In This Book

Marceau and Jolivet, the French duo behind the oversize foldout book Panorama, return with another idiosyncratic project, one that feels like a cousin to Blexbolex’s Seasons and People. First published in France, the book presents more than 50 simple, stately linocuts of people, animal, and objects, each of which (or whom) declares its location. “I am in the bed, said the dog,” reads one page, as a black-and-white pup stares beseechingly at readers. “I am in the dark, said the child,” appears opposite, as a boy (in his own bed) peers at the golden light peeking from beneath his bedroom door. Creamy shades of blue, violet, orange, and green contribute to a sedate mood; while the book offers opportunities to discuss the meaning of “in,” the repeating statements of being on each page give each subject subtle anthropomorphic dimension—even when said subject is defined by absence (“I am in the cheese, said the hole”). Readers may find themselves dreaming about what the future might hold for the pebble nestled in a shoe, the abandoned soccer ball in a field, and the princess in a painting. Ages 3–5. [em](Aug.) [/em]