Free To A Good Home

Colin Thompson (author/illustrator)

Random House, Australia: 2009

ISBN: 9781741663181

Genres: picture book

Issues: family, security

Mr and Mrs Smith are a charmingly vague couple who collect things. Anything, actually, on the principle that it might come in handy - one day. Despite this habit, they are somewhat disconcerted when their son and daughter ‘collect' an old lady they find hanging around a shopping centre. You can't just collect a person, can you?

Surely someone, somewhere is missing her? Apparently not. And it soon becomes evident that Granny - the only name she'll admit to - is quite happy in her new home. When the family discovers that Granny can cook without burning things (unlike Mrs Smith) and fix things without wrecking them (unlike Mr Smith) and remembers about homework (unlike either parent) - well, it seems a match made in heaven.

This is a story about belonging and the need everyone has to feel loved and needed. Inspired by Thompson's own somewhat difficult childhood, Free to a Good Home expresses a longing for security, place and purpose. While Granny is not bound by sexist roles - she fixes the mower as easily as she bakes a chocolate cake - Thompson may perhaps be unaware that he does rather cast grandparents in the role of permanent caregivers whose lives revolve around their family. It would have been less stereotypical to have Granny disappearing once a week or so for some unknown adventure that challenged agism - skydiving, perhaps, or fighting dragons. Nonetheless, this is a charming, whimsical story that will appeal to most readers. Illustrations make good use of computer drawing techniques and have the characteristic dark humour of Thompson's work.