The Incredible Freedom Machines

What if there was a special contraption that could be discovered to transport us anywhere and everywhere..? What if it was hard to come by, difficult to unearth, slow at first…and somewhat weather-dependent…? This debut picture book by Kirli Saunders, a Gunai writer from Australia, follows a young girl’s quest to get her own freedom machine as she grows up “in a world sewn together by boundaries.” And, while unstated in the lyrical text, the last image explains the metaphor. The freedom machine is READING!

Matt Ottley is a prolific Australian children’s illustrator whose work here is spectacular. We see our protagonist sailing above graffiti laden trailor parks and into deep blue seas, spotted pink pig a steadfast companion. We also see the tensions from encountering a freedom machine the wrong size and how hard they can be to navigate.

From beginning to end, this image of reading holds true and will be a superb talking point with audiences of all ages as well as the intended younger set. Look for new work from Kirli Saunders: this kind of originality heralds a bright future in the world of children’s publishing!