Sorya

Although I no longer buy picture books for anyone, I still keep a keen interest in what is going in that world. I am particularly interested in the Yoto Carnegie Awards, particularly the Medal given for illustration for children and young people. This award is given by children's librarians and has been going for many, many years. I like it especially as it goes out of its way to involve children and young people in reading the shortlists. (I just read in the local paper about a local school who had used the books in their art work.)

This year the award for illustration was given to this extraordinary book. I have only just been able to get a copy and I have been fascinated by it. It was written by Vietnamese Trang Nguyen, a wildlife conservationist and environmental activist and is based on her own early life as she decides  to spend her future saving animals and later vows to return a young sun bear named Sorya to the wild. An empowering and intriguing story. Such a heart-warming story dealing with many issues to do with wildlife and the environment.(Gordon says it should be read by every Geography GCSE student) By chance I chose this page on the day that the horrifying figures have been released about how much forest is burnt down every day.

The illustrations are wonderful. The artist Jeet Zdunbg fuses traditional Vietnamese art with Manga, using pencils, watercolours, inks and other digital means to create pages of extraordinary beauty and power. 

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear
by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung
(Cover in extras)