Tilly in a Tangle
$26.95
When things go wrong, following our instinct yields unexpected results.
Tilly works hard at keeping her boat shipshape, striving to retain the approval of those around her, following their advice and conforming to their opinions. But when disaster strikes, and her friends are called to act instead of administering advice, Tilly discovers her own way of doing things works best – for both her and her friends.
AGES: 3 plus
AUTHOR:
Margrete Lamond is a multi-award-winning picture-book author and an acclaimed publisher of picture books, helping authors and illustrators win prestigious awards. Margrete holds a master’s degree in visual storytelling, runs advanced courses for illustrators and authors, and is a PhD candidate.
Monty Lee is an Australian artist and illustrator whose quirky, playful style has earned her an international following. She has illustrated books for Australian and international publishers, including Songs to Edward Lear, Grumpy Bear Grouchy Bear, Theo’s Princess and A Special Treat. Monty’s work has been featured in prestigious international illustration magazines such as Brightness Magazine.
michael –
Original review by Ashleigh Miekle
Tilly loves her boat, and is always tinkering with it, making sure it is shipshape and ready to sail. She also wants to get the approval of those around her. But, everyone is always pointing out the problems, and Tilly is quick to fix them. She takes on their opinions, and does all her own work…until the day disaster strikes – and Tilly finally needs their help instead of the constant advice.
And yet, her friends don’t seem to help, so Tilly finds the courage to do things her own way to make her boat sail again and get out of the tangle, to make things work for her and her friends.
This new book from Dirt Lane Press and WestWords is a wonderful story about a little girl called Tilly who is inventive and clever, and determined to solve the problems at hand. This is a story about inventiveness and working together, and what it means when we try to take advice from well-meaning friends. Tilly’s world discusses what it means to be asked for help, and what failure to help can lead to.
I enjoyed Tilly’s determination in this book amidst friends who shouted advice and ended up getting tangled with everyone, because it led to something that nobody could have imagined. Whilst Tilly doesn’t speak in this book, and is rather, spoken to by her animal friends who just enjoy giving her advice, rather than helping, she is the central character. She acts, she does everything rather than sitting on the sidelines. She’s a quiet, yet active character in this story, whose quiet determination shows readers that if they set their mind to something, they can do anything. Or, that sometimes, the best results happen accidentally and come about when we’re not expecting it.
This is a lovely book that reassures children that they can solve problems, even when people think they can’t or think they can do better.
michael –
Original review by Sandhya Parappukkaran
Magrete Lamond is a multi-award-winning author and children’s book publisher. Lamond’s picture book, Paper-flower Girl, was shortlisted in the 2024 Children’s Book Council of Australia awards and was awarded Honour Book in the Picture Book category. Monty Lee is a Brisbane based artist who creates quirky, playful illustrations through print making, painting and drawing.
Tilly in a Tangle is a story about taking charge of situations by trusting your own instincts. Tilly has a wonderful boat which she carefully and capably steers through a fantastical landscape brought to life by Lee’s exquisite colours and Lamond’s sublime text. Tilly’s friends Frog and Duck are concerned how she runs her ship and chip in with urgent advice, which Tilly heeds and before long she is in a terrible tangle. The tension builds as Frog and Duck keep pressing with their frantic guidance. They more Tilly tries to fix things according to her friends’ advice, the more tightly wound her tangle becomes, until they are all entwined up in a mess that looks beyond repair.
Amid the continuing insults on her navigating, Tilly remembers that she knows what to do and seizes control of the situation. Once unravelled, Tilly steers her ship with her own instincts and renewed confidence. Frog and Duck have learned to ride with Tilly and be better companions too.
Lamond’s assured story telling bounces along and is perfectly paced. The language is playful, and wonderful assonance makes for a fun read aloud experience. Lee uses watercolour, oil crayons, colouring pencils and digital collage in a lovely colour palette of greens, blues, cream and pops of orange and red to create a whimsical world for Tilly and her friends.
There is so much to take in from Tilly in a Tangle that children and their adults are sure to enjoy multiple reads of this visual treat with a valuable message.