A lovable imaginary friend is looking for his place in the world, and finds it through his companionship with three different children who need him. TISH is a story of friendship, goodbyes and longing, and a tale of having the confidence to believe.
TISH
by Edwina Wyatt
illustrated by Odette Barberousse
Berbay Books Australia, May 2021
Ages: 7-9
“Where did you come from?” The beast wanted to explain that Nowhere was a place halfway between Curiosity and Courage. But he couldn’t. For that, he would need a map; the heart is a vast place where one can easily get lost.
This is the exquisite tale of an imaginary friend, desperate to be loved and the children whose beliefs make him real – at least for now. CBCA Honour Award-winning author Edwina Wyatt has created a heart-warming story of friendship, longing and courage. Once you know Tish, you won’t ever forget him.
Edwina Wyatt is an Australian children’s author. She grew up in Sydney and worked as a lawyer and a high school teacher before becoming a writer of books for young readers. Her debut junior fiction novel The Secrets of Magnolia Moon (Walker Books) was awarded the CBCA Honour Book of the Year for Younger Readers, and shortlisted for the Readings’ Children’s Book Prize. She has received three CBCA Notables for her picture books. Edwina lives in the Victorian High Country with her husband, two children, and too many animals.
Odette Barberousse est une autrice/illustratrice jeunesse française. D’aussi loin qu’elle s’en souvienne, elle a toujours adoré dessiner mais il lui aura fallu vingt ans et quelques détours pour réaliser que c’est tout ce qu’elle voulait faire de sa vie… C’est en devenant maman qu’elle s’est découvert une passion pour la littérature jeunesse. Son premier album, Elénor, paru chez MonsieurEd en 2020, a été entièrement réalisé à la main, aux crayons de couleur et crayons de plomb. Odette Barberousse vit en Bretagne.
Magnolia Moon is nine years old, likes Greek mythology, her best friend Imogen May (who understands the importance of questions like, “If you could be one fruit, any fruit, what would you be?”), wishing trees, and speaking crows. She knows instinctively that buffadillos are armadillos crossed with buffalos and believes there are walramingos living in her garden. She’s also the kind of person who can be entrusted with a great many secrets.