"The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley" is a sophisticated postmodern picture book that can be read on a number of levels, from a funny story about the differences in the life expectations of humans and rats, to a satirical exposé of our materialistic society. It is also a book about gratitude – of being happy with who you are and what you have.
Tongue firmly lodged in his cheek, Colin Thompson tells the story of Riley the rat, who lives in a warm nest with his family and has everything he needs in life. Thompson contrasts this with the lives of human beings, who are never happy with who they are or what they have. The sometimes-heavy-handed messaging is leavened with humour, both textural and visual.
The digital illustrations are attributed to Thompson’s alter ego Amy Lissiat (an acronym for ‘It’s my alias’). They are rendered in Thompson’s somewhat gothic style, with luminous saturated colours, cartoon-style figures, strong outlining and mixed-media texturing. There is something Monty Pythonesque about the black humour, exaggerated characters and inclusion of yuck factors in the imagery.
The combination of a provocative text and over-the-top illustrations won the book the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award in 2006. This title raises philosophical questions about what it means to be human in a cheeky, charming, thought-provoking way that makes it a perfect conversation starter for older readers.
2006 The Children’s Book Council of Australia – Picture Book of the Year
Picture Books for Older Readers
