the animals bemoan their boredom and then lively and fizzy with pace when Artie shares his story. Ilustrajo’s illustrations delightfully transition between jungle life and Artie’s narrative, seamlessly merging reality with imagination. As the animals immerse themselves in Artie’s story, they physically enter the imaginary world, emphasising that sense of being lost in their creative imaginations.

With its ‘story-within-a-story’ concept, the picture book invites readers to recognise the power of storytelling and creation. Artie’s tale not only validates his animal friends but also empowers them to reimagine the world. Encouraging creativity and storytelling, this timely and powerful narrative resonates with readers of all ages.