""Lao, Lao, can you tell
me more about the girl
and her flamingo?""
Told in two parts, this almost wordless tale begins with a young child making a solo trip to visit her Lao Lao. The two are joyous at seeing each other again. Once home, the little one does a quick check of the house and finds a tiny flamingo feather in a flmingo mug. After a warm bath and something to eat, she asks her grandmother to tell her the story about the feather.
It is a story from Lao Lao's childhood. She finds an egg at the beach, carefully brings it home and waits patiently for it to hatch. Throughout the visit, there are pauses in the storytelling. The two carry on until the next opportune time for hearing more of the story. The child learns of the love between her grandmother and the flamingo, about its eventual departure, and her dream that there will come a time when she sees it again.
As they prepare for the child's return home, they visit the beach again and happen to see flamingos fill the sky. Might one be her grandmother's flamingo? The second part of their story sees the little one flying home. She takes the flamingo feather with her. Once back in the big, crowded, lonely city where no flamingo is ever seen, she takes the feather in hand and uses it to create her own beautifully imagined wordless book to be mailed to her Lao Lao.
Created in Photoshop, watercolor and colored pencils, the artwork is extraordinary. Facial expressions are filled with tender emotion, and the oft-changing perspectives draw attention to the wonder that is inherent in the two being together and the story being told. Using variation in color to depict past and present is inspired; shades of red and flamingo pink are evident in every spread.
This dazzling book is sure to be one of Chelsea's favorite birthday gifts at the end of this month. She has chosen a flamingo theme for her party, and is endlessly intrigued by the beautiful bird.
No comments:
Post a Comment