Layla Queen of Hearts

When I worked in a bookshop customers would often ask for help finding kids' books to help them deal with something that had happened. Sometimes it was hard to find just the right book that dealt with the subject well, but was also going to be attractive to a child. Some issues books, whilst being very worthy are stultifying boring or very unattractive.
Margaret Wild was usually our 'go to girl' for issue books. A beautiful writer who attracts similarly talented illustrators, she has written books on a plethora of matters including the death of a beloved grandmother (Old Pig), depression (Pat The Cat and Sailor Sam), trust and friendship (Fox), isolation and loneliness (Miss Lily's Fabulous Pink Feather Boa), the death of a family pet
(Harry and Hopper) and nursing homes (the Bilbies of Bliss). The thing that I love about her books is that though they tackle some really tough concepts, they are beautiful books in their own right.
The same goes for Glenda Millard's Layla Queen of Hearts and the other books in the Kingdom of Silk trilogy. Beautifully written and with lovely illustrations, they are truly special books. I actually read the first book (the Naming of Tishkin Silk) because I loved the title, not realising that it is a book about the loss of a newborn and how the Silk family grieve and cope with their loss.

Griffin’s daddy used to say that Layla had been sent to comfort them after Tishkin went away; like an arm about their shoulders, a candle in the dark or like golden syrup dumplings for the soul.

The last book in the trilogy, Perry Angel's Suitcase deals with the arrival of a foster child in the Silk family and is also a lovely read.
Layla Queen of Hearts focuses on Layla, the best friend of Griffin Silk. When Layla finds out that there is to be a Senior Citizen's day at school she is worried about who she can take as her own grandmother has only recently passed away. Griffin offers that she can share his gorgeous, lamington baking grandmother Nell, but Layla wants someone of her own. So together they draw up a list of 'likely candidates'. Unfortunately all of these are unavailable so Nell suggests a lady called Miss Amelie, their 'last resort'. A visit to meet her is arranged and Griffin and Nell accompany Layla in her best 'Queen of Hearts' dress to meet Miss Amelie. It soon becomes obvious that something is not quite right with Miss Amelie and Nell later explains to the children that Miss Amelie is " a bit forgetful and she gets muddled'. In spite of this Layla is convinced that Miss Amelie will accompany her to school and that they will become friends.

This is a beautifully written book that deals sensitively with the subjects of dementia and aging. The combination of Glenda Millard's writing and the whimsical artwork of Stephen Michael King make this a delight to read and while it may cause you to shed a tear or two, it was also make you feel like you've just had a bowl of Nell's golden syrup dumplings.
Suitable for 7-10 year olds.




Old Pig
written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Ron Brooks
ISBN 9781863736794
Published by Penguin Books

Pat The Cat and Sailor Sam
written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by
ISBN 1862915210
Published by Scholastic Australia

Fox
written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Ron Brooks
ISBN 9781864489330
Published by Allen and Unwin

Miss Lily's Fabulous Pink Feather Boa
written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Kerry Argent
ISBN 9780140559026
Published by Penguin Books

Harry and Hopper
written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Freya Blackwood
ISBN 9781862917408
Published by Scholastic Australia

The Naming of Tishkin Silk
written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Caroline Magerl
ISBN 9780733313141
Published by Harper Collins

Layla Queen of Hearts
written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
ISBN 9780733318429
Published by Harper Collins

Perry Angel's Suitcase
written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
ISBN 9780733322556
Published by Harper Collins