How many of you are migrants, descendants of migrants, or siblings, parents or cousins of migrants? I suspect that covers almost everyone on the planet. I am the migrant daughter of migrants, who in turn were descended from multiple generations of migrants. One of my children migrated to Canada. I’ve never had to deal with a second language, but I’ve both benefited from and been slightly disturbed by the change in perspective that migrating bestows on you – particularly when you migrate back and forth five times, as I have! I have been fortunate enough not to have been compelled to migrate – but as a result, I was never sure if I was making the right choice until we made our final decision to remain in Australia. I now feel like a migrating bird, equally at home at both ends of the earth, but also ready to spread my wings when the right moment occurs. That moment only takes the form of occasional holidays these days, but everyone will be familiar with the feeling of freedom that even a short holiday away from home can produce.
I have grandchildren in Canada, and I’m always wondering what to send them for birthdays and Christmas. Do I send them something Australian, from where I live now, or would they prefer a Canadian story? Maybe they’d like a book that is set in England, where their father was born? Or perhaps they’d like a book set in Mauritius, where their mother was born? Actually it doesn’t matter, they’ll love the story wherever it comes from, provided it resonates with them.
Swallows Swirl looks as if it will press all their buttons. It’s probably meant for the age group of my middle grandie, who’s five, but it will be appreciated by her older brother who’s 7 and by her younger brother who’s 2 going on 4, in equal measure. It combines lyrical prose with solid facts and adorable illustrations. It evokes the delight I remember as a child in England when I spotted the first swallow of summer (one is never enough – you need to see a flock before you know summer is here to stay!) but it’s also a sight that my grandchildren will be seeing, just as the swallows here in South Australia are preparing to leave for warmer climes. (Australian swallows don’t always migrate very far, as the winters are pretty mild here!)
The author, Christina Wilsdon, is American, but her childhood memories coincide with mine just as they will resonate with parents and children all over the world. The illustrator, Jess Mason, is English, so her images inevitably evoke English landscapes for me.
If I win a copy, hopefully it will arrive before I metaphorically spread my wings for the first time since pre-Covid days, and board a plane to visit my family in Canada in May. I’ve seen their little town in the Rockies in Winter, Midsummer and early Fall, but this time I’ll be flying with the swallows to find out what their late Spring and early Summer feels like. And if I don’t win one? – I’ll buy one anyway (or maybe two, as I want one for myself)!
For a chance to win a copy of this book, go to Kathy Teaman’s blog:
Julia Wakefield 