Becoming Me: A Story of Creation

Against canvases of large, dramatic brush strokesDthe first in shades of brilliant blue, the next in splashes of yellow and orangeDthe words ""Once upon a time I was"" begin this original and affecting book. In a tone of childlike innocence, the narrative voice embarks on a description of the creative urge: ""I played by myself for ages . Then I started to get lonely. I wanted someone else to play with, someone who wasn't ME."" Along with this desire comes the ability to transform into a multitude of different creations: ""I can become all kinds of things that grow and swim and crawl and fly and run. One day I became YOU."" Above these words appear snapshot-size paintings of a tree, a school of fish, insects, birds and mammals, respectively, followed by a full-page dawn-colored image of an unborn child surrounded as if by halos. ""In time you forget all about me,"" the narrative continues, while the illustration shows a solitary figure turned away from a glowing tree, but ""Every so often, you wonder who you are."" Gilvan-Cartwright's striking abstract paintings evoke the power and simplicity of children's art, while at the same time barring any coyness in the storytelling by dint of their sophistication. The visual rhythms created by the skillful book design further accentuate the impact of the text. Gentle yet thought-provoking, this will offer readers another way to contemplate the nature of the divine. Ages 4-up. (June)