posted on 13 Jun 2024

To the End of the World, Far, Far Away by Ronda Armitage, illustrated by Victoria Turnbull

Like many adults, I have a strong early childhood memory of packing a small bag with some toys and announcing that I was leaving home as the result of a telling off from my mother. I seem to remember that I got as far as the end of the drive before panicking and running back to the front door in tears. This is the central theme of this gently illustrated picture book that focusses on the tender, intense and unconditional relationship between a parent and child. It is one that has been written about many times, perhaps most memorably in ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by Maurice Sendak. 

I recently shared this book with a small group of bear-loving three year olds who liked the young cub, Louis shown on the cover with his penguin friend against the background of a swirling snowstorm. He is carrying a blue suitcase and waving enthusiastically to someone, we needed to turn to the back cover to see his smiling mother. Why was he going somewhere without an adult, where could he be going and where exactly was the end of the world?

On the first page we realised that he was in big trouble for spilling his milk on the cave kitchen floor and that his Mum was cross. By the next turn of the page, Louis is determinedly packing his bag with an illustration that sweeps across two pages and allows us to see his rather cosy bedroom. He makes the terrible threat to leave home and then the rest of the book shows how his Mum tries to persuade him to stay.

I loved every one of her pleas but particularly liked:

‘I’ll be so sad. I’ll cry night and day.

I’ll cry such tears they’ll make

A great sea’.

The wild sea against a stormy sky is shown with Mum wiping her tears as a wave threatens to crash over Louis. One perceptive child noticed that she is still holding her mop so suggested that the idea it was just in her head? As we travel to the depths of the ocean, through terrible weather and into dense woods, her despairing lament becomes stronger. All the while, Louis is shown watching closely as he realises the depth of her love. By the middle of the book, she is shown crying in his bedroom surrounded by his toys:

‘And I’ll say, ‘our best boy has gone away’.

Then they’ll cry too.

Who’ll look after us tonight?

Who’ll tuck us up?

Who’ll hold us tight?’

We were all very relieved to see his tentative return and the blissful reunion as he is tucked up in bed under a benevolently smiling tree. Mum reassures him that next time he wants an adventure, perhaps they could go together.

 I recommend this beautiful picture book published by Walker Books which should be available from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

Karen Argent

June 2024