By Helena Baek; Translated by Sophie Bowman
Lori the Librarian |
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Magic Candies By Helena Baek; Translated by Sophie Bowman If the title makes you think of Alice in Wonderland or the Jefferson Airplane lyrics, “One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small,” you’re not off in your thinking. However as you read page after page of this picture book you might possibly be entranced, as I was, with the dreamy, hazy background environments and the fabulous handmade miniature figurines. I will let you decide if this is a book you would like to share with your special person. The story follows Tong Tong, a child who plays alone and not with others. When he needs to buy new marbles, the shopkeeper gives him hard, sweet candies instead. The candies resemble his marbles and as the boy tries each one the different sizes, shapes and colors give him very special, or as one adult reader said, “hallucinatory” experiences. Helena Baek’s storyline wonderfully explores the senses and emotions. The talking couch will grab all young readers attention especially since it raises the smelly issue of farts. The candy that has him interacting with his father overflows with a powerful love. With a bubble gum candy he is comforted and can converse with his dead grandma any time he wants. The last candy, a clear, quiet one, brings him outside where he sees another child. It allows him to reach out and speak and we are left with the lovely possibility that the child has now found a friend. The illustrations and the language and placement of the story words in this picture book are all refreshing. There are full page, double page, snapshot size illustrations. There is black lettering, then red, then handwritten, five words on a page or one hundred and five words on a page. Each page is original. I think it’s a cool picture book. Take a look and make up your own mind if you like it, want to share it or can’t get into it. I’d love to hear what you think.
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Author For 29 years I had the best job as School Librarian in the Aaron Kushner Library for grades Pre K-3 at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Although I am retired, I remain Lori the Librarian. Archives
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