4/23/08

A new book


I wanted to take a moment to recommend this book which we found the other day at the bookstore. Well, it wasn't a true "find". Actually, I saw it in Cookie magazine and we went in search of it. It's the first children's book by Japanese contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara. We've been fans of Nara for some time now - his work is wildly popular in Japan, and can be seen in most any contemporary art museum worth its salt here in the US. While childlish and playful in style, his art is not for children. So I was thrilled to see that he had finally created a children's book. It may be a bit "for art buffs", but I love the simple concept of this book. It's about a puppy who is very, very lonesome...because he is SO big (planet-sized, more or less) that no one notices him. In the end, he is befriended by one little girl who takes the time and makes the effort it takes to discover him. The book is dedicated "to physically-challenged children everywhere", but to me the idea is so simple and so universal. I suppose there are children out there who don't feel awkward, but I think most of us do. I know that I (awkwardest of the awkward children) always felt like an outsider, and in that overwhelming awkwardness there's the strange dichotomy of feeling at once oversized and clumsy (so that you feel everyone must be able to see your faults, and you just want to shrink into a corner) and at the same time completely invisible to the world.
There's also a message here about looking around with an open mind and seeing what others haven't noticed, about taking chances and making the effort to befriend people.
Anyway. I like the book. It's very simple, and yet packs a whallop.

5 comments:

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Once again you said it so well and I agree with you so much with what you said..."looking around with an open mind and seeing what others haven't noticed, about taking chances and making the effort to befriend people"... I am not perfect but I try to befriend and look beyond... does it always go that way for me... no... but hey... we are only human... love the book... kind of reminds me of 'The Little Prince'... I love that book...

Stacie said...

zoey will love this book- thanks.

Vivian M said...

I will look for it at our local bookstore, thanks for the recommendation!

Snowflowers Mum said...

I also saw this in Cookie and will pick it up for Paisley's first birthday. Dont you love some of the stuff in that mag?!

Yoli said...

I love cookie, I have to pick up the May issue. I should subscribe to it, since I buy it all the time. The book looks very interesting. Could you show some of the illustration?