Scary books for children can be memorable and appealing especially when they simultaneously frighten and comfort. ‘The Hairy one’ is a good example. There is a slight apprehension upon noticing the title, then hearing words that conjure up strong images. This book uses both strategies. First there is the repetitive refrain: ‘Who’s afraid of the Hairy One? Not me!’ Then Elaine Russell’s boldly coloured illustrations capture both the spooky feel of the story, and also the simultaneous sense of security as listening children gather around the dark night’s campfire with protective adults close by.
We see that the listening children are snuggled up in blankets, gathered around the campfire and surrounded by adults. The artwork evokes strong emotions with their dark colours and night time scenes. Uncle tells them the story of the Hairy One. With scary stories, there must be the ultimate moment of delicious, but scary description, like here – ‘big eyes like saucers, a hairy nose, hairy fingers and hairy toes, tiny feet and great big hands, runs through the night across the land’. Now that illustration with red eyes and hairy hands, set against a black page, is definitely scary! Anticipation builds as Uncle asks if the hairy one is near. In answer to the question, ‘Are you ready?’ the young listeners repeat, ‘Yeah … we’re not scared!’ The young let us know, they are okay with the repeated refrain: ‘The story starts and we lean in close, a little bit scary, but that’s what we like the most.’
Illustrator, Elaine Russell was a Kamileroi woman born in Tingha, Gamillaroi Country, Northern NSW in 1941. She was a well-known painter and illustrator whose artwork is widely held in galleries around the world.
Series title: ‘Growing Up Strong’ and Happy to be me’ is the collective series title for eight picture books, two teacher resource books and digital audio material. The texts in the book series are adaptations of songs on the ‘Happy to be me’ CD.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
