What is life? Growth? And what do these concepts even mean? These are challenging questions for any child to answer- and even for some of us adults, too. Life, a new emotive beauty by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel, seeks to answer these questions. The result is a moving meditation celebrating life’s many wonders, both big and small.
Life begins small. And it grows and grows. But as life grows, things begin to change. Change can be intimidating, even frightening at times, but Rylant’s prose and Wenzel’s illustrations remind us that change happens in the natural world, just as it happens to us. With change comes adversity, both for animals and humans alike, but even when challenge strikes, there will always be a path to lead you in a promising new direction.
Life resonated with me so very deeply, and my big one loved it too. It is another stunner, both for kids and adults alike, and it is a perfect book to read to children grappling with the notion of growing up. The sentiment is one to treasure, and I was struck by the simple way Rylant addresses how wondrous it can be to wake on a new day in the midst of our toughest challenges. Even when your world is changing– even when it feels like the ground has been ripped from beneath your feet, “it is worth waking up in the morning to see what might happen.” What a beauty — and so very, very timely. Two trunks up!!
Want the book? Get it here! Life, by Cynthia Rylant. *This is an affiliate link. HEE received a review copy of this book; however, all opinions expressed herein are our own.
