This holiday season we're hoping the literature focus for inspiring story will be on James Norbury's beautiful The Journey. Unlike previous years Holiday spirt book of choice The Journey is not winter themed, however, the message and gorgeous artwork that fill this well written novel fully embody the holiday and New Year's spirt and certainly deserve recognition for the inspirational message.
Norbury originally created the Big Panda and Tiny Dragon drawings for publication online, however this enviorment didn't leave Norbury the space for the longer narrative that was blosoming between the artworks, opening the doors for The Journey, featuring the gorgeous pictures seen below. Unlike many inspirational books of it's kind Norbury's story is lead by the artwork, with each image's design furthering the story and emotional impact. Thanks to this The Journey is not only a beautiful and impactful written story, but a visually astonding one.
From the blurb;
''We shall go on a journey, across the river...'
'Join Big Panda and Tiny Dragon as they set off on an extrodinary adventure in this companion to the global bestselling phenonmenon Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.
'Although content in their temple high up in the mountains, Tiny Dragon realizes that somehting feels incomplete. So it is that they decide to make a journey together, to new and distant lands. As they encounter dangers and challenges, they learn that everything they need is already inside them and that change, thogh sometimes scary, is possible and, with patience, can lead to better things.
''If we have to be lost,' Said Big Panda, 'I am glad it is with you...''
With charming characters The Journey is the perfect story to end your year and kick of the next. A strong message of self worth, friendship and trust carrys The Journey's story and will leave readers feeling enlightened.
We give The Journey Four Stars
ISBN - 978-0-241-58538-2 Hardback Cover Price - £16.99
First published in Great Britain by Michael Joseph, 2022