Pictures or Words – which are more powerful in a picture book?

The Realm of Smaller Things

Written and illustrated by Kent Knowles @kentknowles3

The son of a chaplain and a school teacher, Kent Knowles grew up traveling around the world. Having lived in Okinawa, Germany and throughout the United States, his love for words and imagery have been nurtured by the rich experiences of his nomadic childhood. Kent enjoys writing for both children and young adults, with a particular interest in exploring the imagination and the unknown. In addition to writing, Kent is also an exhibiting artist and a teacher. For the last 15 years he has worked as a professor of Painting and Foundation Studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design. When he isn’t teaching, you can find Kent writing children’s books, attacking large-scale figurative paintings and conjuring screenplays. He lives on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and two children

Published by Ventorros Press @VentorrosP

Published on: 6th June 2022

ISBN: 978 1 7399528 9 1 £9.99

First line: On a cold and drippy morning, Near a thick November wood.

Genre: Picture book

Age: 5-7

What’s it all about? Kent Knowles beautifully illustrated transformative journey tells the tale of Jane, a cruel young girl who torments the animals and insects in the forest, until one day she is about to perform her cruellest feat when a giant wave of creek water washes her away. She awakens on a distant shoreline to discover she has been shrunken to the size of a cricket. She is quickly captured by an army of toad soldiers and summoned before the King of Toads, who judges her for her crimes against smaller things. As the day’s pass, Jane finds herself relying on the very same creatures that she previously tormented. 33 Full Page Colour Illustrations

Why should I read it? The illustrations are truly amazing! I think in some cases (such as the King of toads) they are a little scary. I like the story with its strong moral message a bit like a fake about respecting smaller creatures. Small children will like the idea of a character changing from one who is cruel to one who is kind and caring.