#934 of 1001 · February 20, 2023

Opposites fascinate us. The dichotomy of two contrasting forces or entities holds deep symbolic resonance for the human mind. This power serves as a foundation for the whimsy and grace of Kerstin Hau and Julie Völk’s The Dark and the Light. The story centers on the border between two realms. Shaggy dwells on the shadowy side of the line, while Sparkle basks in the sun. Though they fear the unknown, each nurtures a secret curiosity to cross over and see what is on the other side. Soon enough, they meet and become friends, with Sparkle leading Shaggy gently over the dividing band of blue-gray to explore the bright zone. When her house is destroyed, Sparkle comes to live on the dark side. By the time they are ready to return to the light, she herself is afraid, and Shaggy provides her with the same courage she instilled in him. Ultimately, the two friends move back and forth between the worlds, maintaining a happy home on each side of the line. Hau provides a thought-provoking text (translated from German by David Henry Wilson), replete with such lovely details as a parasol to protect from the light, a flashlight to brighten the dark, and fur that gradually shifts color to match a change in environment. Völk’s illustrations employ cyanotype, a natural printing technique that yields the vivid blue pervading the book. #dark #light #friend #friends #friendship #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks