By Christine McFaul
The Secret Fawn is a quiet picture book by Canadian children’s book creators Kallie George and Elly MacKay.
The story begins with a missed moment when the protagonist, who is young (appears to be about four) and therefore slower to dress than the rest of her family, isn’t with them when they spot a deer. The disappointment of which is sure to be understood and felt in the hearts of all young readers.
“This morning, Mama saw a deer. Dad and Sara saw it too.”
This moment is closely followed by a poignant montage of other experiences the protagonist has missed because she was either too young or too small to fully participate. So, she heads out with a sugar cube, determined to find the deer on her own. The story then leads the reader on a soft and simple forest adventure. In the end, it isn’t the deer the protagonist finds, but something even more special.
“A fawn. A baby deer. Golden and soft like the sunlight.”
There is a moment of recognition that the fawn is “little like me” before both young ones head back to their mamas. The writing is gentle, spare, and beautifully brought to life by MacKay’s illustrations.
For anyone unfamiliar with MacKay’s work, it is incredible, and I urge you to check it out Butterfly Park and Red Sky at Night, which are two of my personal favourites. Created using paper, ink, light and camera, the result is reminiscent of vintage puppet theatres and a standout in the current picture book market. In The Secret Fawn, MacKay pairs her signature illustration techniques with a dreamy dawn palette; buttery yellows, golds, pastel pinks, and forest greens. The resulting images are light-filled and ethereal. For me, they are the star of this book.
The Secret Fawn is a lovely bedtime read, perfect for easing little ones to sleep. I think it is particularly suited to readers on the youngest end of the picture book age range.
Thank you, Penguin Random House, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.