Two proud territorial kings go to war over a prize ball that each wants desperately to retain in their power. The feuding rulers fight over the precious object until the wise Ushi facilitates a compromise, reminding them that they are in fact brothers and therefore should be friends.

Abel says the relationship between his two sons inspired the tale. “All little boys fight with their brothers over their favourite toys, and parents often need to find a way to break up the battle. The two kings represent my sons Ricky and Jake, and the Ushi is inspired by my wife, who has managed to sort out many a squabble between the boys."

The story is depicted as an epic tale through Van Heerden's sweeping illustrations of two nations going to war. “I wanted to show the scale and grandeur of the story though the drawings. I also wanted a strong sense of fantasy and children's imagination to come through, so I used bright colours and organic shapes”.

Toys such as a favourite teddy bear and a beloved stuffed giraffe are given mammoth proportions, and Van Heerden uses fruit and vegetable shapes for many of the characters, lending a quirky, child-like sense of humour to the illustrations.

When asked about his reasons for writing a children's story, Abel says “At this stage of my life, I wanted to capture a moment in time for my family, as the boys are growing up so fast. I'd like to tell other children the same stories that I told to my kids.”

Abel and Van Heerden agree that working in the advertising environment has also inspired the book in some ways. “Ogilvy encourages creativity in our personal lives, regardless of whether our role in the agency is officially a ‘creative' one or not.”

‘Canoot and the Pickle' can be ordered from the website www.canootandthepickle.com. It will soon be on sale in selected bookstores. A limited edition series of handwritten prints will also be produced. Twenty percent of audited profits from sale of the book will be donated to orphans affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

[27 Jun 2008 08:50]

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