Laila Savolainen’s images are full of expression.
I am extremely pleased with Laila Savolainen first illustration in the book Joshua and Stranger Danger. Her work is so full of expression and fits the story perfectly. Laila is an intuitive artist and has put her heart and soul into bringing Joshua and Stranger Danger to life.
The images arrived two days before Red Shirt Day for Daniel Morecombe.
I was amazed to see Laila had depicted Joshua with a red shirt. Laila lives in South Australia and her busy work load leaves little time for watching television. I asked her if she was aware of Red Shirt Day , or if the red shirt was the result of her intuition. She replied that she’d felt very strongly that the shirt must be red. She was thrilled to know the connection of the red shirt with the stranger danger message. Day for Daniel was held on 28th October 16 and all children are encouraged to wear a red shirt in memory of Daniel Morecombe who disappeared in 2003. His abduction and subsequent murder prompted his parents to form the Daniel Morecombe Foundation. The focus of the foundation is to teach child safety in schools and the wider community.
The story begins….
Joshua is at school where lessons are finished for the day. He is among the last of the children to be collected from school. His mum works and cannot take him home until after 4.00 pm. He loves school and is happy there, however today his big brother is not at school and he is feeling a little lost. Joshua is seven and the presence of his nine year old brother Ethan, is comforting. Laila has captured his conflicting emotions. In the background is his friend Aden who is about to leave for home with his mum. Joshua decides to accompany Aden and his mum to the side street where she has parked her car.
Joshua knows he is not allowed to leave the school grounds unless he with his mum or dad who are noted on the school register as the only people with permission to collect him. At this moment, he has no intention of disobeying the rules.
