The Naming of Tishkin Silk

Kingdom of Silk #1

by Glenda Millard, Caroline Magerl (Illustrator)

A heart-warming, tender junior novel about family, love, loss and home by the author of the wonderful WHEN THE ANGELS CAME. Griffin has a secret in his heart that nobody else knows - until he meets Layla. Griffin Silk is an uncommon sort of boy, from an uncommon sort of family, and when he meets Layla, a princess with a daisy-chain crown, he knows he's found a friend. So Griffin shares his inner thoughts with Layla and together they find a way to deal with his secret. Just like the mythical beast whose name he bears, Griffin has uncommon courage and the heart of a lion. But it will take a friend like Layla to help him find the answers to his biggest questions. this unique and tender novel is the first book in Glenda Millard's award-winning Kingdom of Silk series, and will touch the heart of every reader.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Australia, Death, Realistic Fiction, Family, Middle Grade

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Glenda Millard was born in the Goldfields region of Central Victoria and has lived in the area all her life. The communities she has lived in and the surrounding landscapes have provided a rich source of inspiration and settings for many of her stories.

It was not until Glenda's four children became teenagers that she began to write in her spare time. She is now a full-time writer.

Apart from writing, some of Glenda's favorite things are Jack Russell Terriers, hot-air ballooning, making and eating bread and pizza in the wood-fired oven that her husband built in the back yard, and reading books which either make her laugh or cry.

Glenda has published six picture books, three junior fiction titles, short stories and two young adult titles. 'The Naming of Tishkin Silk' was shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Reviews

[Caridee Chau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching narrative about a family whose surname is "Silk". In that family, the little boy in the family, Griffin Silk, has troubles at school with bullies until a girl named Layla comes along. Then, he finds out his baby sister being born, and he is named "Tishkin Silk", hence the name of this story. This wonderful story expresses through words that people can recover from painful comings and goings as long as they have the help of their friends and family and other loved ones.

[Miffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book so many times - sometimes to myself and often to Year 5s. Every. single. time I get to the bit where Tishkin discovers what has really happened, and I just cry and cry and cry - even when I'm reading it to kids. We used to have a code phrase for when I started to get upset. The kids would say to me, "Suck it up, Mrs F," and I would, and we would go on.
This is really one of the most moving, heartfelt, beautifully written, divine books you will ever read.
I recommend it to anyone who is an independent reader - from primary school age to adult.

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffin Silk lives with many sisters in the Australian countryside. But his life has changed a lot: his Mum and his little sister are no longer at home, and he's begun school after being educated at home. Things begin to get better when he meets a new friend, Layla. This is sweet story set in the Australian countryside, that explores grief and change, and the joy of imagination.

[Rosie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books. Ever. Originally, my mother gave it to me to read, along with the next few volumes in the Kingdom of Silk series, and I fell deeply in love. With all of the characters, even the settings and especially all the emotions that wound themselves into my heart as I read. Glenda writes with such gentleness, with intricate attention to the things that really matter, and captures wisps of beauty from the world and its inhabitants, weaves them into a warm tapestry and lays this on the page with such a feather touch. When I first read this book, I just sobbed and sobbed. The sadness is as beautiful as the happiness and hope.

Since then I’ve read this book aloud, in instalments, to several classes of 8-10 year olds. I was nervous to do so, as it deals with very real and closely held personal pains, particularly would about with grief, for the Silk family, and I was worried about what this might bring up for the children I was reading it to. I need not have been worried. The children were completely rapt, engaged and respectful. We talked openly about the plot as we read. More than a year later if they hear mention of the book, their faces light up, full of the beauty of Glenda’s story.

This series, beginning with this book, has spoken to my soul in a way that few others have.

[poppy jox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very touching and heartfelt narrative. I’ve read the entire Kingdom of Silk series, and this is the book that first got me hooked. The way the author conveys such deep and meaningful themes through a child’s point of view is incredibly powerful. It feels as though we, too, are children - seeing the world through Griffin’s eyes and slowly piecing together his experiences and emotions. This story is gentle yet profound, and it lingers with you long after finishing. I highly recommend reading the entire Kingdom of Silk series.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this again after a random thought reminded me they existed

[Michaela Piritidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love children's books that aren't afraid to deal with complex topics.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally want to hug this book and yes, I did cry. Griffin, the main character, comes from a magical family. He was named after a mythical beast, afterall. The story opens with him going to school for the first time ever. He's not fitting in so well and it's really hard because all of his other siblings are attending upper school. He's alone and way misunderstood. You soon discover that his mom and baby sister have disappeared. You don't know why, but you know that it's a great source of pain for Griffin. Up until starting school, his mother had taught him at home. So well in fact, he's placed in 3rd grade with students who are older than him. Oh, and did I mention that Griffin was born on February 29th? Leap year? That's just one more factor in his uncommon demeanor.

His first day at school is a disaster, but he did catch the attention of one girl named Layla who he meets in the woods later that day. She's wearing a crown of daisies and Griffin immediately pegs her as a princess. They become fast friends and soon Griffin doesn't feel so out of place anymore. In fact, Layla slowly earns Griffin's trust and uncovers why his mom and his baby sister have disappeared. I can't give it all away, or there'll be no reason to read the book!

It's a sweet story of friendship, magic, family, loss, and healing. This book caught my eye on the shelf because of its sweet cover and title. The artwork throughout matches the storyline perfectly. It's not the kind of book that your average child will grab from the shelf. It doesn't have any cartoon or humor appeal, but it's the kind of book that a teacher, librarian, or parent could read aloud to instill strong character, imagination, love, and true friendship. I would recommend this book for reading aloud to grades 2 - 4 or children 7 to 11. It's a tiny little book with a big punch. Well, "punch" is not the right word, but you get my point.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is not just about The Naming of Tishkin Silk but two other books in The Kingdom of Silk series: Layla, Queen of Hearts and Perry Angel’s Suitcase.


Tender and lyrical prose, gentle and almost achingly poignant moments and a golden daffy-down-dilly air pervading the stories: make sure you grab your tissue box before reading the Kingdom of Silk series.

Although I've rated them highly, I admit to some doubts. Because I'm not sure these stories for children are aimed at the right age group.

Don’t get me wrong. Every story in the Kingdom of Silk series is exquisite and almost incomparably beautiful. Each of them speaks wholeness and healing and wonder to the soul. I needed several tissues in each story to wipe away the tears: whether it was over Griffin’s misunderstanding that his baby sister had gone away because he didn’t love her enough or Perry’s mute solitude as he strives to understand why his mother would leave him in a suitcase stolen from a thrift shop and go to heaven without him.

Each tale is a like a toasty warm hug with a mug of hot chocolate.

However, as I recall myself in Middle Primary school — an avid reader with a taste for everything from Knight Crusader to Anne of Green Gables — I wonder if I would have understood the velvet subtleties of these stories. I’m a reader who likes to be one of the characters, not watch them from the outside. However I found it hard to fit myself inside the mind and emotions of a seven or eight-year-old character as I read these stories.

Instead of being stories of hope for children, I suspect their massive appeal lies in the fact they are really wildly-nostalgic stories for adults about how broken childhoods (and sometimes even broken adulthoods) should have been.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silk family are large and attuned to each other and the world around them. They live on the fringe a little, love to dress up, embrace imagination and surround themselves with animals and love.

Narrated by 8 yr old Griffin this sad, but celebratory, tale is an exceptional read.

Having just finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and finding it completely unsatisfactory as a story and with an unbelievable 9 yr old's voice The Naming of Tishkin Silk was a stunning contrast.

This is the only book I've come across so far that deals with loss due to cot death - and it is extremely well done.

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving story about a young boy, Griffin Silk who is learning to deal with loss and loneliness and longing. He lives with his father, five sisters and his grandma; his mother and new-born baby sister have 'gone away' and the depth of his grief colours his whole world. He goes to school for the first time, only to be bullied by bigger boys, but he makes one good friend in brave Layla, who is a spirited companion.
I was moved to tears reading this book - not something that happens to me a lot - but Griffin and Layla's friendship was sensitively portrayed, and the end effect is a thing of beauty. The story ends on a positive note that gives hope in the face of grief, a balm for Griffin's pain, and for our own.

[Penni Russon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this for Fred for Christmas, snuck it away from her on Boxing Day and read it. It's a really beautiful story, set in a real world swollen with magical possibility, but all emerging from the imaginary and the whimsical (but not in the least bit twee). Very resonant, quietly powerful. I envy kids getting to read these books, I would have adored them.

[Rachel]

This book melted my heart, it was so sad

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this together in one teary sitting . Beautiful language, exquisite values & if we hadn't had the next in the series to hand, then we'd have just turned back to the start to reread.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that will walk with me for the rest of my life.
I am spellbound.

[Dianne Wolfer]

This beautiful book is tender and magical and sad.
The writing is heartfelt and masterful. I’m so glad I’ve read it at last.

[Norah Moraes · Rating 5 out of 5]

this story made me cry.

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Naming of Tishkin Silk is as heart-warming as it is heartbreaking.

Griffin Silk is the second-to-youngest child in his family, with five older sisters who are nicknamed the Rainbow Girls. He lives with his sisters, his father and his grandmother, Nell, in a house surrounded by a beautiful landscape. His mother and youngest sister, Tishkin, aren’t with them, but every day Griffin hopes for their return, especially when he starts at his new school and finds himself in situations he’s never been in before. Until he meets Princess Layla, and the two strike up a beautiful friendship.

There are so many things to love about The Naming of Tishkin Silk, the first being Glenda Millard’s beautiful writing. She captures the voice of young Griffin so well, moving from the childlike to the poignant in the way only children can be and as a reader, I felt like I was three with Griffin as he tries to find the answers he’s looking for. The characters were spot on: the sadness and the hope that they all have was clear. Nell was a wonderfully magical grandmother - the rock for the family - and Ben, Griffin’s father, is trying to keep the family unit together. The Rainbow Girls were bright and cheerful, and all of them welcomed Layla into their lives.

There’s something enchanting about books like this: whimsical tales telling stories about sad truths and reality that grip readers and keep them wanting more. The Naming of Tishkin Silk will tug at your heart-strings (you might even cry) in a good way. This beautiful tale goes such a long way to explain and how you keep going after tragedy.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been languishing on my library shelves untouched and unloved over the past few years. So I thought I would read this first book, in order to be able to promote it and recommend it to students.

We start by meeting Griffin Silk and in the short first chapter learn that he is "an uncommon boy", and indeed his whole family seems a little different from those around them. The first chapter sets up familiar problems and poses questions in the reader's mind. While written in 2003, this story felt much older, like it was set in the 1970s or 80s.

Somewhat surprisingly, I found that this was a realistic fiction book. Something about the illustrations, the "Kingdom of Silk", the mention of Princess Layla & Griffin's own name being linked to a mythical beast on the back blurb made me expect a fantasy novel.

I really enjoyed this short exploration of Griffin Silk, his family and his friend Layla. The story is filled with emotion and genuinely surprised me towards the end. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I am not sure how my young readers will respond. I will check out more from the series once I return to school.

[Ayacchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought it was a fantasy. Turned out, it was more about an uncommon boy named Griffin and his 'uncommon' family, and his new friend, 'Princess' Layla.

I read this book because my sister bought me the #4 and #5 from the BBW, so I need to know the story before reading my physical books. It's an easy read, a simple yet deep plot about loss, family, and friendship. How Griffin has to face the bullies at his new school, facing the fact that his mom and his baby sister had 'gone away', and be open up about his own feeling.

Loss is a scary thing. Once we say it out loud, it becomes real. And I understand why Griffin chose to rephrase his words and pretend. But I also learned that sometime, we need to talk about the grief we feel. To validate our feeling, that it's normal to grief over something, and to open our eyes that other people may feel the same. That we aren't alone being swallowed by the grief.

[Kai Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Naming of Tishkin Silk is a book about dealing with loss and bring family together.

Although the premise of this book may seem a bit simple I think that it is a good book for younger readers. When I first read this book I never really grasped the depth of it, since it was ultimately about losing a loved one and trying to help others recover. I really enjoyed this book when I was in middle school and I think it is a good book for younger audiences to really grasp how death can be for us to someone we had known.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in rural Australia, the Silk family is a large and colorful (the Silk girls were named after colors). Griffin is the youngest member, an uncommon boy. He’s going through a rather difficult time. His mother and baby sister have gone away, he is attending school for the first time, and he has a secret in his heart. Thankfully he meets Layla, a daisy crown wearing princess, who helps him learn about loss and the value of family and friends. Barton’s simple illustrations add warmth to Millards touching characters.

[Fabyalexaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely. A very gentle and pleasing way of writing, I fell in love with Griffin & his family.
A marvelous and loving way to approach serious matters such as death & mental illness.

Will remain as one of my top picks.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful, stunning read!!! Sooo, so clever and clap-your-hands delightful is Ms. Millard's descriptives and flow that I simply gobbled this book up! I imagine this story will remain with me forever and I anticipate owning my own copy. Bravo!!!

[Bex Allum · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great family! Being unique and different is something to celebrate today. I like the magic of the daisy chains, something my own children make. Celebrating the life of a lost child is so important and recognising that it is difficult for a family to cope with is important to discuss.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my 11-year-old daughter. I really liked it - it is beautifully written and such a sweet story of friendship and coping with loss. However, my daughter (who is the target audience of this book series) wasn't captivated by the story and found it a bit slow and boring.

[Matthew Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A completely different book than what I was expecting. Despite this, it is a wonderful book about loss and how to deal with it as a family and as a child. Therefore it would be great for a PSHE lesson.

[Amanda Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in middle school and still remembered it in my 20’s, tracked it down and bought it! It’s such a beautiful, touching story that’s stuck with me. Love how it’s from the child’s perspective, and makes you really think about the impact of tragedy on a child. LOVE this book.

[Sarah Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story - perfect for school libraries.