Dawn

Rating:
Summary: This is a book in which nothing - and everything happens.
Review: I had the opportunity to spend two weeks with Mr. Shulevitz some years ago at a writers workshop in upstate New York. In this peaceful setting I first read his book "Dawn". I mention the location because it perfectly mirrored the setting of the book, which takes place on a small lake, much like Pine Lake, the site of our workshop. In the time I spent with Mr. Schulevitz, I came to appreciate the profound simplicity he brings to his work. This concept of "less is more" is nowhere more apparent than in this book. He has managed to present the routine, a sunrise, as a wonderous event. This is an excellent book to share with a young child; the illustrations and sparse text build throughout the story to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion. Although the details he has recorded are simple, they create a powerful sense of time and place, easily drawing a child into the story. It will likely raise questions; who are the boy and the old man? Where are they going? Of course, in the end, none of this really matters. The power of the sunrise trancends all that preceeds it. Ultimately, this book, like much of Uri Schulevitz's work, is very "zen-like" in that it invites the reader to experience the miracle of the ordinary. I would encourage anyone to purchase and enjoy this book. It offers a child - or an adult for that matter - an oasis of calm in a frantic world.

Rating:
Summary: This is a book in which nothing - and everything happens.
Review: I had the opportunity to spend two weeks with Mr. Shulevitz some years ago at a writers workshop in upstate New York. In this peaceful setting I first read his book "Dawn". I mention the location because it perfectly mirrored the setting of the book, which takes place on a small lake, much like Pine Lake, the site of our workshop. In the time I spent with Mr. Schulevitz, I came to appreciate the profound simplicity he brings to his work. This concept of "less is more" is nowhere more apparent than in this book. He has managed to present the routine, a sunrise, as a wonderous event. This is an excellent book to share with a young child; the illustrations and sparse text build throughout the story to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion. Although the details he has recorded are simple, they create a powerful sense of time and place, easily drawing a child into the story. It will likely raise questions; who are the boy and the old man? Where are they going? Of course, in the end, none of this really matters. The power of the sunrise trancends all that preceeds it. Ultimately, this book, like much of Uri Schulevitz's work, is very "zen-like" in that it invites the reader to experience the miracle of the ordinary. I would encourage anyone to purchase and enjoy this book. It offers a child - or an adult for that matter - an oasis of calm in a frantic world.