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BRICK BY BRICK by Giuliano Ferri

BRICK BY BRICK

by Giuliano Ferri ; edited by Giuliano Ferri

Pub Date: April 5th, 2016
ISBN: 978-988-8341-18-4
Publisher: minedition

In this story without words, a band of anthropomorphic critters finds a better use for a brick wall than the usual one.

A young mouse in a blue sweater and red pants removes one brick from a white wall to reveal a grassy hill behind. After it’s joined by a cat, the duo takes a second brick away. The work continues as a pig, a rabbit, and a sheep join the crew. After the wall is deconstructed, readers see all five animals standing on a gentle promontory and staring forlornly at another group (monkey, lion, elephant, giraffe, and gazelle) standing on an identical spit of land on the other side of an indeterminate body of water. Both groups work together to build a bridge out of the bricks from the former wall (how those bricks got on the other side of the water is never addressed). Channeling Anthony Browne’s pleasingly flat style, Ferri’s art, which looks to be watercolor, is sweet, recognizable, and expressive. The images tell a compelling story that will work for toddlers and preschoolers alike. While the tale is proudly didactic, nothing about it feels forced or strident.

Touching and timely

. (Board book. 2-4)