Castle of Books explores all the answers to the question “Why do we need books?”. Spare text and flowing, colorful illustrations give reasons from the realistic “to observe” to the more esoteric “to grow” and “to lose ourselves”. Everything about this book encourages the reader to think to himself “Why do I need books?” and proceed to the many answers he will have!
Synopsis: Luna is girl who lives in the sky and collects words. One day she notices all the good, sweet words she collected have disappeared from the world. She can’t sleep and makes a decision to spread her healing words throughout the world.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: Artistically drawn with text incorporated into each picture, “The Word Collector,’’ as a story is difficult to follow. The author/illustrator tries to convey the power of words to heal, but the art work is dark and busy, and just plain odd. Translated from the Spanish with a European sensibility, something may have gotten lost in the translation! Sonja Wimmer is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in books, posters, and magazines. Her illustrations for “The Word Collector” won the Gold Award for Best Illustrator at the 2011 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. (Ages 4 – 7)