Trinidadian author Amanda Smyth has made her debut into the world of children's books. Her picture book, The Blessing of Charlie Sand (Caribbean Reads, 2014), is a tale set in Trinidad about the friendship of two boys–and maybe some magic.
Illustrated in vivid colour by Colin Bootman, the book has as its main characters Bubba and Sirus. They swim in the river by starlight, polish shells and collect feathers together. Their youthful bromance is interrupted by the arrival in town of one Charlie Sand, leaving Sirus to wonder why his best friend no longer cares to hang out with him.
Without being preachy or treacly, the story captures the kind of dilemma one often faces in friendship at any age. It offers a nicely Zen solution to Sirus's problem, with a touch of mystery that will strike just the right note for younger readers.
Recommended for readers aged six to nine years.–LAA