Vega has always seen them. Strange creatures in her home, on the way to school and everywhere she goes. There is a bear in the bath, tiny horses, and creatures with wings, among dozens of weird animals. Her father is very worried about her, and her doctor has told her she is getting too old for imaginary friends now she is nine.

But she knows they are real. Luckily her beloved grandfather sees them too. At least he never questions it. Vega loves spending time with Hector who always calls her his ‘small figment of my imagination.’

One day at school, her teacher Ms Hum announces that this week’s Fun Hour was going to be choosing a letter from a basket she has ready. The letters are from other children, looking for pen pals. Vega knew exactly which one to choose, because like the animals around her that no one else could see, this letter was behaving differently from the others. She is very excited to read that it’s from a girl in a circus!

She couldn’t wait to go home and tell her father about her new pen pal. He needed a bit of cheering up, as he has been behaving a little strange lately. But Vega’s plan is soon waylaid by a stranger’s car outside their home. This is the very first day she meets a woman named Viola.

The more Viola visits, the more her father changes. Their home is changing too, and Vega is very worried. She is telling Hector about it one day when a strange boy appears from the end of Hector’s garden. Vega recognises him from school.

Nelson is also deemed an oddity at school. He likes nothing better than collecting interesting facts about… everything! Another thing he collects is laughs – and he has dozens recorded. As Vega gets to know Nelson, she tells him about her increasing worries for her father and how she isn’t sure how to fix him. Only her letters from her pen pal take her mind off it for a while. Living in a circus sounded wonderful. It’s the circus that finally gives Vega an idea to heal her father’s heart.

But it means leaving the only place they’ve ever known. Giraffe Island is a truly special place, and far from the mainland. Can they really leave?

Giraffe Island has been translated by Julia Marshall for New Zealand’s Gecko Press and it’s an absolutely imaginative delight! Originally published in Finland, it has been translated into 14 languages, and I’m so glad it came to New Zealand.

Meeting main character Vega is a treat, as she sees the world differently to everyone but her grandfather, Hector. Hector himself is an interesting character, with his love for his grand daughter and his amazing garage with all manner of marvels inside. Imagine seeing strange animals, large and small wherever you go – but like no animals we’ve ever seen?

This story is primarily about family, imagination, love, change and perception. It is interspersed with truly stunning pencil illustrations in double page spreads, single full pages, and more of creatures among the pages and text.

Just a couple of pages inside the front cover, you will meet all the characters – both human and giant dog. This dog is very special to the story, but you’ll have to venture into Giraffe Island to meet her.

Wow! Absolutely loved it.

Author – Sofia Chanfreau

Illustrator – Amanda Chanfreau

Age – 8+

Winner of the Finlandia Junior Prize

Read an interview with the creators of Giraffe island here

(2024, Gecko Press, Imagination, Imaginative, Award winning, Animals, Adventure, Strange Creatures, Ice Queen, Circus, Pen Pals, Writing Letters, Grandfather, Missing Mum, Family, Identity, Perception, Magical Realism, Search, Magical Island, Paraphenalium, Sisters collaboration, Finland, Fantasy, Mystery Love)