The Blurb On The Back:

Let’s gather all our tools for a start.

For putting together … and taking apart.

A father and daughter set about laying the foundations for their life together.  Using their own special tools, they get to work, building memories to cherish, a home to keep them safe and love to keep them warm.

A rare and enduring story about a parent’s boundless love, life’s endless opportunities and all we need to build a together future.

From internationally best-selling and world-renowned picture-book creator and visual artist Oliver Jeffers. 

You can order What We’ll Build by Oliver Jeffers from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

The Review (Cut For Spoilers):

An unnamed father and his young daughter decide to build a life together, both the physical house and a future and a life together that’s filled with love.

Acclaimed author-illustrator Oliver Jeffers latest picture book is dedicated to his daughter Mari and Granny Marie and is an utterly charming and emotional story of love and togetherness that’s beautifully illustrated and which I found very moving.  This is the first book by Jeffers that I’ve read but I would definitely check out his other work based on this.

There is so much in this book that’s just beautifully done, from the opening illustration of the different sized hands of father and daughter to a scene where they sit down for tea with their enemies so they can all say sorry ad where everyone they meet has gathered around a fire.  There’s so much skill here and every illustration as a lot of charm – my favourite being a pointy eared fox who engages in some thievery.  I also loved the pictures of the father and his daughter with Jeffers really packing a lot of character in for them both.

The text is very moving as well with Jeffers subtly drawing out the various ways that you can build things together and what the consequences of that can sometimes be.

Jeffers is one of those author-illustrators who I have heard a lot about by reputation but never previously checked out (not for any specific reason, just that I’ve never had occasion to).  I was really bowled over by this book – it packs an awful lot in through the combination of pictures and words and I found it very moving.  I will definitely check out his other work on the strength of this and I think it would be a lovely thing for parents to read with their small children. 

WHAT WE’LL BUILD was released in the United Kingdom on 6th October 2020.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.