RaveThe Financial Times (UK)... vivid ... part magical realism, part dendrological encyclopedia and part manual for non-violent resistance ... Okri can distil language to its essence, which makes him an ideal children’s writer. Written in clear prose form, his sentences have a careful simplicity, but not at the expense of eloquent writing ... Okri’s story is more than an ecological appraisal, it’s also a loving panorama of a mysterious organic world and a re-evaluation of our relationship with natural forms ... is made more enchanting by Diana Ejaita’s illustrations. Like Okri, Ejaita has Nigerian heritage, and her work fuses European and west African influences. She decorates the narrative with bold, colourful prints, evocative of Matisse’s cut-outs and the bright textile traditions of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal ... It is difficult to explain the ravages of climate breakdown to a child. The despondency we feel at the disappearance of entire ecosystems is a heavy burden to inherit. Okri handles this responsibility well: speaking directly and with passion, but without loosening his grip on hope.
