Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather - a gardener and former ringmaster.
Their shed is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed. Vega’s bathroom is home to a gray bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school.
Her best friend is Nelson, who observes things others don’t notice and keeps a notebook of mysteries and facts.
Vega and Nelson set out to save Vega’s father and find her mother in a search that leads them to a unique circus and unexpected answers.
Giraffe Island was originally published in Finland and has been translated into 14 languages. It's an imaginative and magical read, perfect for younger readers keen to dip their toes into a magical fantasy world.
Each chapter begins with a fascinating fact and from the very first page you'll be hooked by the creatures and the charm. Interspersed into the pages are incredible pencil illustrations that give visual clues about Vega's world. The cover itself will immediately draw curious readers in.
Every character is a delight and the story is wonderful - it's fresh, playful, and full of imagination. At times it felt like I was diving into the imagination of a 10-year-old, full of wonder and delight, not bogged down by the realities of adulthood.
Every reader should take the journey to Giraffe Island and experience this magical, unique and charming story.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Gecko Press