Charlie and the Hall of Mirrors

Dr Nickers

Aaron Peacock

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.95

9781922833877

Charlie worked in a balloon shop each day, making sure that the balloon jobs were done the right way.

Charlie loves helping Gunter out at the balloon shop, but sometimes his curiosity gets the better of him! So when Gunter has to deliver balloons to the local fair Charlie decides to take a look at the Hall of Mirrors and finds a lot more than he bargained on.  He is so confused by all the distorted images he sees of himself that he ends up smashing the mirrors in his attempt to find the real Charlie.

While an engaging story in rhyme for the very young, it could also be used to investigate the notion of physical appearance and how we are perceived.  Even in we are very tall, or square or wrinkled, as the mirrors depict Charlie, are we still us?  Useful for a discussion if someone has an accident or other event that changes their physical appearance or even one for those with a body image issue or desire to change how they look.