WE ARE ALL BORN FREE

In this pro-bono album, a simplified version of the UN’s Universal Declaration, as provided by Amnesty International, has been illustrated by an international cast of 30 artists, from South Africa’s Niki Daly and South Korean Hong Sung Dam to Debi Gliori (Scotland), Jan Spivey Gilchrist (United States) and Bob Graham (Australia). Though Alan Lee and some other contributors offer somber or angry images—the spattered rag doll that Jane Ray has created for Article 5 (“Nobody has any right to hurt us or to torture us”) may even disturb more sensitive viewers—in general the bright colors and smiling cartoon figures create an upbeat tone. Some images are downright perfect: Polly Dunbar contributes a spread of a little girl holding a flower and standing next to a spilled vase, flanked by enormous parental feet: “Nobody should be blamed for doing something until it is proved” (Article 11). Because each spread has a different look, this is better suited to page-by-page examination and discussion rather than a straight read-through. A photo gallery of the contributors caps this worthy, earnest collection. (Picture book. 8-11)