SILENCE

An unusual bucolic journey.

In this wordless tale, a child with light skin and reddish hair, clad in a dress, travels through the countryside, guided initially by a white rabbit. In a fantastical turn, the child often appears smaller than the rabbit. The protagonist paddles a canoe down the river, encountering a heron, a frog, and a duck, who join the child. Together, they observe one another, and the child contemplates their watery reflection, noticing elements of nature as butterflies flit about and tall rushes and flowers fill the landscape. Uyá’s illustrations appear to be rendered in mixed-media watercolor, with muted tones and textures. Ultimately the narrative falls flat, as the child’s journey seems to end with little visual explanation. A wordless story needs to be carried by rich, evocative illustrations that can guide readers. However, Uyá depicts the child in a rather stiff and awkward way throughout, which feels distancing. This slight tale would have benefitted from a supporting text that could scaffold a more meaningful reading experience between a child and their grown-up. Skip this and instead opt for Roxane Marie Galliez’s Thank You, Miyuki (2020), illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A disappointing addition to the wordless-picture-book genre.