“Alice’s Shoe” by Julie Thorndyke and Jennifer Harrison beautifully narrates the childhood journey of Alice Betteridge, who later earned the title of ‘Australia’s Helen Keller’. The book is divided into two parts – the first half depicts Alice as a young girl, exploring her world through sight and sound, with colorful descriptions of vibrant hues and melodious sounds around her. However, when a fever strikes, Alice’s life takes a transformative turn as she loses her sight and hearing, and the narrative gracefully shifts to focus on her sense of touch and feel, such as when “the carpet in the parlour was soft and smooth beneath her toes.”

Alice’s disdain for wearing shoes becomes a part of her remarkable story, highlighting her strong connection with the world through her bare feet. Alice must fight to keep her shoes off and this determination is what leads to her being able to sign and communicate with those around her.

The book’s exquisite illustrations and the nostalgic feel transport readers into Alice’s world, fostering a heartfelt connection to her experiences. As readers delve into “Alice’s Shoe,” they witness the strength and determination of a young girl embracing her unique way of experiencing the world, leaving them inspired and moved by her incredible journey.

Alice’s Shoe is a lovely starting point for conversations with young children about history, illness, women and education. Thank you to @newsouthbooksau and @midnightsunpublishing for a reading copy.

Be Curious Books https://www.facebook.com/becuriousbooks 3 August 2023.

Midnight Sun Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922858139. (Age:5+)

Highly recommended.

Alice’s Shoe written by Julie Thorndyke tells the story of Alice Mary Betteridge (14 February 1901 – 1 September 1966) who was an Australian woman known as the first deafblind child to be educated in this country. Born in Sawyer’s Gully, NSW, Alice became deafblind at the age of two after a childhood illness.

The opening pages of this beautifully illustrated picture book with expressive and lyrical language, showcase the sounds and colours of the farm and surrounding forests experienced by a very young Alice: the green world of cedar forests, the golden world at sunrise, the crimson world at sunset, the noisy brown world of her brothers. One night though Alice falls ill with a fever. When she wakes everything is different for Alice. Sounds are muffled and images are dull. Alice is diagnosed in Sydney as deafblind and her mother takes her to the Deaf and Blind School at Darlinghurst where she is told to return when Alice is older. Back at home, Alice learns to rely on her sense of touch. In particular she loves the feel of textures beneath her feet and struggles to keep on her shoes.

At the age of seven, Alice returns to Sydney to begin at the Darlinghurst School. She is far away from what she knows and in particular cannot adjust to wearing shoes. Miss Reid, her teacher, makes four signs on Alice’s hand over and over again which Alice soon realises spells shoe. This is the first word Alice learns to finger sign and her learning begins. Alice masters the deafblind alphabet and then to read and write in Braille. 

The striking illustrations by Jennifer Harrison in soft muted hues are full of detail and in perfect harmony with the era of the story. The sepia toned endpapers showcase important aspects of the Alice’s life journey. The author has thoughtfully included the Deafblind Alphabet and UEB uncontracted (grade1) Braille symbols. This gentle story is a joy to read and one that may encourage further research on Alice Mary Betteridge and deafblindness.

Themes Disability, Deafblind, School, Family, Braille, Sign Language.

review by Kathryn Beilby

ReadPlus Reviews 1 July 2023

https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews