This book is all about the power of imagination and creativity. A little girl heads up to the attic where the light creates shadows. She starts out with just her own shadow, then creates a bird with her hands. As she plays, a jungle grows in the shadows with a sharp-toothed wolf. Other animals appear and so does a princess until an entire shadow world is created. Then the wolf escapes from the shadow world and jumps at the little girl. But the other animals work together to teach him how to play nicely. At the end, a voice calls that dinner is ready and everything returns to normal, or does it?
Lee’s illustrations tell this almost wordless story. Her use of fine lines for the objects in the attic, thicker lines for the little girl, and deep blackness for the shadows is particularly effective. The book is done in just two colors: black and yellow. The yellow is particularly spectacular, showing the color of imagination at work. Lee uses the middle gutter of the book to separate the shadows from real life, so the book is read sideways, just as the cover is shown.
This book is simple and very evocative. It is a stunning, sparkling example of a wordless book that children everywhere with relate to effortlessly. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from copy received from Chronicle Books.
Waking Brain Cells 