From the book blurb: Akiko Miyakoshi's enchanting picture book explores how an innkeeper who spends his days at the crossroads of others' journeys secretly longs to have adventures of his own. People from all over the world come and go at the innkeeper's little hotel. He enjoys meeting them, and many even become his friends. Only, sometimes, when he goes to sleep at night, the desire to travel far away himself wells up inside him. He dreams of packing a big bag and journeying wherever he pleases, from one unfamiliar town to another. He imagines stopping to visit friends and having wonderful and unexpected experiences. The innkeeper continues to go about his daily routine at his hotel, but, someday, he is sure, he will explore the world. This beautiful picture book from multi-award-winning and internationally best-selling author-illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi thoughtfully speaks to the common experience of longing for something new and exciting, while feeling comfort in the familiar. The artwork's muted colors and soft focus give it a dreamlike quality and, paired with the spare, simple text, invokes wonder, leaving many questions open to interpretation. This book perfectly captures the feeling of wanderlust, of being curious about the world, wanting to see other places and how other people live. It could ignite intriguing conversations with children about what they long to do. Its message is also likely to resonate with adults. My thoughts: This is my second book by Akiko Myakoshi and I expected charming dreamlike illustrations in her trademark style and a gentle subtle story. The book didn't disappoint -it is beautiful and evocative. The protagonist of the book, the owner of a place aptly named The Solitude Hotel, likes his job of welcoming guests from all over the world. He likes making them feel comfortable and telling them the stories of his little town. But at night he enters a different world, the world where he is a brave traveller and explorer of unknown places, full of joy and happiness for seeing his old friends and amazing landscapes, cherishing these special moments and being ready for unexpected. The contrast between soft black and white of his daily routine and soft and pastel colours of his dreams is stunning. It is as if his dreams are full of sunshine and are glowing from within. The room where he keeps notes and postcards from his friends seems to be the only colourful place in his hotel. It is the place that is singing with possibility and opportunity, and it is important for both children and adults to think big and reach in their imagination to far away countries where things are different from our usual daily life. Will he ever pack his suitcase and set off on a journey? I believe so. In the last sequence the colours are back to black and white, but he is travelling, so perhaps he is closer now to making these dreams reality. Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion Expected publication Date: 3rd of March 2020 Publisher: Kids Can Press Comments are closed.
|
Archives
February 2024
Categories |