21 Aug / My Favorite Memories by Sepideh Sarihi, illustrated by Julie Völk, translated by Elisabeth Lauffer [in Shelf Awareness]
A globally collaborative trio – Iranian German author Sepideh Sarihi, Austrian artist Julie Völk, and U.S. translator Elisabeth Lauffer – present lucky audiences My Favorite Memories, a poignant, hopeful journey of transition and relocation. “I was brushing my hair when Papa came in and told me we were moving,” a young girl explains. Mama gives her a new red suitcase in which to pack her “most favorite things.” But her aquarium, her Grandpa-made wooden chair, the pear tree outside, her bus driver, and, most importantly, her best friend can’t possibly all fit inside. Her contemplative wander to the ocean – another of her favorite things – inspires an ingenious idea to stay connected once she arrives in her faraway new home: her new country is bordered by this same vast sea.
Sarihi’s spare story, translated from the German by Lauffer and enhanced by IBBY-Honored Völk’s magnificent illustrations, will undoubtedly resonate with audiences around the world. “I used a very fine pencil,” Völk explains in a statement, “because it allowed me to create … a lot of details without overloading the drawings.” Her double-page spreads feature dazzling elements: a dollhouse fully furnished, an oversized interior window looking out onto a meticulously articulated street scene, and inquisitive birds bearing witness throughout. The addition of colored pencils adds immediate vibrancy. The whimsical results showcase not only the narrator, but the expressive singing fish, a concerned onlooker on the ocean dock, and a curious dog by water’s edge. Even when the narrative ends, Völk visually continues the girl’s story, a promise of new favorite things to come.
Discover: Artist Julie Völk stunningly illustrates Sepideh Sarihi’s poignant story about a young girl’s move from one country to another.
Review: “Children’s & Young Adult,” Shelf Awareness, August 21, 2020
Readers: Children
Published: 2020