On My Island

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

“I live alone on my island. / All alone, with a wolf, two cats, three
ants and a ... / Swooping Bat. / There’s not much to do on my island.
/ We pass the time of day. / Nothing Happens. It’s hot. We drift
around and around ... / We often dream of wild adventures. /But it’s
no use. On my island, nothing ever happens.”

The above excerpt is a sample of yet another wonderful walk through the
wonky world of childhood by author/illustrator Marie-Louise Gay. As
usual, Gay takes a simple theme (in this case, a bored little boy) and
pits understated text against outlandish illustrations to produce a
hilarious synthesis. For example, when the young narrator simply states
“We eat a lot of fish,” Gay’s colorful artwork shows the boy’s
tiny island nearly crushed under a single huge fish while several
massive fish skeletons float nearby in the ocean. Volcanos, mermaids,
hurricanes, parachuting elephants, and icebergs also stop by the tiny
island, but the little boy still insists, “Nothing ever happens.”

If you already are a Marie-Louise Gay fan, here is another winner to
add to your collection. If you are not acquainted with Gay’s work,
this is a perfect place to start. Highly recommended.