Review – The Wonder

The Wonder by Faye Hanson
on 2014
Genres: The Five Mile Press
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal book collection

The Wonder by Faye Hanson (The Five Mile Press, 2014) shares the story of a young boy whose head is filled with wonderful, creative thoughts. He goes through his day being told to supress his curiosity and creativity – pay attention! stop daydreaming! don’t be scatterbrained! – until he reaches his art class and the teacher encourages him to use his imagination. This encouragement inspires him to explore the ideas and thoughts he has had to push down all day.

I love that this picture book celebrates the beautiful way a creative mind wonders about the world and shows how everyday interactions and activities can spark fantastical thoughts and curiosity and excitement. I think it’s a shame that the boy’s imagination and creativity are only really celebrated in his art classroom, when creative thinking and imagination also play such a vital role in problem solving, scientific thought, and general everyday life activities. Despite this, I do love the way the book shows that encouragement to use his imagination releases a wave of creative thoughts and images. The illustrations are beautiful, with the sepia tones used in the illustrations in the first half of the book burst into vibrant colour and fantastical detail once the boy is given permission to express his imagination without limitations.

The Wonder is a beautiful picture book that encourages children to value imagination, creativity, and curiosity about the world, and hopefully reminds adults that it is important to create space for children to express their natural creativity and wonder.