#156 of 1001 · January 3, 2021

As we slip into the gray of winter, I already find myself longing for spring. Though the next season’s turn feels like little more than a distant glimmer of hope, I find solace in the comforting grace of Eveline Hasler and Käthi Bhend’s In My Dreams I Can Fly. A troupe of tiny creatures—a grub, two worms, a beetle, and a caterpillar—prepares for winter in their network of underground tunnels. The grub keeps a huge onion locked away in his storeroom for them to feast on, but the beetle cannot resist sneaking in and taking a small nibble. This small act of transgression drives a steady sequence of change; by the time spring has arrived, more than one transformation has occurred. Hasler portrays her characters with sympathy and and affection, observing strength and respecting sadness but never condemning weakness. Bhend’s cutaway-style illustrations meld cartoon character design with richly textured environment to produce a warm and glowing atmosphere that celebrates the peaceful harmony of nature.. #caterpillar #grub #beetle #worm #winter #spring #onion #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks