And those books, as he read, "filled his dreams with people in faraway places." When he was old enough, he traveled (alone) to New York.
The story shows a young Carlo, knowing only a little English, walking the streets of the city, desperate for work. One lucky day, he found himself looking at the fabulous books shown in a bookbinder's window, amazed. "'So many beautiful books', he whispered to himself." This lucky young Carlo was seen by the shopkeeper, and the rest of the story shows that through his continuing love of books and a kind teacher and employer, Carlo learned the art of bookbinding. In that work, he studied English in the books at night, then up he rose to start another day, loving his work, making books for others who also loved them.
In the story, Charles imagines Carlo's thoughts as he worked: "He loved to make them and hold them in his hands, and he loved how he could smell the forest coming through the pages." That is poetry!
Anna Forlati envisions Charles' telling of his family's immigrant story with gorgeous illustrations filling the pages with dreamy muted tones that feel like memories. Along with the beauty in what feels like a collaboration meant to be, Anna lives in Northern Italy, not far from where Charles' great-grandfather lived.
Added at the back is a brief piece that explains this book-binding art, which will inspire added research into the artistic process. Also, Charles tells that this story was told to him by his father!
Dave Eggers gives us another kind of poetry in his book that tells the history of our spectacular Statue of Liberty. He tells all the history, in his "tell it like it is" tongue-in-cheek manner, from the very idea of a Frenchman, Laboulaye, who wanted to do something for the United States to celebrate their centennial and who convinced another Frenchman, Bartholdi, to design a sculpture. As you know, it happened, and the long, long story that came to the fantastic end of 214 boxes sailing across the Atlantic, the statue in parts, holds lots of details, including that Lady Liberty's Right Foot shows she is "on the go," ready to welcome all who come to her country for oh, so many reasons! Shawn Harris illustrates this story in wild colors of diversity, a gift to all here and all arriving.
This political season and words said in numerous places are full of hateful words about immigrants, filling the media in various ways, in graphics or speeches. Some seem to have forgotten that we are all immigrants or are descendants of them, every one of us who is not Native American. That is our country called America!
by Emma Lazarus 1849 - 1887
This poem is in the public domain.
