Belonging
Age 5+
Picture Books
A powerful account of the reclamation of an urban landscape told wordlessly through fascinating, detailed collage artwork.
Observed through the window of a house, a city street gradually becomes a place to call home as the inhabitants begin to rescue their street by planting grass and trees in the empty spaces. Year by year, everything begins to blossom... Told wordlessly and with stunning collage illustrations, Belonging explores the re-greening of the city and the role of community, the empowerment of people and the significance of children, family and neighbourhood in changing the urban environment for the better.
Creators
Jeannie Baker was born in England, but now lives in Sydney, Australia. Her work often has an environmental focus and has won numerous awards, including the Friends of the Earth Earthworm Award for Where the Forest Meets the Sea and the 2005 Australian Wilderness Society Award and 2005 Australian Picture Book of the Year Honour Book for Belonging.
Reviews
Belonging has a positive message about the difference that people can make if they take the approach of belonging to rather than owning their land. And, as Baker shows, the rewards from such an approach go far beyond the personal, as do the rewards from reading and sharing this wonderful book.
Australian Book Review
…pulses with a sense of life and discovery…
WHO Magazine
Yet another exercise in beautiful detail from the internationally acclaimed artist/author. A mesmerisingly beautiful picture book which tells an important story without words.
The Sunday Mail
Her talent speaks loudly and eloquently for itself, the illustrations are meticulous and intricate in their thought provoking detail. Australian literature is very fortunate to have a picture-book creator of the calibre of Jeannie Baker.
Reading Time
…extraordinary…
The Bulletin
This is a striking picture book using the same wordless format as Window. Much of the delight is in the attention to detail, the subtle changes and the textural richness. A positive environmental and social commentary about the power of individuals.
Classroom Magazine
