Pea Pod Lullaby

In poetic language and soft watercolor illustrations, this gentle lullaby of a tale evokes a story about finding refuge.

Escaping flames and barbed wire, a mother, a baby, a boy, and a dog flee for their lives, climbing into a small sailboat to set off to sea. A polar bear, too, has come adrift. When will they find land? Who will welcome them in? Where will they call home? With lyrical narration and child-friendly illustrations, Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King create a comforting and timely story about courage, endurance, and hope — and what we can be for one another.Millard writes in the prayerful voice of a child addressing a parent, or a loved one addressing the beloved...With a story that suggests a flight from violence but does not dwell on it, adults can explain as much or as little to young readers as they are ready to hear.
—Publishers Weekly

Though the sophisticated and ambiguous text makes “lullaby” a misnomer, this is, nevertheless, a powerful catalyst for discussions of war and its consequences and for ways to help those in need. Best shared one-on-one.
—School Library Journal

They can even speak for all refugees. “I / You / We,” the text reads as King illustrates our globe itself, suspended in space, on the final page. It’s as if the very words in this book bloom; with each page turn, they open their arms wider to include more of the world. It’s an enigmatic, wondrous poem, this text.
—Kirkus Reviews (blog)

Lyrical.
—Kirkus ReviewsGlenda Millard is an award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults, including the young adult novel The Stars at Oktober Bend and the picture books Isabella’s Garden, illustrated by Rebecca Cool, and Once a Shepherd, illustrated by Phil Lesnie. Glenda Millard lives in Australia.

Stephen Michael King has illustrated, written, and designed many books for children, including The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard. He lives in Australia.