We are back with another great #booksforbetter pick! Today we are celebrating the beautiful new release entitled WHAT IS A CHILD?, written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna. What a beauty this is. With fascinating abstract illustrations and a gorgeous narrative, I just love the way WHAT IS A CHILD? celebrates the universal experience that is childhood.
The story is simple- there is no real plot or narrative arc. Instead, every page shares another secret- or truth- about children. One of my favorite pages reads: “There are small, round, quiet children, as well as tall and loud ones. Children with glasses, freckles, and braces on their teeth that sparkle in the sunlight.” I love the way Alemagna exercises restraint in her text, using precise words without the bells and whistles to share her simple yet powerful narrative.
This book is so special for the way it shows that children- as unique and individual as they are – have so many shared thoughts and ideals when they are small. If only we could keep it this way! From describing children’s longing to grow up to the struggles they have in controlling their emotions, from the way so many little ones need kind eyes and a night light before going to bed, to their ability to relish the beauty in every day adventures, this book is a gem. Pair that with the illustrations of racially diverse children, and you have one winner of a book.
Want the book? Get it here! WHAT IS A CHILD?, by Beatrice Alemagna. *This is an affiliate link.
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