Since this picture
book doesn’t have any text at all, the person who receives
it will have to supply the story or at least a story to go
along with the wonderful illustrations.
The main character is a little girl who appears to be lonely.
One day she takes a red marker, which obviously has magical
properties, and draws a door on her bedroom wall. Then she
pops through that red door and enters a special land. Using
her red marker the little girl creates, at different times,
a boat, hot air balloon, and flying carpet that provide the
transportation she needs as she visits some very exotic places.
Along the way the child encounters a caged bird (a metaphor
for her situation a literature major would say!), which she
frees. The two remain companions until the story ends and
the girl returns home where the bird seems to return the girl’s
favor.
Actually, I just gave you my interpretation of Becker’s
illustrations. You could see it in a similar vein or much
differently. That’s the beauty of this book; it demands
you use your own imagination to create a story to accompany
the illustrations.
Obviously “Journey” would be appropriate for an
older child or even an adult. At a certain age, it differs
from child to child. Youngsters begin to make up their own
stories as they play. When you discover that your son or daughter
is playing make-believe, you’ll know it is time to give
your child this book.
|
