ON THE SMALL HILL WHERE THE GIRLS TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES

A parcel of land turns out to be steeped in history.

On the top of a small hill, a group of young girls relax under the sunny sky with their shoes off. Unbeknownst to them, this spot was the site of events both exciting and monotonous, from the prehistoric reign of the dinosaurs and the planting of an oak tree to a man walking his dogs among the literal ruins of times past. As time marches on, a small community is eventually formed where the group of girls gather to continue living their lives without shoes. Buitrago’s tender text, translated from Spanish, lovingly recalls the past while focusing on present-day experiences throughout. Wolfsgruber’s monotype collage art, with earthy tones of brown, orange, and green, conveys the passage of time, with the spreads at the beginning presented through a haze that clears up as the story progresses—much like a memory itself. Themes of displacement run through the narrative, with quick glances at a family seeking refuge from an unnamed war and a flock of birds left without a home after the felling of a tree. Readers will come away curious to learn more about the histories of their own communities. Human characters vary in skin tone.

The history of the world presented lovingly through an intimate lens.