Eyes That Weave The World’s Wonders

Joanna Ho & Liz Kleinrock

Dung Ho

HarperCollins US, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780063057777

In the annual family photos where everyone gathers in matching clothes and shoes and laughter, everything is the same for everyone – except for one.  Because no one has eyes like hers – eyes that kiss in the corners.  But despite their shape, she sees the wonder of the world through her eyes and those around her,  But who gave her those eyes? And where ad why and what if and what happened?   Questions that every child who is adopted asks eventually, and even though there may be no immediate answers, she understands that sometimes “love must look like letting go”.

This is another wonderful story from the author of such masterpieces as Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and Eyes that Speak to the Stars.  and once again Joanna Ho has used her gift of language to create something that brings a common situation into the spotlight.  This time it is that of the adopted child and co-author Liz Kleinrock focuses on this in a note to the reader at the beginning of the book.  Between them, authors and illustrator have created another story of awareness, understanding and acceptance not just by the protagonist but also the reader and I know that whenever I pick up a title with Joanna and Dung Ho’s names on the cover I am going to be changed by the reading of it.  And this is no exception.  It’s not the shape of our eyes that matters, it’s what they see that counts.