Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Panorama: A fold out book
Illustrator: Joelle Jolivet
Novelty Book
For ages 4 to 8
Abrams, 2007 ISBN: 081098332X
Many children enjoy taking imaginary journeys to far off places. They crawl through tall grass and that they are hunters stalking a large animal somewhere. Playing on a little hill they are pirates marooned on an island in the middle of the ocean.
As they unfold and open up the pages in this book, children can take a similar journey using their eyes. They will go from a city to a place where tigers make their homes. From there they will go to Alaska where big bears hunt for salmon, and then on to a blazing hot desert in Africa.
In all, the creators of this extraordinary book take their readers to sixteen very different places around the world. Each picture seamlessly merges into the next, and because the book is not bound, readers can open up every page to create a gorgeous frieze. The picture narrative ends with a night time scene and a little puzzle.
Joelle Jolivet’s gorgeous black and white artwork will intrigue and delight readers of all ages.
