GIANT ON THE SHORE

A modern-day fable about taking risks.

A giant emerges from the vast ocean and comes ashore near a small city so quiet that “you can hear the movie theater over the bustle of the cars.” An unseen narrator asks what would happen if the giant entered the city and immersed himself in their society. Would the citizens “welcome him the way they do the first rain”? Would “the old folks” of the town “tell him old stories”? Would he play hide-and-seek with the “tiny inhabitants,” or would he gaze at the waves and “wonder why they turn back before arriving”? Young readers will relate to the emotions felt by both the narrator and the giant as they ponder the potential pros and cons of jumping into a new experience. Intricate, painterly illustrations beautifully capture the potential journey taken by the giant. López plays adeptly with perspective, making the city and its residents appear even smaller while the physical and existential presence of the giant looms larger. Spreads featuring large footprints on the beach and in the surf and giant-shaped holes in the forest canopy are particularly striking, paired with the elegant, spare text, translated from Spanish. The unnamed humans in the city are depicted with various shades of brown and tan skin tones. We see only glimpses of the giant: a darkened silhouette, a pair of legs.

A glorious look at the potential benefits and vulnerabilities of a new possibility.