Some picture books were clearly written just for children. Others will appeal to adults who love to look at beautiful art, or who like to give their imagination an airing. And then there are picture books that can be enjoined equally by children and adults because the message is so universal. Today's picture book is just such a title. Children will be drawn into the simple narrative and perhaps they will think about what makes them feel safe and secure. Adults may find themselves wondering what their sanctuary is too. Is it a place, a person, or something else altogether?
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Wendy Marloe
Illustrated by Joanna Chen
Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
Marloe Press, 2015, 978-0-9823495-3-3
When a group of people are asked what they think of when
they hear the word “sanctuary,” each person will probably come up with a unique
answer. For some, a cozy nook in a window seat might be a sanctuary, while for
others their sanctuaries might be out in the fresh air, perhaps amongst trees
in the woods or on top of a high hill.
In this
memorable book a minimal text is paired with beautiful illustrations to explore
what sanctuaries are. They can be places where we share a part of ourselves, places
like a stage. Or they can be places where we can be alone, such as a chair in a
library. A sanctuary can be a structure “made out of stone, or cloth, or
cardboard or wood,” or alternately it can be “the space between here and the
horizon.”
A sanctuary can
be a solitary place under the covers where we hold onto a beloved stuffed
animal so that we can have a quiet cry, or it can be picnic place in the woods
where we go to play and laugh with others.
This is the kind
of book that children and grownups alike will enjoy sharing. It is a book that
will give readers something to think about, and they will enjoy sharing the
artwork, and the imagery in the words, with others.
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