The recognisable hand written font style of the title instantly lets us know we have another Oliver Jeffers piece of art and story in our hands. And this time it’s for all ages, and thinkers, and storytellers – with a determined hopeful message for our future.

Begin Again is a continuation of Jeffers study of the human condition. Who we are as human beings, and how we can be the best we can – to others and our planet. The first book that began to explore this was Here We Are – written for his first child, his son, Harland. As a first time parent, the world suddenly seemed a different place. Here We Are is introducing humankind and the world to his child who is in effect a blank slate.

Another step in the understanding of the world around us is Meanwhile, Back on Earth – putting our squabbles, and perceptions of own space into perspective.

Begin Again sweeps all of that up, taking us back in human history. Way, waaaaay back. To the discovery of fire. No wait. Even further back to when we emerged from the oceans. We discovered and used fire, found the energy to make tools, build shelter, find food. This becomes ideas, creativity, progress through the ages – all stemming from the simple things in life. Warmth, shelter, food and each other. The creativity became art and story, bringing us together and then being passed on.

Somehow these basic things have become overshadowed. The little things seem to have been superseded with bigger, better, more and how to get even more. Time seems to have sped up. Community, connection and kindness have increasingly become wealth, individuality, and growth at any cost.

Borders are now well established, between towns, counties and countries and ‘us and them‘ exist like never before. But it’s not until a group of astronauts shared what they learnt when looking back at our planet as an object sitting in space, that we could understand something. From space, countries, borders and fences don’t exist. There is land or water. There are no them and theirs. There is only our home – for all of us.

“With distance comes perspective.”

The illustration style we know and love shares these thoughts and questions for our future in a positive, hopeful way. Humans are the masters of adaptation, and we can adapt for our new future – to ensure our future, not only for ourselves or our children, but for their children’s, children’s children’s children and beyond.

This book’s message and reason is clear to all who read it, without any preaching, doom or negativity – in fact, I found it to celebrate humankind in its adaptability and creativity to find solutions. This is further explored in a personal essay by Oliver Jeffers in the rear of the book.

“This book is the culmination of that observation and optimism.”

Let this multi award winning author and artist take you on a journey, and shoot you into any number of possible futures we can all dream up – together.

Author / Illustrator – Oliver Jeffers

All ages

(2023, Harper Collins, Earth, Humankind, Our future, The simple things in life, Essay, Hope, Creativity, Warmth, Shelter, Food, Community, Story, Stories, Sharing, Connection, Us not them, People)