"When the bears join in,
twirling and whirling
and thumping and bumping,
the dragon that lives beneath the mountain
wakes up and
roarrrrs!"
A young child and her mom start the day with silence. Her mom needs that to get her work done. Kids who spent a lot of time learning at home during the pandemic may have experienced such a request. As she sits at the window and contemplates the outside world, her imagination takes flight. She can hear the trees breathing and then watches as they break into an energetic dance. Bears join that dance while the little one beats a tune on her drum.
When the bears awaken the dragon, its smoky breath causes the child to take flight upon a bird's back which leads to ongoing adventure. With each new imagined result of a previous action, the author repeats what has happened and adds the action it brings. In this fanciful place, she meets a knight and his horse who take her to the moon and back with an accompanying visit to the stars. Arriving back on the ocean, they join a motley crew of loud pirates who are quieted by gentle mermaids. The mermaids' 'hush' encourages the whales to sleep at the bottom of the sea.
"When the whales take a nap
on the seabed,
I sit,
silent.
When I sit,
silent,
I can hear the trees
breathing ... "
It's quite fascinating for children to learn the power of their own imagination. So much joy comes to them as they realize they can fill their time with play that is directed by their own thoughts. Carmen Mok uses gouache, India ink, pastels and colored pencils to show young readers what imaginative play can be. The home setting will be familiar to many of them, and the way the story comes full circle is a delight. What a sweet way to show children the power of their own creativity.
From an interview with Ms. Pendziwol:
"I wanted to explore the idea of allowing stillness and silence – the opportunity for creativity – to have a chance to take root and to grow."
Mission accomplished!
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