Book Description Review “The enduring love between parent and child is celebrated in distinctive, vintage-inspired style…a meditation on parental love in all its forms, brought to life by a joyful neon palette.” ―The Bookseller “Captivating neon illustrations add even more charm to this already delightful story. Under the Love Umbrella reminds children that comfort and love is ever-present, even when you are not near your family.” ―Evening Standard “A truly charming book little ones will adore.” ―Little London “This brightly illustrated picture book is a celebration of the enduring love that surrounds your children, wherever they are in the world. The families we meet represent the wonderful diversity that make our world what it is and show that there is nothing to fear from differences. It is also a reminder to children that love is around them, especially in times of worry or fear. This book is suitable for new parents and babies, as well as for children embarking on big changes and adventures, who may benefit from this lovely reminder of the permanence of love. A beautiful message to share with young children.” ―Lovereading4kids “A gorgeous book about the transformative power of family love in all its forms. Written in rhyming couplets, it reassures children that they are protected by an ‘umbrella’ of love wherever they go in the world and whatever they encounter…a truly beautiful book.” ―The Sun “The illustrations are very bright and I like that they embrace a diverse range of families and relationships…I think we should all remember that we have a “love umbrella”.” ―Juno “Bright, expressive and featuring joyfully diverse illustration throughout, Under the Love Umbrella provides poetic reassurance that whatever happens, children will be protected and loved. Perfect for sharing at bedtime with cuddles.” ―BookTrust Praise for Captain Starfish (by the same team): “The unconditional acceptance of Alfie’s parents makes this book unique and may prove assuring to children of similar character. An excellent choice for one-on-one sharing.” ―School Library Journal “Learning to be brave can take time, and readers will empathize with Alfie’s slow progress toward that goal.” ―Booklist “Colpoys’s stylish, silkscreen-style illustrations use contrasting shades of sea green, deep blue, and bright pink to represent both the real world and Alfie’s rich interior life.” ―Publishers Weekly “Alfie’s success, aided by loving and patient parents, provides a model for children struggling with anxiety and assures them of their ultimate worth and capability. This gentle story ably helps fill a need in children’s literature and will help comfort small audiences with their own big fears.” ―Kirkus Reviews Read more About the Author Davina Bell is a writer from Western Australia. She is the author of the award-winning picture book The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade, which won the 2016 Australian Book Industry Award for Best Children’s Book from a Small Publisher, and Under the Love Umbrella, which was shortlisted for the same award in 2018 (both illustrated by Allison Colpoys). She is also author of the ‘Alice’ books in the bestselling Our Australian Girl series. For six years she was a Senior Editor at Penguin Books in the Young Readers Division, where she worked with some of our country’s most beloved children’s book creators. Davina lives and works in Melbourne, where she still dreams about the Western Australian beaches while drinking a lot of very good Melbourne coffee.Allison Colpoys is an award-winning designer and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. Read more Customers Review: This is one of the most lovely children’s books I’ve ever come across. My pre_k class loves it and so do I!
‘Under the Love Umbrella’ is the new picture book written by Davina Francesca Bell, with illustrations by Allison Colpoys. It’s the second picture book from the duo, the first being ‘The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade’ of 2016.I don’t often review picture books – but clearly last year when I made my first exception for ‘Australia to Z’ by Armin Greder on the blog, I kicked off a new tradition for myself. It’s also probably that since joining Jacinta DiMase Management (which specialises in picture-book authors and illustrators) I’ve been introduced and given a bit more background to this art form in Australia. And as such – I’ve become serious appreciative, and find myself buying the books I really can’t seem to turn away from … and ‘Under the Love Umbrella’ is one such.This new story from Bell and Colpoys is basically a giant hug in picture-book form, which is also why I’d recommend it for young and old. The story is more of Bell’s tenderness that was on display in ‘Fancy-Dress Parade’, as ‘Under the Love Umbrella’ gives an ode to the metaphor of safety, love and acceptance. It’s a beautifully subtle and tender message she communicates most effectively with rhythm and rhyme – and it’s one that will prompt the question from young readers at the end; “who is under my love umbrella?”Allison Colpoys – perhaps the most in-demand artist in the Australian books world (and for good reason) – brings more of her magic to Bell’s words. She uses mostly fluro colours to great effect, nevermore than when they’re presented against a darker background (as on the cover, with fireworks). There’s something here that feels a little cool retro in her illustrations too, like they could be something out of the Little Golden Book series – it’s a sweet nostalgia. Honestly, the book is so intensely lovely I really just want to hang it on my wall for all to admire.I will also make a note here that the children and families depicted within are from diverse backgrounds – Joe, Brian, Izzy and Grace are racially diverse, and there’s no fine point put on whether or not they have “traditional” “nuclear” families. Albeit from my limited knowledge, I at least know this is still rare in children’s picture books – though it shouldn’t be. Davina Bell even commented on it in the press release I was sent with the book, saying;*** We love how people have responded to the diversity in the book. But while it was a conscious choice to include a range of backgrounds and family constellations, the situations we represented sprang from the characters as they came to life in our minds, rather than from a deliberate strategy or design. That said, the timing of this book feels fortuitous. There has never been a more important moment to tie love and diversity together in the minds of children, and one of the privileges of being a picture-book creator is the chance to speak into their hearts through story.***We all know the times Bell is alluding to, and I couldn’t agree more that a book with this level of illustrated representation, and a message about bringing those you love into safety under your love umbrella … well, it’s safe to say we could all use this book. Which is why I’d highly recommend it for everyone – age be damned.This was my first favourite book of 2017, and it feels fitting that it’s one with such a message.
“Up in the sky, amongst the starsThere’s something you might not see …But over your head and just aboveThere’s an umbrella of my loveTo show it’s you I’m thinking ofWherever you might be.”Warm and fuzzies abound in this gorgeous picture book. We follow four children, who are introduced in the beginning of the book as Joe, Brian, Grace and Izzy, as they navigate the world under their love umbrellas. No matter what they’re feeling or what they’re doing, they’re assured of the love of their family, which follows them wherever they go.This is the kind of book that makes me almost wish I had a child I could read this to each bedtime. Because the love umbrella works whether you’re with your loved ones or not I can also see the value of using this book if your child has separation anxiety or if a caregiver needed to be absent from the home for a period of time for work, illness or miscellaneous. Multiple ethnicities are represented, as are different types of families, although I didn’t find any children with a visible disability in any of the illustrations.I’m always up for a challenge so I loved the idea of trying to discover all of the umbrellas pictured in the book and if I was reading this with a child I’d be encouraging them to help me find them. My personal favourite ‘hidden’ umbrella was the moving truck number plate – BR0LLY.The illustrations are lovely. The umbrellas in the stars and fireworks are particularly creative and there are plenty of details to appreciate, including a framed picture of a bear wearing a tutu and holding (you guessed it!) an umbrella. I wouldn’t usually choose a book for bedtime reading with fluorescent colours but for some reason it works here, especially when there’s a dark background.This book will have you thinking about who’s under your Love Umbrella. |
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