Ross recommends~ The Ear and Ellie’s Voice or TRÖÖÖmmmpfff by Piret Rand

My Thursday afternoon was made a whole lot brighter when I decided to open Estonian author and illustrator Piret Rand’s children’s book The Ear. Brand new to the shop and inspired by Vincent van Gogh, Rand asks how would Ear feel waking up to find herself alone, detached from Head, for the first time. What follows is perhaps the most creatively and engagingly illustrated journey I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Ear meets a multitude of colourful characters along the way and ultimately learns, by listening to herself, that she doesn’t need Head; she is entirely enough as she is.

This theme of listening to oneself is continued in Rand’s other translated work Ellie’s Voice or TRÖÖÖmmmpfff, which in my personal opinion may be the greatest book title to exist. Ellie is a bird who doesn’t have a voice but soon discovers that music can express everything she’s feeling. A touching story of trying to find your own voice ends, in true Rand style, with the power of listening. Again originally and beautifully illustrated, this journey is a call to arms for all our young aspiring music lovers out there. There’s a song wrapped up in every emotion.

Through these books Rand shouts we are enough. I am delighted they are not in our store and that we are able to celebrate the work of Estonia’s, quite rightly, most beloved children’s author. I challenge anyone to read these stories with their children and not be won over by their infectiously radiated joy and light.