Before After

French artists Arégui and Ramstein don’t just explore the idea of before and after in this wordless book—they pursue it with fervor. Crisply outlined digital images are tinted with muted pastels and splashed with warmer colors. Some are serious, others contain flashes of wit, and an air of scientific objectivity makes the humor even funnier. Many images are naturally suited to the theme—a caterpillar on the left becomes a butterfly on the right, and an acorn becomes an oak tree. A volcano that has erupted appears bare and lifeless; on the facing page, a dense jungle has grown up around it. A pile of ingredients becomes a cake; several pages later, the cake disappears, leaving a lonely slice on a crumb-filled plate. Other images are complex, surprising, and even puckish. The chicken-and-egg problem is addressed (though not solved), and a baby primate in that same volcanic jungle turns into a well-known ape, clinging to a skyscraper and swiping at airplanes. It’s a fascinating examination of the work that time does, and it offers new possibilities—and smiles —every time it’s read. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)