posted on 02 Mar 2019

Yokki and the Parno Gry by Richard O’Neill and Katherine Quarmby, illustrated by Marieke Nelissen

I often talk with children about how a good story can transport you to strange and exciting places and this one is a great example. Richard O'Neill is a Master storyteller who loves to share and retell traditional Romani tales that have been passed down through the generations. The other two by Richard reviewed HERE and HERE are perhaps more grounded in the everyday, whereas this one written in collaboration with Katherine Quarmby is truly magical .

I read it several times with my four year old grand daughter who was enchanted throughout by the strong narrative and by the gorgeous illustrations. She was also fascinated to learn several Romani words throughout the story. Like me, she was first attracted by the cover which shows a side view of a huge white carthorse, his body lavishly decorated with birds. He leaps across the page carrying a small smiling boy who clings onto his shaggy grey mane. We wondered about where they could be going and why the horse might be so big.

The story begins with an introduction to Yokki, a young Traveller boy ‘who lived with his large family in canvas tents’. The first double page spread gives us a flavour of the pleasures of living a nomadic outdoor life with the vivid illustrations by Marieke Nelissen. One can almost smell the woodsmoke, hear the many chickens and horses against the stillness of the woodland setting. We learn that his grandfather, Elijah is an expert at buying and selling horses, his grandma, Phuri Dai is ‘skilled at selling and respected for her wisdom’ and everyone in the family contributes to making a living, Yokki carves wooden spoons and his sister, Seraphina makes beautiful paper flowers to sell at the market.

We get further glimpses of the seasonal pattern to their lives as they travel about the horse fairs and festivals, working hard as fruit and vegetable pickers on farms. But life as a Traveller is sometimes difficult, especially when there is little work due to bad weather and new, more efficient machines on farms. At these times, the escapism of told stories and the warmth of family around the campfire is vital. We found plenty to look at in the beautiful illustration where Yokki shares his dream story about the Parno Gry, ‘a powerful white horse who would fly into camp and take him away’.

Unfortunately, real life becomes even grimmer and the family struggles to sell their wares. It seems as if all hope is lost until Phuri Dhai persuades Yokki to tell another comforting story:

‘Sometimes, dear ones, all we have are our dreams’, she said. They keep us going until the next opportunity appears’.

Everyone is encouraged by the story and they fall peacefully asleep. Then, to my grand daughter’s delight, some special magic happens when the fabled horse leaps into the snowy forest where they are camping. The incredulous family run outside their tents and then climb onto the Parno Gry’s back, the adults feeling far less confident than the children. We both loved the double page spread where the horse soars across the night sky carrying all the family and their meagre belongings.

As with all the best picture books, everything can change in the turn of a page. We talked about the long journey that we don’t see pictured in the the illustrations and instead imagined their journey, until they finally arrive on the next page looking relieved to have landed in what seems to be a fertile place to make a fresh start. They celebrate the their good fortune together with a delicious meal and thank the Parno Gry for his help in showing them ‘ a new and exciting future’.

Four year olds like straight answers, so when my grand daughter asked me whether it was a true story, I had to give the time honoured adult response of ‘ You never know ..’. I don’t feel at all guilty about this vague response because this is a story about the importance of imagination and hope, neatly summed up on the final page:

‘To this day, generations of Yokki’s family believe that as long as they value children’s imaginations, the Parno Gry will inspire them with new ideas and possibilities - even in their darkest hours, just when they need them most’.

What a positive message.

 

Karen Argent

March 2019