Publisher's synopsis
A moving illustrated verse novel about a girl dealing with isolation at school, and with her grandma’s illness at home.
At school, Pearl feels as though she is in a group of one. Her teacher wants her to write poems that rhyme but Pearl’s poems don’t. At home, however, Pearl feels safe and loved, but her grandmother is slowly fading, and so are Mum and Pearl. When her grandmother eventually passes away, Pearl wants life to go back to the way it was and refuses to talk at the funeral. But she finds the courage to deliver a poem for her grandmother that defies her teacher’s idea of poetry. Her poem doesn’t rhyme; it comes from the heart.
Awards
- Shortlist, CBCA Awards Book of the Year – Younger Readers, 2010
- Winner, Australian Family Therapists Award for Children’s Literature Young Readers/Picture Book Award, 2010
- Winner, Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, Upper Primary 8–12 years, 2010
- Shortlist, Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards Children’s Books, 2009
Illustrator
Click here to read more about Heather Potter.
Sally Murphy is a mother, wife, teacher, speaker, website manager, reviewer, and author. She was born in Perth and now lives in Dalyellup, Western Australia. In 2001 she decided to dedicate herself to her dream of becoming a children’s author and has now published 28 books. As well as writing for children Sally is also a children’s book reviewer who runs the review site Aussie Reviews. Her first illustrated verse novel with Walker Books Australia, Pearl Verses the World (illustrated by Heather Potter) won the children’s book category for the Indie Book of the Year awards, 2009; was awarded Honour Book in the Younger Readers category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2010; and won the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2010, Best Book for Language Development, Upper Primary (8–12 years). Toppling (illustrated by Rhian Nest James) has won the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, Children’s Book – Mary Ryan’s Award, 2010 and the Children’s Book for the 2010 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards. It has also been shortlisted for the 2010 Speech Pathology Australia, Book of the Year Awards, Upper Primary category and the 2011 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, Younger Readers Notable Books.
Visit Sally Murphy’s website.
Heather Potter is an illustrator based in Melbourne. She has co-illustrated several books with her husband, Mark Jackson, and their work has been featured in several exhibitions. Their first Walker Book together was picture book Not Like Georgie by Scott Hatcher, 2008. Heather also illustrated the verse novel Pearl Verses the World in 2009 by Sally Murphy, which won the Children’s Book Category for the Indie Book of the Year Awards and Honour Book, Younger Readers category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2010. Her latest book with Walker is Nanna’s Button Tin, written by Dianne Wolfer.
