Friday, July 18, 2008

Meeting Amadi
























For those of us who read in the same way that we breathe, sometimes it's easy to take that activity for granted. We forget the inherent magic that comes from the printed word floating from the page into an imagination and the excitement that comes when that flow first occurs.

When a book reminds us of how special it was to learn to read, and how much we once yearned to know how to do that, that book is special. Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-Lot and illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo is one of those books that gives us back the hunger and eagerness that we once had for learning to read. A short story in the form of a picture book--and a beautiful one at that!--this book gave me chills as I read it, and when I finished the last jubilant page, I immediately went back to the beginning and read it again.

This is one of those remarkable books that is meant for all ages, where the pictures and the text come together seamlessly in a glowing, perfectly blended, and wonderful world of its own. I love this book and can't wait to share it with (and give it to) other people who will love it just as much as I do. Thank you, Katia, Dimitrea, and Amadi!

2 comments:

Katia said...

Janet, thank you so much for the wonderful review. I'm checking emails from a JFK hotel, departing for Haiti in the morning, and will not be able to check emails for the next 10 days, I'm suffering from jetlag and dead tired, but I just had to say a word. Thanks a lot. I love the way you approached the story. Amadi thanks you too :)
I see several of your posts that I want to comment on, but I just can't right now. More later, I promise.
Katia

Janet Brown said...

Thank you for such a wonderful book--and an endearing and enduring (I hope) living, breathing Amadi. Best wishes to you in your travels and in your upcoming readings!