Alright, now that you've done that, we can discuss the beauty of this book. Illustrations are probably my favorite aspects of children's books - a good illustration has the power to tell a story that words cannot. The illustrations of this book - the colors - evoke emotion that gives Mr. Morris' story even greater depth. Books are color, color is happiness. When Mr. Morris' world is sent into turmoil and his pages are scattered and blown from him, the world appears lonely and gray. Once books make a reappearance in his life, he begins to regain his color. The expression depicted in the character's faces and the way the text dances across the page, synchronized with each illustration, makes reading this book an aesthetic adventure.
Naturally, I am going to fall in love with any book about the love of books...but this story contains so much more. It is overflowing with lessons on how to go on after all seems lost, how to spread joy to others by sharing what you love, and how to be at peace with letting go.
We watch Mr. Morris write his story, loose his way, and find something new to write about; and we all connect with him. Who can say that their world hasn't been scattered by the wind in some way? Who can say that they have never wandered?
