Saved!!!

Saved by Lydia Williams
Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
Published by Allen and Unwin
Date:  1 July 2019
R.R.P. $19.99

Lydia Williams in goalkeeper for the Matilda’s and her message is clear, “ I just want to motivate and hopefully be a role model for kids so that they know they can do anything they set their mind to. And have fun whilst doing it too”. She has done this through her first book Saved!!!

There is a lot to love about this book and I appreciate that it has been written with the 5-8 year old range in mind.  Not only has Lydia celebrated Australia through her story being set in the outback and with Australian animals, but she also sends a strong message of motivation and believing in yourself.

What’s it about?
Saved is about little Lydia who spends a lot of time in the Australian outback and loves sport.  Her adventures include playing basketball with a kangaroo, Sprinting with an emu, footy with koala and then soccer with a whole bunch of outback animal friends.

Throughout the book Lydia learns about perseverance, believing in herself and the joy in which sport can bring.  Not before she looses heart and doesn’t believe that she can do any sport.  I like that the sport that helped her believe in herself was soccer because it is a team sport and that friends worked together towards a common goal – winning the game.

The illustrations are simple, using the red dirt colours of the Australian outback.  Each page is full of colour, the characters quirky and fun.

Parents and educators will find themes of friendship, perseverance, trying new things, and teamwork that are designed to encourage children inside and outside of school sport to give it a go.

Congratulations Lydia Williams on your first book, children across Australia are bound to be encouraged by this story.

Thank you Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.