Bold black, white, red, and yellow pictures show a chicken preparing to lay an egg, laying and sitting on the egg, watching the egg hatch, and nurturing its new baby chick. The story is simple, and the most fascinating part is when the pages alternate from what is happening outside of the egg to what is happening inside as the baby develops. The back of the edition that I reviewed (copyright 1969) says "This is a book without words. The child applies the words. This technique was tested on groups of children in New York City who experienced the excitement of the modern way - the discovery approach. Iela and Enzo Mari are two artist-designers who have devoted much time to the field of visual education." L'Uovo e La Gallina [The Chicken and the Egg] by Iela & Enzo Mari. Italy: Babalibri, 2004. [9788883620942]
Originally published in 1970, the illustrations in this book are old-fashioned. This may appeal to some readers, but be a turnoff to others. After getting up on the wrong side of the bed, Johnny starts his day in a grumpy mood. He behaves poorly and is reprimanded by his mother. Other unpleasant and unfortunate events follow until Johnny finds a coin. He contemplates buying himself some candy, but elects to purchase some flowers for his mom instead. This repairs their relationship and presumably turns the day around. This book did not resonate well with me, but I imagine others will have different perspectives. Johnny's Bad Day by Edward Ardizzone. United Kingdom: Nissan, 2008. [9780370015330]
This basic board book shows what life is like on a farm in the country. The series that this book is part of was created to help children look at the world around them. Books in the series use images so that children can see scenes of everyday life and recognize familiar objects; express what they see, think, or want, in relation to things suggested by the drawings; observe and compare the images with the real environment; remember situations they have experienced or imagined; and invent or draw stories of their own. El Camp [The Countryside] by Roser Capdevila. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 1994. [9788424613013]
You don't need to know anything about art, museums, London, or Delft to enjoy this exciting romp. You just need to enjoy watching a boy dash into the National Gallery to escape some mean kids, befriend a dog that has jumped out of a Van Eyck painting, and time travel with his new companion through a Vermeer canvas before returning to the museum (and the streets of London) to continue his day. The plot will keep readers turning the pages, and the details in the illustrations provide readers with an opportunity to find new objects of interest with each re-reading. USBBY'S 2013 Outstanding International Books list, called "The Literary Equation: USBBY's Outstanding International Books Connect Kids Worldwide" includes this title because the "adventure is told in lively, wordless cartoon style." The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers. Australia: Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, 2012. [9780596437296]
Every two-page spread of this book shows an incredibly detailed landscape of a place in the Netherlands. From waterways and beaches to city scenes and the countryside, each image contains expected Dutch symbols and unexpected surprises. Readers of all ages will appreciate the panoramic virtual tour thanks to its sophisticated presentation and striking colors. USBBY'S 2014 Outstanding International Books List says that this book is "a remarkable wordless, oversize picture book that offers detailed illustrations of the land, people, and important moments in [Holland's] history. . . . Holland is a book for all ages." Holland by Jesse Goossens and Charlotte Dematons. The Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2013. [9781935954330]
The unusually tall format of this book is perfectly suited to its content. Using a limited color palette of green, yellow, grey, and black, a small forest of trees with circular tops and oddly narrow stem-like trunks form the story's setting. The conductor selects a tree, shimmies up its trunk to the treetop, raises his baton, and transforms the leaves into birds that take flight. An incredible symphony of movement continues until the trees are bare, then he shimmies back down again and plants a seed, along with his baton. An interesting, albeit strange, combination of music, trees, and birds, this book will be appreciated by imaginative people of all ages - especially musicians. This book was on USBBY's 2012 Outstanding International Books list. The Conductor [originally published in France as Diapason] by Laetitia Devernay. United States of America: Chronicle Books, 2011. [9781452104911]
There are several surprises in this book. The first is the paper it's printed on - it has the weight and texture of cloth, which makes turning the pages a luxurious experience. The real surprise is in the plot, though. Using soft, muted colors and a simple illustration style, the story provides glimpses of everyday life for a grey cat and her owner. Time passes quickly. The couple leaves to go to the hospital for the birth of their first child, the cat ventures outside, and when they return home, the cat is gone. Shortly thereafter, the cat returns with two kittens! The final pages show the lady, her baby, the cat and her two kittens, all in the living room together. La Surprise [The Surprise] by Janik Coat. France: MeMo, 2010. [9782352890904]
A young girl refuses to eat her meal and is sent to her room, where she falls asleep on her bed next to her stuffed black bear. She dreams that the bear becomes her larger-than-life companion, and they go on an adventure through her neighborhood and into a wildlife habitat where they play with other friendly creatures until she awakens and reconciles her relationship with her mom. Incredible linocut prints using muted tones and displaying a cracked texture do an excellent job of evoking the story's mood and the main character's feelings. Last Night by Hwe-Won Yum. Korea: BIR Publishing Co., 2011. [9780374343583]
A boy falls asleep while looking at an atlas, and his dreams evolve from things in his room morphing into imaginary places influenced by the book's contents. The watercolor illustrations are chock full of details; you really need to look at every page carefully or you will miss the connections from one page to the next. Even the most detail-oriented reader might find the plot illogical and surreal. A healthy dose of imagination is required for full appreciation. This book received a Caldecott Honor in 1989. Free Fall by David Wiesner. United States of America: HarperCollins, 1988. [9780688055837]
Bold black and white pictures are strikingly beautiful, and effectively capture the mood and the setting. Rambling through a snow-covered forest on a cold day, a boy is being watched by a black wolf. Snow starts to fall, and he picks up his pace while the wolf continues to stare at him. The wolf bares his teeth, the boy turns and notices him, and the wolf pounces! The reader is temporarily in shock, because a tree has fallen at the same time, and it takes a moment to make sense of what has happened. In the final scene, the boy and the wolf are hugging and smiling, and the reader realizes that the wolf did not have bad intentions, but was saving the boy from being injured or killed by the falling tree. Perhaps this story was created as a reminder to be careful of having preconceived notions? Loup Noir [Black Wolf] by Antoine Guilloppe. France: Duculot/Casterman, 2004. [9782203553064]
A painter embellishes a parade of animals with red stripes, spots, or other accents. The animals are delighted to see the way they look when they pass a mirror. Sadly, rain washes away the paint, leaving everyone distraught. The final page and inside back cover reveal a tree with a solid red, oval-shaped opening and the story ends with the animals looking at it, deciding what they should do next. From the 2012 White Ravens catalog: "Distinctive drawings emphasize each animal's indigenous characteristics." Simple and fun, the book is made of brown recycled paper which, together with a black and red colour scheme, are used to symbolically express the animals' expectations for each step along the line." O Fim da Fila [The End of the Row] by Marcelo Pimentel. Brazil: Rovelle, 2011. [9788561521493]
In a playful black and white world, a girl with a pocketful of crayons captures her neighbors' attention by drawing mischievous creatures. The drawings become animated, hold hands as they frolic down the street, and become larger than life. Curiously, the only thing that causes concern is when the town itself becomes colorful. A clean-up effort is initiated and rain helps restore the black and white world. One colorful corner remains for the children and creatures. The White Ravens 2015 catalog says that "the dynamic compositions create suspense and drama. In this exceedingly imaginative, monstrously good wordless picture book, the little protagonist refuses to be penned in by the black-and-white lines of authority. . . . [S]he shows how to transform a colourless world into a cheerful, exuberant, and inviting place . . ." Monsterboek [The Monster Book] by Alice Hoogstad. Netherlands: Lemniscaat, 2014. [9789047706199]
Don't assume that you know what's happening in this story from just the first few pages! Some chicken, a bear, and a bunny are enjoying a beautiful day when a fox pops out of the bushes and runs off with one of the chickens. What are his motives? Is the chicken in danger? Her friends sure think so, and they race after them to try to bring her back across the long and thin pages (16 cm tall x 26 cm wide) which are superbly suited to the plot. At times suspenseful, sweet, and silly, your heart will be racing, and your mind will keep guessing, right up to the very end.
Le Voleur de Poule [The Chicken Thief] by Beatrice Rodriguez. France: Editions Autrement, 2005. [9782746707146]
This book is formatted like a graphic novel, with pages containing panels of different quantities and sizes. The images are outlined with a fine black line, and colored with soft watercolors. It follows the escapades of a bear in a forest, and is filled with humor and excitement. Perhaps the most endearing part is when the bear is falling from a bird's nest very high up in a tree, and a male sprite lends him a helping hand. From that point on, the two continue their exploits together. Der Bar Im Zauberwald [The Bear in the Magic Forest] by Gregory Rogers. Germany: Moritz, 2007. [9783895651861]
Sentimental images interpret what it feels like to return home after being gone for an extended period of time. A lady travels through the city and forest, and approaches her childhood home from afar. The house seems minuscule in comparison to her giant stature. Her mom (or grandmother?) gazes lovingly up at her and she looks like a skyscraper. When she bends down to give her mom a kiss, the lady's lips are so large that they cover the majority of one side of her face. The girl smells a familiar meal, and she is transformed to a younger, smaller version of herself and she can barely see the soup on top of the table. The White Ravens 2015 catalog explains that Chernysheva "depicts the power of memory without words, sensitively, [and] tenderly . . . cleverly picking up the theme of changing perception by playing with perspectives and proportions."
O Regresso [Homecoming] by Natalia Chernysheva. Portugal: Bruaá, 2015. [9789898166258]
A note from the author at the beginning of this book loosely translates to say that this book does not use words to recount a single story, but tells as many stories as the animals in the meadow. There are stories of "races and games, fights and ambushes, colors and smells." Without this introduction, the reader will see close-ups of the bright green foliage of the meadow, and the animals and insects that live on and in it. They may question the relationship between some of the pairs, because none of the adversarial relationships are blatantly obvious. Colors are restricted to just two shades of brown, red, and white, in addition to the green used for the foliage, which may encourage discussions of camouflage and survival in this habitat. Animali Nel Prato [Animals in the Meadow] by Iela Mari. Italy: Babalibri, 2011. [9788883622328]
The colors in this book are incredible. A solid colored rectangle on the left is complemented by the picture to its right; both sides have thick white borders. Equally fascinating is the contrast between the cartoon-like image of the main character, who is brightly colored and outlined in black, and the backgrounds and other characters, which have softer colors and a light texture. The plot is charming. The girl is playing with a ball on top of a hill, and it rolls down into the forest. Apprehension turns to sadness, and she curls up under a tree as night falls. When she awakens in the morning, she hesitantly looks around and discovers a bear and a bird that become her companions for the day. The final page leaves the reader to ponder if the story was merely the reenactment of a book that was being read by the bear and the bird. En El Silencio Del Bosque [In the Silence of the Forest] by Cristina Perez Navarro. Spain: Ariadna, 2010. [9788493803612]
This book is formatted as one long piece of cardstock, folded into six equal segments. The images follow sequentially, accordion-style, and the reader must flip the sixth panel over to continue the story on the other side. Once folded again, the book fits back neatly into the rectangular slipcover that holds it. Pulling all of the pages open at once allows the reader to see half of the story at a time, and provides a different perspective than viewing each panel independently or in pairs. The illustration style and color palette are both basic. Goldenrod is used for the sky, and cream and grey are used for the main character and the birds. The final two panels are surprising and surreal, in great contrast to the rest of the story. Destino [Destiny] by Andre Letria. Portugal: Pato Logico Edicoes, 2011. [9789899671713]
This adorable board book has two ways for its readers to discover: through the brightly colored illustrations and through the regular and irregular cutout shapes in the pages. The fanciful animals and flowers are delightful to look at; even a fussy young person is likely to have his or her mood transformed by sharing and interacting with it. The age of the reader will determine the complexity of the response to its content. Older children may interpret the images in a way that explains the relationship between the animal and the cutout shape; younger children may simply identify each. It's an entirely personal experience. Oh Oh by Sophie Fatus. Italy: Emme, 2011. [9788860797131]
Friendship and imagination replace loneliness and solitude for a boy and a girl who meet at what is possibly the most overcrowded swimming pool in the world! After the pool fills with boisterous kids in inner tubes and other assorted inflatables (including a canoe!) a shy boy dives beneath the chaos and finds a shy girl swimming under the water with him. The muted colors at the beginning of the book become increasingly more vibrant as the children explore the depths together and develop a connection. This book was on USBBY's 2016 list of Outstanding International Books.
Pool by JiHyeon Lee. United States of America (originally published in Korea): Chronicle Books, 2015. [9781452142944]
This oversized book contains an eclectic collection of drawings that tell multiple stories. In just eight, two-page spreads, an astonishing number of characters are introduced. Some appear on just one page, and others are found throughout. The majority are not naturalistic, i.e. various iterations of a man's body with something other than a head on top (like a pear, a candle, or a feather) or a fish floating next to a cloud in the sky. Reminding me of a sticker album assembled by a young person, it begins in straight lines and ends as a hodgepodge, offering a lot to think about and/or discuss. L'Album d'Adele [Adele's Album] by Claude Ponti. France: Gallimard Jeunesse, 2010. [9782070562978]
The characters in this book appear in others by the same author, and the plot is similar in all of them. In the books published in 2005 and 2006, two mice steal a cake from two dogs and a mad chase through a variety of scenes leads to the capture of the mice and the sharing of the cake with the rest of the animals in town. In this recent version of the story, one of the dogs falls asleep reading about famous artists and is dreaming the sequences, the cake is now part of a piece of artwork, and the bandit that steals it is a dog. Fans of the earlier works will enjoy the similar plot structure, and all readers will be delighted by the fast-paced, exciting dash through scenes inspired by famous works of art. As an added bonus, artist names and a small sample of their artwork appear on the end papers at the front and back of the book to help those interested in identifying the pieces within. This book was honored by the International Youth Library in its 2016 White Ravens catalogue. Kunst met taart [Art with Cake] by The Tjong-Khing. Belgium: Lannoo, 2015. [9789401426251]
This book opens with an island far off on the horizon, over a vast expanse of water, and increasingly getting closer. The reader sees a small village, with boats along the water in front of the houses. The view becomes even more of a close up, and one house is in view. The upstairs window shows a boy receiving a large rectangular gift. He excitedly runs off with his cat to opens it, and is shocked to find another box inside. He opens that package, and thinks that he has figured out the gift - a large rabbit figurine. When he unties the bow around it, it splits in half and there is yet another package inside. This "nesting doll" scenario continues until, at last, a small egg is in the center. It hatches into a tiny bird, and the boy and his cat are pleased with the gift. Dogumgunu Hediyesi [Birthday Gift] by Behic Ak. Turkey: Can Cocuk, 2006. [9789753631525]
Former DreamWorks animator Molly Idle earned the first Caldecott Honor for Chronicle Books in 2014 with her premier book in a series about a young girl named Flora. The dynamic illustration style and interactive flaps and foldouts featuring images of a dance between Flora and a graceful flamingo are the perfect way to tell this tale of friendship. The gorgeous pink blossoms that frame the pages add a touch of elegance to the otherwise unpretentious setting, and the characters' facial expressions and body language provide perfectly timed comic relief. Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle. United States of America: Chronicle Books, 2013. [9781452110066]
Whimsical and cartoon-like images, created with watercolor, ink, and gouache, convey the energy of the playful pup and the changing mood of the story as it unfolds. Most readers will be able to relate to the main character's feelings of joy, loss, acceptance, and contentment. A gentle reminder about how possessions can be important, but friends are indispensable. This book received the Caldecott Medal in 2012. A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. United States of America: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. [9780375858611]
In honor of my daughter Amanda's graduation from eighth grade, I am pausing from posting the international books from my independent study to write about this 2017 nearly wordless release that I find particularly relevant today. I am positive that other people will have different interpretations for this book's meaning (that's why I really like it!) and offer you mine knowing that it is (of course) connected to and reflective of my own personal experiences. Graduations are always filled with hope and inspiration, as they should be. This heartwarming tale also allows for contemplation of some of the less-than-perfect circumstances that are reality for the graduate. Most significantly, the school and its neighborhood are falling into disrepair and, in what we learn was a trend, the other students are not always kind to her. Despite all of that, she not only perseveres, but even finds a way to turn the unkind actions of her classmates into a beautiful act of kindness for her community. Amanda: In high school and beyond, there are occasionally going to be challenges that you have little or no control over. Even when you work hard, treat others the way you would like to be treated, and follow a strong moral compass to the best of your ability, that doesn't guarantee that others will do the same or that things will work out the way that you want them to. When faced with those challenges, keep in mind that you *do* have the ability to decide how you will respond. Take a deep breath, give yourself the time that you need, stay true to yourself, and ask for help (and/or a hug) if you find either (or both) useful. Congratulations on your graduation day! I am so proud to be your mom!! Graduation Day by Piotr Parda. United States of America: Ripple Grove Press, 2017. [9780991386673]
Rather than sit at home alone in a cabin nestled among the woods, a man builds himself a towering pair of stilts which he uses to go on an adventure beyond his usual boundaries. Bizarre encounters in water, among the treetops, and in other regions unlike the forest, allow the main character and the book's readers a captivating escape before they return to the comforts of their homes. De Steltenloper [The Stilt Runner] by Mattias De Leeuw. Belgium: Uitgeverij Lannoo nv, 2012. [9789401400121]
Promising over 402,750 combinations, the people on this street are each divided into five segments so that the pages can be flipped for any of the segments to alter the image. This mix-and-match concept is enhanced by the assorted textures of each person's clothing fabric, clever hairstyles, fascinating footwear, and catchy accessories. The White Ravens 2013 catalog says that [the creator] "succeeds in creating a highly entertaining playtime book; yet it is not just the multitude of possible combinations that makes this street circus charming. It is also the modernity and the cosmopolitan look of the presented figures, whom Urbánková lends a contemporary feel by using a clever collage technique." Cirkus Ulice [The Street Circus] by Dagmar Urbánková. The Netherlands: Baobab, 2012. [9788087060636]
A simple wooden seesaw, drawn as a long wooden rectangle on top of a circular fulcrum, is the location for all of the action in this story. Large and small animals gather on each side in random configurations, causing the seesaw to pivot from one side to the other. Eventually, the animal towers on both sides topple, and reassemble in a Tetris-like manner, resulting in a perfectly balanced seesaw. This book is assembled as one extremely long piece of folded paper that loosely sits between the front and back covers. It can be removed with ease, and unfolded completely to create one long scene, but there doesn't seem to be any advantage in doing so. Perhaps that is just the style of this printing? L'Altalena [The Seesaw] by Enzo Mari. Italy: Corraini, 2001. [9788887942231]
An unusual take on the tales of Noah's ark, this book invites its readers to watch a parade of animals, some in pairs and others not, walking from day through night to an unknown destination. On the second to last page, the ark appears, and an a-ha moment is created. Even more astonishing is the reveal on the end papers inside the back cover - all of the animals, neatly packed into the ark, as though it were an animal Tetris-filled suitcase. I expected a different story based on the title, and love the idea of there being "a place for everyone" when thinking about creatures from different species coexisting. Even though none of the animals appears to be in distress in the final image on the ark, it is less than an ideal way to make room for everyone. The tale might have had greater impact for me if it had ended differently, but I suspect that the creator intended for the book to be more silly than serious. C'e Posto Per Tutti [There's a Place for Everyone] by Massimo Caccia. Italy: Topipittori, 2011. [9788889210734]
A compassionate lion reconsiders eating a tiny child and befriends him instead. They wander through the open woodlands, and after an exciting day, they take a moment to rest when the child is nearly attacked by another lion. The two lions fight, and the child's friend is victorious. He carries the child back to his village, and the villagers are so frightened that they throw spears at the lion. He runs away dejected, but falls asleep dreaming of being able to re-approach the village. The final two pages of this book are humorous in a crafty way. While the lion dreams of proudly visiting the child in the village, the lioness and lion cubs are dreaming of animals to hunt. The child is having the most delightful and colorful dream of all, filled with all of the different animals that he met throughout the day, and centered on his lion licking him on the forehead like a domestic cat. Mon Lion [My Lion] by Mandana Sadat. France: Autrement, 2007. [9782746707153]
Striking oil paintings tell the tale of a bird flying though the dinosaur exhibit of a natural history museum and being transported to prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The textures of the animal bones and teeth are impressive. In particular, the dinosaur eyes are extremely realistic and a marvel to look at. This book received a Caldecott Honor in 1995. Time Flies by Eric Rohmann. United States of America: Crown, 1994. [9780517595985]
On a cold and snowy evening, a young boy stares out his window. He wipes away the window condensation and, shortly afterwards, a bird appears in that space. The boy asks his dad to allow the bird inside, and they open the window. The bird and the boy spend the day together, and the bird sleeps on a pillow next to the boy's radiator. In the morning, the bird wants to go back outside, so the window is opened again to release him. That night, the bird does not return to the window, and the concerned boy and his family search until they find their sadly injured friend. They repair the bird's injured wing, and the friendship initiated by the bird is fully reciprocated by the boy. L'amic Fredolic [Fredolic's Friend] by Xavier Blanch & Francesc Rovira. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 1999. [9788424604219]
The incredibly elegant and intricate paper cut dioramas used to tell this story are simply exquisite. After losing her way - or perhaps seeking the warmth of the village intentionally - a lone fox is shooed away by a couple of villagers before finding a shed to escape the cold. A young boy brings a basket of goodies to the shed, and finds that she is not alone after all. To repay his kindness, the fox and her brood leave a gift for the boy before heading back to the forest. The softly falling snow outside contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the light from within the cabin to help the reader empathize with the fox and appreciate the young boy's kind deed. This book was honored by USBBY on their 2015 Outstanding International Books list. Fox's Garden [Une Rencontre] by Princesse Camcam. United States of America [originally published in France]: Enchanted Lion, 2014. [9781592701674]
Unlike any of the other books that I have reviewed, this one consists of six double-sided heavyweight cardboard cards that are stored in a box but not bound like a typical picture book. The cards each have two slots in them, which allow them to be rearranged to create three-dimensional scenes from which a fable or other story can be told. The interactive nature of the cards and the simplicity of the images make the storytelling possibilities endless. Il Gioco Delle Favole [The Fable Game] by Enzo Mari. Italy: Corraini, 2004. [9788887942965]
It is not unusual for great classics to be reinterpreted in new ways, but it is rare for the retelling to have a distinctive substance completely different from the original. To convert a book written using thousands of words in 1719 to a modern wordless version was no small task, and Cuban-born artist Ajubel rose to the challenge. The majority of pictures look like scratch art or etching, with bright colors contrasted with black scratch lines. The White Ravens 2009 catalog proclaims that this version is "an exciting masterpiece" and that "the dynamic pictures create tension, drama, and intensity through powerful, dynamic lines, shining colours, extreme angles, and sudden shifts of perspective. For the viewer, the two sides of the place become practically tangible: an uncivilized rawness, paired with the overwhelming sensual beauty of tropical nature." Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe & Ajubel. Spain: Media Vaca, 2008. [9788493598204]
Surreal images of a snake dog and other fantastical creatures float past the reader in this bizarre book. There are Japanese influences in the illustrations, and some contain recognizable objects (like a telephone), but I am completely perplexed about how they are related or what the story is about. From the letter on the inside back cover, translated by Google Translate: "The book about snake dog is a wordless pictorial odyssey through a bizarre and poetic universe: first, there is only a green ball, and out of it comes snake dog. He goes out into the world, hovers through strange spaces with rooting umbrellas, flower wallpapers, and caravans . . . The quantity of souvenirs . . . grows, and when he finally arrives at a place where there is another snake dog, the loveliest dance is presented." Slangehund [Snakedog] by Helle Vibeke Jensen. Denmark: Kobenhavn Host, 2007. [9788763806473]
Colorful surreal landscapes with limitless interpretations invite the reader to immerse him or herself in the fantasy dream world of the book's creator. Combining the familiar with the unfamiliar is confusing and intriguing. Unless the reader is willing to allow creativity and imagination to take over, this book might be merely unsettling. The Honour List for the Silent Books from the 2013 World to Lampedusa project explains that "in this book for readers of all age groups, the dreamlike dimension unfolds in a powerful way. The many citations merge a variety of different registers and inventions echoing art history, the whole dominated by the spectre of Max Ernst's surrealism, although there is no lack of references to popular culture and to different media with an immensely strong and rich appeal." Hr. Alting [Mr. Everything] by Bente Olsen Nystrom. Denmark: Gylendal, 2006. [9788702043952]
