LOLA'S HEART

In this wordless tale, Lola and a great white wolf encounter a blue butterfly on a train ride.

Outside the train, a large red bird seems to guard Lola, a light-skinned protagonist of indeterminate age clad in a black dress and scarf. The bird accompanies Lola and the wolf when they leave the train and follow the butterfly. Three small, striped creatures with unusual twisted horns catch the butterfly and bring it to a tree, hung with many other cages holding red butterflies. The trio of friends arrive to see this sight, both beautiful and very sad, with its allusions to the loss of freedom and movement, and work to rescue the winged insect and inspire the horned creatures to release the others. Boiger employs pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor pencil to create a multitude of feathery, curvilinear, soft strokes that compose the various forest scenes, the animals (both real and imagined), and the human being, seen from different perspectives. This tale could invite multiple viewings, if only to struggle with its meaning. The story can be seen as an allegory about friendship, love, and liberty, but will young readers put the effort into understanding its subtle message? Perhaps with careful discussion with an adult reader, a child will enjoy the aesthetic pleasures of the book’s delicately textured illustrations and discern its significance. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sophisticated wordless book for perceptive children.