by Sam Juliano
Aaron Becker was a frontrunner for last year’s Caldecott Medal, and ended up with one of the three honors that were awarded. His wordless picture book Journey became an instant classic upon release and its success and exceeding artistry inspired Becker to commence with a trilogy, of which the ravishing Quest is the second chapter. In picture book land, the wild anticipation for parts two and three size up as the equivalent of how cinematic Tolkien admirers waited on The Two Towers and The Return of the King, after the exquisite The Fellowship of the Ring. To be sure, there is always something especially novel about the first installment of anything. Some are obstinate in the way they assess the a multi-part work, always seeing the first as the establishing aesthetic. Yet, most discerning film fans will cite the final installment as the most all-encompassing and majestic, the one that will ultimately be remembered over the long haul. Children’s literature fans are a bit more skeptical, though in another sense they are overprotective of an adored book that set the bar high. Still, Becker moved forward undaunted and his Quest is every bit as superlative as its predecessor. Kirkus was right on the money when they opined: “This book proves to be more exciting than its predecessor, emphasizing adventure over evocative metaphor.” Becker certainly does broaden his canvass and deepens the conflicts while diversifying his exotic scope. It is like comparing Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island with his Around the World in Eighty Days. Bigger is not always better, but the same could be said of the reverse proposal. Had a work of Quest’s artistic stature been released first, I do believe it would have wowed the committee and various award givers as resoundingly as Journey did. But I am getting ahead – Quest is in the Caldecott hunt, and has been named by a number of critics and book lovers as one of their supreme favorites of 2014. I’d venture to predict that the third part of the trilogy will also impress many.
Again, Becker offers up a sumptuous dust cover of fantastical proportions, showing the full extent of the kind of exquisite art watercolor, pen and ink can produce. Violet and blue are predominant in the mixes, as well they should be in book with a mysterious underpinning, and as in Journey the red letters of the title are boldly applied. The spine and back panel are deep violet, with the deserved critical blurbs for the previous book accredited. The rich violet end papers featuring the map to solve this adventurous mission are embossed in a slightly darker shade. Then the epic begins on the title page, where girl and boy on bikes, armed with red and purple chalk and accompanied by faithful dove, head off in the rain. An ornate double page copyright spread shows the kids under a stone land bridge in a city park. Stone statues are anchored on both sides. A man dressed as a King suddenly appears, and he quickly hands the startled kids a map that features sic colored circles. he urges them off, but is restrained and pulled back inside the door by old-fashioned armed sentries. The boy and girl then use their magic chalk to draw two keys that allow them admittance to this seemingly secret door. Entering the domain of Journey our youthful explorers find themselves looking on from a rock near a waterfall in a castle moat, heavily guarded. The captive King is led inside the gate, as zeppelins encircle the fort with more armed men. Smoke and fire can be seen in the distance. the children then point to a yellow circle that contains an ancient structure with columns, one that would make you think of ancient Greece. holding the map near the water they are eyed accusingly by the guards, and quickly create underwater gear. One of Becker’s most spectacular tapestries envisions an Atlantic-like city, broken but containing remnants from long ago, with the kids clinging to an octopus for a close inspection. They enter this shell of a building and in accordance with the specifications on the map, take a yellow piece of chalk and narrowly escape their armed pursuers, trustful bird in tow.
Next up is a trip through a jungle which leads to a long bridge. They reach the other side, and add a color to their chalk collection as per the map’s instructions, but the chase continues. They draw their way out of their predicament, narrowly avoiding being intercepted as a bird creature pulls lifts them away on a red swing, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-style. This is another breathtaking tapestry from Becker, set near snow capped mountains. Their escort drops them on the top of a statue of Buddha, where they secure a green piece of chalk for their nearly completed collection. A fleet of guards riding zeppelins nearly capture the kids, who entrust their string of chalk to the bird. The next three double page spreads are easily the most stunning in the book. The first showcases the blinding effect when the final piece of chalk is secured, and the bird takes flight. A rainbow arc through the sky then settling on the King and his captives. The latter are all neutralized and the King holds up his hands in triumph. This cascade of ravishing color leaves other guards helpless, and leads to a complete triumph on the following spread, where the King accompanied by the boy and girl ride to the front gate on a purple rhinoceros. The people are delighted with his return and help circulate celebratory graffiti. Then we see the King showing his gratitude to the kids, who draws a portal for them to return to the park.
Quest is often colorful to a fault, yet there is a sense of foreboding associated with the darker skies and liberal does of gray, to denote the kingdom’s occupation. The chalk motif is now given a central role in the arc of the plot, indeed it dictates the pacing and some hair-raising narrow escapes. While it could rightly be argued that Journey was purer and more economical, Quest is more intricate and pictorially complex. Becker even links some of the statues we see in the park with the mythological locations that gloriously dot this remarkable wordless narrative. Indeed one is apt to recall tales like “Jason and the Argonauts” where a mission cannot be completed without the successful navigation of some exceedingly difficult obstacles. The idea of the different chalk colors to be found before the kingdom is returned to its proper monarch, and the insurgency is quelled recalls the Outer Limits’ episode “Demon with a Glass Hand” where every finger of a hand must be inserted onto a human robot before a vital piece of information is revealed. Becker deserved every bit of the praise heaped on him for Journey, which well earned its Caldecott honor, but in Quest he has gone a bit further. Hence another very close look by the Caldecott committee is in order. We can hardly wait for the final chapter.
Note: This is the forty-fifth entry in the 2014 Caldecott Medal Contender series. The series does not purport to predict what the committee will choose, rather it attempts to gauge what the writer feels should be in the running. In most instances the books that are featured in the series have been touted as contenders in various online round-ups, but for the ones that are not, the inclusions are a humble plea to the committee for consideration. It is anticipated the series will include at least 40 titles; the order which they are being presented in is arbitrary, as every book in this series is a contender. Some of my top favorites of the lot will be done near the end. The awards will be announced on February 2nd, hence the reviews will continue to the end of January.
The illustrations in this one look gorgeous – I’m sure my kids would have loved entering this fantasy world when they were younger.
Aye Judy, Becker’s art is truly sublime. (The first book in this trilogy, JOURNEY, won a Caldecott Honor last year). Your kids would have indeed loved it as a few of my own have. I can’t wait for the third and final installment. Thanks as every my friend!
Another one of your truly exceptional reviews Sam. I really want to own a copy of this book.
A great investment for sure Frank! Thanks as ever my friend!
Excellent review! I’m not so sure I’d be keen on the book (I know a heck of a lot of fantasy artists, and their work), but I did enjoy very much your account of it!
John, it is hard to say. Seeing it up front could wind up really impressing you. When the third book comes out, I’m sure it will work gloriously as a unified experience. Thanks as every my friend!! 🙂