Anya lives in the village of Paperlee, where people are “paper-thin and paper-light.” Residents are happy, except for the five-and-a-half days a year when strong winds blow and they keep stones in their pockets so they’re not lifted away. But when windmills suddenly appear on a neighboring mountain, home to the village of Forestlee, the anxious people of Paperlee suddenly need to carry stones with them all the time!
Anya realizes she must go to Forestlee, but first she must design a bridge to cross the chasm that divides the two villages. Using skills gleaned from the papercraft of kirigami, the bridge is built and Anya bravely crosses, only to discover that things are very different in Forestlee. Nevertheless, Anya explains the plight of her people, helps to solve a problem, and in doing so she finds a friend.
Joëlle Veyrenc uses the language of folklore to bring this gorgeous, hopeful story of interconnectedness and problem solving to life. Equally important are Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s meticulous illustrations, which use kirigami, pencil, and watercolor on paper, hand-cut and arranged into scenes, then photographed (back matter shows samples of what the constructed art looks like). Let this mesmerizing tale sweep you away!
--Lynn
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