Aunt’s house
The home of child author Dawn Aldrich’s aunt and illustrated by Michael Aldrich was recently published by Halo Publishing International. The first thing readers will notice are the illustrations, which are filled with rich orange and green colors; landscapes full of nature with beautiful smiling faces, healthy women who seem to have a good relationship and a cozy home.
The back cover claims that the book is about trust between adult sisters in caring for the child and that the mother will return at the end of the day, but I didn’t see that on the first reading. What I saw was a child adjusting to the separation. The girl, knowing that her mother will be arriving later and knowing that she is with a trusted and adored adult, learned to spend the day away from her mother without struggling with separation issues. In fact, the child discovers that the experience was quite relaxing and enjoyable.
Dawn employs a rhythmic pattern with 3-5 lines per illustration in this 32-page book, offering the family a way to relax and really enjoy the book. Dawn’s loving relationship with her family is evident in the opening pages where she dedicates the book to her niece and the extended family members who have helped with her children over the years. The author has a formal education in radio and television communications and is an experienced writer of plays and books. He regularly appears in public to act, speak, or read about his work.
Auntie’s House was printed in the US in pocket size, and that means less fossil fuels are wasted on North American readers. I was thrilled to see an ad on the publisher’s site that they offer a green publishing alternative – recycled content. This is a great first step into the world of green publishing alternatives that permeate the industry today.
ISBN #: 978-09797429-7-2 (paperback)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
