Review of St Sebastian, Jack & The Silver Lining

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "St Sebastian, Jack & The Silver Lining" by Milly K Reynolds.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Title: St Sebastian, Jack, and The Silver Lining
Author: Milly K Reynolds

This delightfully small and well-thought-out book has many messages for little ones to take away. I loved the way the messages were tackled and backed up by the uplifting and funny illustrations.

When turning the pages, the reader is met with soft, pastel colours and amusing, quirky drawings. Inside the space of the page, the subjects are placed at different angles, which brings interest to the page: cleverly done. There are a couple of pages full of little thumbnail faces, which I'm sure will amuse the young reader.

Jack is an oddball with a strange 'look' and a very long, polka-dot-containing beard. St Sebastian is his friend, a rat who sits on the polka dots in his beard. To the children of the places they visit, Jack's very long beard is the cause of cruel jibes. This is unfair, and St Sebastian knows it. What can be done? Our clever rat thinks hard and comes up with a plan: reader, read on!

St Sebastian’s plan works, and everyone is happy. The good inside of the old man wasn't seen for the sake of how he looked, which was ridiculous. Young readers will see that just because he looked strange, judgement should have been reserved: do not judge a book by its cover.

Rats are often a subject of disdain. They have a reputation for being dirty and slightly evil. Why? They are survivors, just as all creatures are. There is a message here, too.

The prose will keep the child's focus with its catchy and singsongy rhythm and rhyme. It is easy to read for any new beginner, with a few new words to add to their vocabulary, especially with the lovely illustrations. The book will be helpful for those youngsters who already suffer from self-consciousness.

This small book would be a valuable addition to any child’s book stock. The editing was excellent, and it was short enough to be read to a small child. There was nothing about the book that I would change. I know it will be enjoyed by many, as it was by me, and will award it five stars out of five.

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St Sebastian, Jack & The Silver Lining
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