Flashlight

A children’s book set on a deep dark night, full of black pages. It looks scary but it’s really just an encouragement to overcome our fears and open our eyes through curiosity. The young protagonist of this story sneaks out of his tent in the woods with a flashlight to discover all the creatures, great and small, that brings the darkest hours to life. This silent book, with no words, is absolutely enchanting, for it literally shines a light on some parts of the page, leaving all the rest in utter darkness, making it all the more fascinating. There are also holes in the paper that help bring the story to life, making it possible to find out what is going to happen, and not without some surprises. It is no coincidence that this book was a prizewinner some years ago at the Bologna Ragazzi Award, one of the most important in the sector and a springboard for children’s publishing.   Lizi Boyd Giochi di luce Terre di Mezzo Editore, 2017