Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault review – the ‘Bloomsberry’ girls

The novelist Virginia Woolf once described the bond she shared with her sister, the artist Vanessa Bell, as a “close conspiracy”. When she took her own life in 1941 she left two suicide notes behind: one for her husband and one for her beloved Vanessa.

Now with beautiful splashes of colour and witty, uplifting text, the Canadian duo Kyo Maclear and illustrator Isabelle Arsenault imagine the secret childhood world the sisters created, while delicately exploring the theme of depression, in this exceptional picture book for ages 4+, finally published in Britain after its acclaimed release in Canada in 2012.

It’s a tale to delight literary-minded adults as much as the kids they’re tucking in. “One day my sister Virginia woke up feeling wolfish,” the story opens, as we learn that Virginia is in one of her dark moods. Vanessa tries everything to lift her sister’s spirits – treats, cats, pulling funny faces – but nothing will coax this shadowy creature with wolf’s ears from under the bedcovers. Even the soft toys have downturned mouths in Arsenault’s world of silhouettes and muted colours.

Finally, Virginia growls: “If I were flying now I might feel better.” Her desired destination? “Bloomsberry”. Suddenly the tale bursts gloriously into full colour as Vanessa picks up her art box and begins creating. A “perfect place” emerges on Virginia’s walls – all flowers, trees and iced buns – reminiscent of Max’s bedroom transformation in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. Before long the sisters are collaborating, spinning stories and we see Virginia smile for the first time, a pointy oversized bow sitting jauntily on her head in place of the wolf’s ears. How are you feeling? asks Vanessa. “‘Much better,’” says Virginia, “looking a bit sheepish.”