#1001 of 1001 · April 28, 2023

Gentle Readers, the time has come. The time for endings, and for new beginnings, and for the silent contemplation that marks the passage. This is a day I have been anticipating for a very long while now—the day of my thousandth book review. I am a bittersweet barrel of emotions right now, but most of all I am feeling a great sense of fulfillment. When I discovered this book many months ago, I knew instantly that it had to be my last. I am proud to end my Final Ten Books (and indeed the entire set of one thousand) with @margolanagan and @rovinacai’s Tintinnabula. Just what is Tintinnabula? In the ancient world, the Latin word referred to sacred bells used in monasteries. Here, it represents a personal paradise, a sanctuary from oppression and destruction. A wanderer in a devastated landscape flees from a great, swirling darkness toward a gentle country where soft rains fall on grassy hills. The figure of a white bird leads onward through lush forests, across still waters, to a glowing silhouette representing the traveler’s self, pure and holy. With this quiet encounter, the tale ends. Lanagan’s text radiates a serene, poetic vitality. Cai’s transcendent illustrations, a combination of pencil and digital coloring, celebrate the glorious triumph of peace and tranquility. Tintinnabula is everything I love about picture books. It is a masterpiece. * And so you have it, Gentle Readers. One thousand days. One thousand books. I cannot thank you enough for reading along with me. Now I must rest. But know that I will be back. Until then, safe travels…and happy reading. #war #peace #humanity #freedom #wonder #magic #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks