Under the Same Sky

Robert Vescio

Nicky Johnston

New Frontier, 2019

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781925594676

As the sun rises here and the stars appear there, summer happens here and winter there,  two children on opposite sides of the world crave friendship.  As close but as far apart as the sky and the sea, they reach out to each other, knowing they each exist but never coming into contact.  Or do they?

This is more than a story to explore night and day, summer and winter and the physical attributes of this planet. Beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated, this is a story that demonstrates the common need for humans to seek company and companionship.  We are social creatures not solitary beings and the desire to reach out for friendship is innate, despite any artificial differences like social, cultural or religious beliefs. This is underscored by the author’s decision to keep the children and their whereabouts  anonymous, such is their universality of the plight.  Vescio explains more about the inspiration for the story here.