#blogbookaday: The Visitor
Summary:
“Elise was frightened—of spiders, people, even trees. So she never went out, night or day.
One day a strange thing flies in through the window and lands at her feet. And then there comes a knock at the door. Elise has a visitor who will change everything.
This is a gentle, sympathetic story about a child who unwittingly brings light and colour—literally—into a lonely person’s life.” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review:
A lonely woman lives by herself in a big house and won’t leave it because she is frightened of many things. One day a young boy knocks on her door and the woman’s whole world changes in a just a few hours. They spend the day reading stories, playing games and having a snack. The woman’s house and spirits are lifted by the simple act of a visitor.
Personal Reaction:
This is such an interesting story – especially the illustrations. The author/illustrator, Antje Damm is also an architect and her illustrations are done in a three-dimensional doll house type style with paper dolls in all sepia tones. When the woman sees the little boy in bright red and yellow the whole feel of the book changes. When he comes into the house, he brings with him light and color just be being himself as the woman faces just a few of her fears and becomes friends with the little boy. This was such an interesting way of telling a story, not at all what I expected and I enjoyed it immensely. This would be a great book to share with kids when talking about picture books from around the world as they are often very different from what kids are used to here in the U.S.
Title: The Visitor
Author: Antje Damm
Illustrator: Antje Damm
Publisher: Gecko Press
Publication Date: April 1, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!
