Lorena and I are so delighted to be already seeing the most wonderful first reviews of Satin, even in advance of the book’s official publication day on March 1! (It’s in shops however now). There are two, published this week: one’s in Buzz Words, and the review is written by author and editor Dannielle Viera; the other is on Read Plus and is by children’s literature specialist Fran Knight.

Here’s an extract from the Buzz Words review:

Inspired by the satin bowerbird, Sophie Masson’s mesmerising fable is infused with melancholy. Sibilant alliteration snakes across the pages as Satin silently seeks a life without loneliness. Children aged four and older will empathise with Satin’s longing for love and emerge from the story with a steadfast belief in the power of sharing to strengthen connection.

Exuding sapphire and shadow, Lorena Carrington’s illustrations serve as a moody backdrop to Sophie’s wistful words. Satin is shown in silhouette, which heightens the heartache of his solitude. Only when the protagonist begins to bestow his blue upon others does Lorena lighten the ambience with pinks, yellows, and greens – it is the dawn of a new life for Satin.

You can read the whole review here.

And here’s an extract from the Read Plus review:

With all the atmosphere of a modern fairy tale or fable, Satin will entrance readers with its overwhelming sense of longing as Satin searches for things that are blue…..

The illustrations are wonderful, full of layers of different blues, on some pages in broken crockery, and marvellously pieced together on the endpapers. Kids will love collecting their own pieces of blue to see how they can be fitted together and try mosaics for themselves.

You can read the whole review here.

Many thanks from both of us to the wonderful reviewers–it’s such a wonderful start to Satin’s journey to readers!