"I irritate eyes, but
I can soothe bees.
My smell beguiles guard bees
so beekeepers can harvest
honey without disturbing them."
This is the story of smoke. It is a book worth sharing at any time; it seems very appropriate as fire season looms for another season and year. Wildfires are already big news; past summers tell us that there is always an imminent threat these days. Due to climate change, carelessness, and a number of other factors, people are already being evacuated from their homes due to raging fires that are being fed by strong winds and extremely dry conditions.
Henry Herz lets his readers know, in thoughtful, poetic text, how smoke plays a role in nature and how it has been forever part of civilization. Readers may never have considered its importance. It soothes bees, has a part in prayer, makes campfires dance and even flavors food.
"I lack hands, but I can push
out unwanted guests.
I helped ancient Greeks
drive termites, mosquitoes,
rodents, and other pests
from enclosed spaces."
Illustrations were created when Merce Lopez 'captured patterns of swirling smoke on art paper suspended over smoky candle flames. She then deepened and elaborated the smoke impressions with watercolors and Photoshop finishes'. Remarkable, indeed. The spreads clearly enhance meaning for the carefully chosen descriptive wording. Readers will long remember having seen this book!
Wanting to engage children in learning about smoke, Henry Herz said: "Fiction can be the melted cheese we pour on top of the broccoli of nonfiction. Now, there are some picture books with anthropomorphic characters, but I’d never seen smoke treated as a character. And who better to explain the various ways in which people have employed smoke than smoke itself? What a concept ... and what a grand book this is!
Backmatter is extensive, and incredibly helpful to anyone wanting to know more about what is presented here. A long list of sources will encourage those keen to know more.
No comments:
Post a Comment