Nine Words Max

Some time ago I attended a book launch that reminded me why I love children’s books so much.

Growing up I was an avid reader but I had no access to a variety of children’s books other than the classic fairytales, which I read over and over. You can imagine my excitement with the selection of kids books that we can find nowadays, and don't get me started on the illustrators! In my scale of cool jobs an illustrator of children’s books has one of the coolest jobs, but that is a topic for another day.

Anyway, the book launch I attended to was Nine Words Max, written by Dan Bar-el and illustrated by David Huyck, Tundra Books 2014. 

This is the great story of Maximilian, a rather talkative little prince, who loves to share eve bit of information, every topic and every thought (I am sure we all know somebody like that). His three older brothers are quite the opposite, the less words the better. They seem to speak in 140 characters or less and be profoundly annoyed by their younger brother. So, when the queen and king went on vacation and left the princes at home, the three brothers decided to cast a spell on little Maximilian allowing him to speak only 9 words at a time; but suddenly they would realize the true value of their little brother’s words. And just like Maximilian would stop talking right at the 9th word, author Dan Bar-el abruptly stopped reading half way through the book, which I thought was brilliant.

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

It took me so long to write the review of Flora and the Flamingo, that the author and illustrator Molly Idle has already launched the sequel Flora and the Penguin last week, but that is ok, because these are the kind of books that become all-time favourites and are worth reviewing just anytime. 

Flora and the Flamingo is among some of the most beautifully illustrated children’s books I have seen. I have a special place in my bookshelf for books like this one, the “yes, you can read mommy’s book but wash your hands first” collection.

Published in 2013 and winer of the Caldecott Honor Award, Flora and the Flamingo is a wordless book, yet words are no needed, the images are enough to take us graciously through a story of partnership.

The small details are what make Flora so endearing: her swimming cap, her chubby tights and her clumsiness make us fall in love with her. In my opinion, here is where Idle’s talent resides, in communicating so much with so little. We don't need words to perceive Flora’s feelings and the dynamics of her relationship with the flamingo – their synchronized movements and their expressions are enough.

And the pink! Oh, the pink!

© Molly Idle. Photographs by Chronicle Books