The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky
by Jihyun Kim (Author)
"Astonishing to behold." New York Times
It's summertime and a boy and his dog are leaving behind their apartment in the busy city. His grandparents' home in the countryside feels like a different world. From the window, the curious boy sees a path leading enticingly into the forest. He can't wait to explore. At each bend in the trail the boy discovers more wonders of the surrounding natural world, from towering trees to a still, silent lake. He can't resist diving down, down into the cool water and greeting the fish below. Then later, when boy and dog have been warmed by the gentle sunshine, they wander back, contentedly, to their family. But before they go to sleep, nature gives them one last dazzling show: they look up, up to a night sky awash with stars.
Without a word, The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky tells the heartfelt and uplifting story of a child's independent discovery of the natural world. Kim Jihyun cleverly captures excitement, wonder and joy in intricate illustrations using a deceptively simple color palate. This is a beautiful wordless story about allowing ourselves to be present in the moment and see the world afresh.
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School Library Journal
A wordless picture book pays homage to the wonder of nature. The story opens with a boy playing on his bedroom floor, his desk and walls full of artwork. The boy, his parents, and dog leave the city cramped by buildings for the sparse countryside. After they reach the grandparents' home, the boy and his dog go down a path that leads to a lake. It is a quiet story without drama. Rather, the book is a call to pause, slow down, and enjoy nature. The illustrator used writing ink to draw and paint, and each spread is a masterpiece. In one scene, the clouds above the car are so detailed and clear that they look more like a photograph than a sketch. While many of the illustrations are a view of the boy from the side or behind, the most striking pictures are from the boy's perspective. For example, one scene shows the boy sprawled on the pier looking up; the next spread is the sun shining down. Another illustration depicts the boy and his dog gazing upwards. That is followed by the starry night sky, framed by treetops. VERDICT This may take some book-talking to engage children in such a slow meditative piece, but surely it will spark discussion and appreciation of nature afterwards. Leisurely and lovely.—Elissa Cooper
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Drawn and painted in writing ink, to show different qualities of light, it's astonishing to behold." - New York Times
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
Boys
Country life
Summer
Landscapes
Wordless picture books
