HB RRP $28.00
ISBN9780994109842
Reviewed by Dianne Bates
The illustrations in this picture book are fantastical, like
being inside a beautiful dream crowded with animals, people and landscape. You
want the dream to go on and on! Some of the pages seem to be created from paper
collage, others have painted images; there are wax rubbings and inked drawings –
so much to look at and take in. The cover shows a harlequin leaning on top of
an elephant’s head, surrounded by all manner of creatures from a French poodle
to a pink pig on an armchair to a monkey holding a small windmill. The entire
story appears to happen on the landscape of the elephant’s hide.
At the start of the story, elephant has something on her
mind, a difficult question, a big question. At the annual meeting (chaired by
an anxious ant) all of the creatures gather to find the answer. The question
really is a biggie: How do you know you love someone? The mouse declares its
love for the elephant, Snow White talks about what loves does to a person. And
so it goes on, each creature endeavouring to give his or her answer. Meanwhile,
there are gorgeous illustrations – two otters kissing, flamingos beak-to-beak,
gibbons reaching out lovingly for one another, and so on.
This sumptuous book was made possible with financial support
of the Flemish Literature Fund; it was first written in Dutch and translated
into English, then published in New Zealand. It’s not really a book for young
children; its appeal is more to those with a romantic soul. My only quibble
with the portrait-shaped book is that it is over-sized; librarians and others will
find it difficult to fit onto shelves. Despite this, it is certainly
recommended!
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