Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Flying Eye Books (2016), 48 pages
Description
What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey; one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope. Based on the author's interactions with people forced to seek a new home, and told from the perspective of a young child.
User reviews
LibraryThing member MCHBurke
The Journey is not only a good book, it's an important one. The Syrian refugee crisis makes this tale especially relevant right now, yet it is purposefully told to be universal, to be timeless. War takes so much -- family members, a sense of security, a place to call home. When people are forced to
In the realm of picture books, it is rare for a story to be written and illustrated by the same person. Francesca Sanna shows skill with both elements of storytelling beyond what might be expected from a debut book. The language is simple and honest, told from the child's view. The illustrations are remarkable and so full of heart, and reveal a greater reality beyond the child's understanding. The menace of war is depicted through pitch-black shadows that bring darkness with them and enormous hands that reach out to destroy. Most pages are lush with color and texture, which adds emphasis to those pages stark in contrast. ("And one day the war took my father." Eight words paired with six individual objects on a solid black background.) Yet the journey is not without hope and those who help along the way (even if they need a bribe to entice their assistance).
Flying Eye Books spared no expense producing this beautiful book. Before opening it, the cover entices with a dramatic illustration enhanced with a spot varnish (oh, how I love spot varnish!) and simple printed imagery on the spine of book-cloth in a lovely shade of blue. The colors throughout are used to enhance the storytelling on each page, which is printed on rich paper that, while matte, almost has a subtle luminescence. I don't recognize the typeface, but it resembles a hand-drawn serif face which emphasises the personal tale of this family, who stand in for thousands of other migrant families around the world.
*Many thanks to the publisher for a free copy of this book.
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run away from not only their house, but from their country, life transitions to a state of uncertainty. In the realm of picture books, it is rare for a story to be written and illustrated by the same person. Francesca Sanna shows skill with both elements of storytelling beyond what might be expected from a debut book. The language is simple and honest, told from the child's view. The illustrations are remarkable and so full of heart, and reveal a greater reality beyond the child's understanding. The menace of war is depicted through pitch-black shadows that bring darkness with them and enormous hands that reach out to destroy. Most pages are lush with color and texture, which adds emphasis to those pages stark in contrast. ("And one day the war took my father." Eight words paired with six individual objects on a solid black background.) Yet the journey is not without hope and those who help along the way (even if they need a bribe to entice their assistance).
Flying Eye Books spared no expense producing this beautiful book. Before opening it, the cover entices with a dramatic illustration enhanced with a spot varnish (oh, how I love spot varnish!) and simple printed imagery on the spine of book-cloth in a lovely shade of blue. The colors throughout are used to enhance the storytelling on each page, which is printed on rich paper that, while matte, almost has a subtle luminescence. I don't recognize the typeface, but it resembles a hand-drawn serif face which emphasises the personal tale of this family, who stand in for thousands of other migrant families around the world.
*Many thanks to the publisher for a free copy of this book.
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LibraryThing member JenW1
I'm obviously in the minority here among the reviews, but this book felt propaganda-ish to me. I'm not sure why?? This one was just meh. I think maybe it's because this one doesn't introduce much of the life the child had in her own country so it was hard to relate to her/him. (There's not even
Many other stories in this vein have felt far more real and powerful (for example Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs). I would look further than this one.
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enough context given for me to be sure if the narrator is the sister or the brother in the story).Many other stories in this vein have felt far more real and powerful (for example Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs). I would look further than this one.
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LibraryThing member melodyreads
beautifully done
LibraryThing member mrgan
A bit on-the-nose storywise, but as a refugee myself, I may be too harsh—most people would probably find it novel. Wonderful art.
LibraryThing member wichitafriendsschool
From the author: The Journey is actually a story about many journeys, and it began with the story of two girls I met in a refugee center in Italy. After meeting them I realized that behind their journey lay something very powerful. So I began collecting more stories of migration and interviewing
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many people from many different countries. A few months later, in September 2014, when I started studying a Master of Arts in Illustration at the Academy of Lucerne, I knew I wanted to create a book about these true stories. Almost every day on the news we hear the terms "migrants" and "refugees" but we rarely ever speak to or hear the personal journeys that they have had to take. This book is a collage of all those personal stories and the incredible strength of the people within them. Show Less
LibraryThing member Robinsonstef
A powerful book that will make you think. Beautiful illustrations!
LibraryThing member Galiana.Carranza
I have a lot of compassion when it comes to the children. I love how the mother tries to be brave for her children. It reminds me of my dad when we were struggling and he would always to make the hard times seem like they were insignificant. This books take a serious roll in a children's books but
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in several of our classes they are telling use to be honest with children and talk to them as an adult so they can understand. For me I do not know I can read this to a child. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Beautifully drawn story of immigration following war. Manages to ride the line between telling a hard story, a moving story, and avoiding graphic violence in imagery -- it is a frightening story, and the imagery reflects that, but I think it sets an appropriate tone for young children.
LibraryThing member sloth852
Powerful art and symbolism capture how it feels to be a refugee. Naturally, that is going to feel scary, so assess your child’s ability to process that.
Awards
Parents' Choice Book Award (2016)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration (Nominee — 2017)
UKLA Book Award (Shortlist — 2017)
Waterstones Children's Book Prize (Shortlist — Illustrated Book — 2017)
Klaus Flugge Prize (Winner — 2017)
Ezra Jack Keats Book Award (Honor — New Illustrator — 2017)
CCBC Choices (2017)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Kids (Picture Books — 2016)
Picture This Recommendation List (Fiction — 2018)
Read for Empathy Collections (Picture Books — 2017)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Picture Books — 2016)
Language
Original language
English