Meet the illustrator Zuzanna Celej

Bookseller blurb: We have always been told about the power of imagination, but what is imagination? How does it work? There is a magical place where you can always be yourself. In there you can turn on your light and illuminate your life with it. That place is your imagination. Your imagination has a life and a voice of its own. It is like a voice that speaks inside of you and paints everything around you with vivid colors. Within your imagination you are the king or queen of your creation. Open the door and discover how that place where we can always be ourselves is like and how does it work. And within your imagination ... what is there?

Zuzanna Celej is a new discovery for me - I picked up the book Inside my Imagination and was immediately drawn to the illustrations. As usual, I wondered why/how the library where I work as a volunteer had selected this book. It turns out it won a couple of awards - albeit awards I have never heard of, such as the Moonbeam Children's Book Award. 

Zuzanna Celej is an award-winning children's book illustrator as well as an artist and painter. She has illustrated more than fifty children's books (the majority are in Spanish), including The Map of Good Memories by Fran Nuño, which won the New York City Big Book Award, The Lighthouse of Souls by Ariel Andrés Almada, The Old Oak Legacy by J. L. Badal, Tania Val de Lumbre by Maria Parr, El secreto de Abuelo Oso by Pedro Mañas and Inside My Imagination by Marta Arteaga, which won the Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Best Illustrator and the Living Now Book Award for a children's picture book. Originally from Poland, Zuzanna now lives in Barcelona.

I was not able to find a book source for this image - but I do think it is very delicate and beautiful:

Here are some more books illustrated by Zuzanna Celej:

Read more here

Publisher blurb: What is a lighthouse of souls? It's the light that guides Leo and his grandpa over distant seas, to discover those who wait every night for a gentle word to help them fall asleep with a smile on their lips. The Lighthouse of Souls is not only a tender tale of the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren, but also between all of those who look for something they share in common: a light that guides them towards hope.

Bookseller blurb: Moon knew it was unusual to see a green turtle. Out of all the sea turtles in the world, they were the species that was most at risk. "What is it Turtle? Why are you here?" The turtle beckoned, Come, with its strong front flipper, and, as if it had actually spoken, Moon knew that it wanted to show her something. Many animals are in danger because of human activities. An animal at risk of extinction is a species that will only be around for a short while longer, unless steps are taken to save it. Moon 's Messenger reminds us of the importance of conserving and respecting the environment, and that we can all help to protect nature and biodiversity.

Read an interview with Zuzanna Calej on Let's Talk Picture Books 

With Butterfly’s Wings is a tender story about a girl who loses her beloved grandmother 

and finds comfort in remembering her through what she learned from her.

The Music of the Sea by Susanna Isern illustrated by Marta Chicote Translated by Jon Brokenbrow

 

"The ever-changing music of the sea was there to keep her company. Sometimes it reminded her of church bells and other times of a great ship sailing towards the village. Once she imagined a choir of children singing together, and even a great opera."

Publisher blurb from Cuento de Luz: After a terrible storm batters a little coastal village, only Daniel the fisherman and his daughter Marina decide to stay behind. Every night Daniel sneaks out of the house, as he prepares to give Marina a wonderful surprise. The incredible music of the sea starts to play, and it changes the course of their lives.  A story about the power of hope, and the universal language of music.

The Music of the Sea was originally published in Spanish with the title: La Música del mar. Here is the trailer. You can see art from this book here. Marta Chicote has her profile listed as Marta Chicote Juiz.  Susanna was inspired to write this story after seeing this marine organ in Croatia. 

Isern’s lyrical narrative waxes poetic about the sea, whales, and the contentment found in a life close to nature, and Chicote’s illustrations, with their dreamlike quality, enhance the narrative. Kirkus

I would pair this book with The Whales' Song by Dyan Sheldon illustrated by Gary Blythe and Storm whale by Sarah Brennan illustrated by Jane Tanner.

I have talked about other books by Susanna Isern in previous posts:

The Lonely Mailman

A Mystery in the Forest

The Magic Ball of Wool

The Lonely Mailman by Susanna Isern illustrated by Daniel Montero Galán

A loving tribute to problem-solvers, quarrel menders, 

and peacemakers. Kirkus Star review

The mailman is lonely because, while he delivers letters every day to the other forest animals he never receives a letter himself and each evening he returns to his empty home.

Oddly I cannot say much more about The Lonely Mailman because I want you to enjoy the wonderful story surprise. I do have one small suggestion. Once you have read this book and discovered the 'truth' you might like to re-read the pairs of letters in reverse order.  If you cannot bear to wait to read this book you can read the whole plot here - Celebrate Picture books.

A couple of weeks ago I talked about A Mystery in the forest also by Susanna Isern and Daniel Montero Galán. The Lonely Mailman is the first book in this series. The Spanish title is Cartas en el bosque. You can see inside the Spanish edition here. The paperback edition of The Lonely Mailman was published in 2017 and I am pleased to see it is still available. I do enjoy books that contain letters and I have made a small Pinterest collection of them - Letters and Letter writing.

The day Saida arrived by Susana Gomez Redondo illustrated by Sonja Wimmer translated by Lawrence Schimel

Blurb: "The new girl, from Morocco, doesn't speak. She doesn't speak English, that is. But when her classmate welcomes the girl the share her native Arabic, the two forge a forever friendship while learning about the vast wonders in the world around them."

The narrator of this gentle story is determined to help her new friend Saida find her words and in turn the young English speaking girl will learn new words too such as these:

Blue 'azraq  أزرق

Butterfly farasha  فراشة 

Pelican baje  بجع 

Rainbow qus almatar   قوس المطر

Saedia (Saida) which means Happy  سعيدة

This is a book I would share with children aged 7+ but you could also use it with an older group. This text quote would make a terrific starting point for a discussion about words and communication and the power of language:

"And we knew that in all languages, there are words as warm as breath and others cold as metal. Words that bring us together, and words that separate. Words that cause hurt, words that awaken laughter. Words that tickle when they're spoken, and others that, when we hear them, feel like a hug."

Read some reviews of this book:

A joyous, lyrical text—including English translations and pronunciations and the complete Arabic alphabet—offers an accessible, fresh approach to talking about immigration.  The Ladybug Reads

A lyrical, playful book about immigration, respect, learning, and friendship across cultures. Kirkus

Drenched in emotion, Wimmer conjures up the emotions felt by Saida when she is unable to express herself. The illustrations are fantastical: the friends climb onto a hippopotamus, walk a clothesline as a high wire, and sail away on a hot air balloon. Butler's Pantry

Who are Blue Dot? "Blue Dot Kids Press inspires curiosity with beautifully crafted stories that connect us to each other and the planet we share. Written and illustrated by impassioned storytellers and artists from around the world, our books engage young readers’ innate sense of wonder and empathy, connecting them to our global community and the pale blue dot we call home."

Here is a video of Lawrence Schimel reading an extract from this book.

I would pair this book with Phileas's Fortune.

Once upon a time by Guridi translated by Alayne Pullen

 

Publisher blurb: "Bard has a unique ability! He tells the most incredible stories to the people in his village. But what would happen if one day he stopped speaking? What would life be like without stories?"

Early in his life Bard shows his love of words and eventually his ability as a storyteller. People in the village gift him words such as PLATYPUS and KALEIDOSCOPE. 

"They gave him hundreds and thousands of synonyms and millions and billions of adjectives. Bard would transform their words into stories taht carried them all away to extraordinary places."

I wonder why they gave the word 'platypus'? I did check and this is the word they use. Here it is in Spanish: Ornitorrinco

But one day Bard stops talking. He doesn't just stop telling his story he stops speaking. We never find out why. Now there is silence. There are three double pages with the word silence which shows just how profound this must feel to the village. People in the village try to work out why this is happened. It leads to a huge, loud discussion but one person stays silent - thoughtful - Ballad, the musician. The people try dressing in fancy costumes hoping this might inspire Bard. They try giving him words but the words match their mood - dull, boredom, sadness - and so are not at all helpful. 

Then Ballad has an idea. "He began playing the strings of his cello with his bow softly and sweetly."

Bard hears the sounds and utters his first word - end. Luckily it is not the end. More words come.

"The whole village drew nearer crowding round and jostling together to listen to him, because in fact the 'End' was actually just the beginning of a brand new story."

The end papers of this book contain some delightful words: people, trace, imagine, strings, music, beginning, blue, line, smile, sound, knot, silence, end. A class could use these words or simply the word 'end' to compose their own stories either written or oral. Of course you will also want to talk about the concept of a Bard and the significance of the name Ballad.

Once upon a time was first published in Spain with the title Érase. The word Érase actually means "once upon a time." You could use this book as a discussion starter with older students about the power of words, the issues surrounding silence, the importance of story as a way to build community and even the politics of silencing any one who is outspoken. Here is an interview with Raúl Guridi.

Here is a quote from Guridi:

"Storytellers are creators who search between the lines, who interpret images, who endow books with soul and life to "dazzle" listeners, to transport them to amazing worlds and remove them from their lives for a moment. For me they are essential in this society full of lies and empty words ”.

He explains the illustrations this way:

“In Érase there were three fundamental premises: blue as the base color, a Portuguese blue, a symbol of struggle, which transmits strength and calm. With pencil and ink mainly. A composition using the voids as an object of reflection. And a slow process of searching for expressions with the minimum, giving the same prominence to the text (the word) and the image ”.

Here is a review comment:

Understated, yet dazzlingly refreshing, it's a hugely original children's story that shows the value of having friends who will do anything to help out, even in the trickiest situations. Read it Daddy

Discussion points you could use with a class:

• Think about the title. When have you read the words "once upon a time". Why do you think Guridi used these words for his title?
• We think of "once upon a time" as the beginning of a written story. Bard is an oral storyteller - what does this mean? Should someone be writing his stories down? Talk about the citizens of the town and ways that could be used to encourage them to tell their own stories.
• How will things change in this community now that Bard can tell his stories again. Do you think Bard will explain his period of silence - why or why not?
• The silence in this story is very important. When is silence a good thing? When is it a bad thing?

Here are some other books illustrated by Guridi