by Sam Juliano
At the outset of the author’s note in the back of Flutter & Hum (Aleteo y Zumbido) by Julie Paschkis is the startling revelation that the artist is neither Spanish nor a poet. She began to learn the language in preparation for a book she was doing on Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet. From that point this self avowed painter and lover of words became smitten with the beauty of the language and has striven to release dual language books of which the exquisite Flutter & Hum is the most recent. This is a book on animal poems. The last time a collection of any kind won the Caldecott Medal was in 1980 when Arnold Lobel’s beloved Fables was honored. Like Lobel’s book, Flutter & Hum is beautifully integrated and designed, and it gives the opportunity for schools with a sizable Hispanic population to compare and contrast the languages. The set up is simple enough. The book features fourteen double page spreads, all of which present a poem about an animal. On the left panel is the English version, on the right the Spanish. Otherwise the featured animal is showcased across both pages bringing the proper illustrative unity. The first creature in this poetical homage is the snake (la serpiente) which only knows one letter (sssssss), and slithers through the grass sinuously. The pages are dazzlingly littered with ‘s’ word streamers that define both a snake’s characteristics and how people frame them. Pashkis describes the turtle as a creature who hides in her shell, but hopes for something wonderful to happen; a heron is shown as one-legged and a crow who hopes, stops and stares at the only sun shining on a rainy day – a bright yellow umbrella.
Pashkis’ poetry is often delightfully exaggerated as in the case where she expresses the elastic reach of a cat napping on a map where the cat’s body stretches from the Arequipa to Zanzibar with her belly bumping Topolobambo. In Spanish the verse is enchanting:
La gata gorda/se duerme en un mapa. Cuando se levanta se estira/ desde Arequipa hasta Zanzibar/y su barriga choca contra Topolobampo.
The poem for the cow (la vaca) paints a canvas of colors and routine, visualized by silhouettes on an expansive grazing field. There is bouncy cheer and wagging tails as El Perro (dog) wiggles, wiggles, squirms and leaps. The bright colors, word circles and illustrative adornments paint an effervescent tapestry of gaiety and movement. Paschkis is not one to take the kool aid when she asks her readers They say you are what you eat. So…why isn’t the fly a strawberry? But she meets the age-old adage half way when she shows the fly over the Spanish translation in strawberry garb, in contrast to the one over the English which is the normal incarnation. The real “treat” of this spread is a giant “rojo” strawberry (la mosca) covered with the seed rivets and the corresponding assortment of English and Spanish words that define both the essence of the fruit and the experience of consuming it. Among those are fresh, ripe, juicy, tart and plump.
Few students nor their adult readers will deny that the next spread depicting El Loro (parrot) is Flutter & Hum’s most magnificent illustration of all. Not of course that it is a surprise considering the sublime rainbow feathers of the amazon parrot are part of this pictorial equation, but the illustrator’s delicate negotiation of gouache on pastel pink based Arches paper sets the stage for a floral jamboree, orchestrated with the gorgeous paralleling of the book’s dual language approach. There can be little question this is one of the most most beautiful tapestries in any 2015 picture book. Aye, ya, yo!
Though El Loro is practically an impossible act to follow Pashkis’ work on her deer (El Venado) spread makes for a majestic encore. There is a slight deviation with her pattern on this spread to acknowledge the two views of a deer most of us have maintained. One the straight ahead deer in the headlights pose and the other of the deer scampering off, much of the time to escape the hunter. in fact, the poet-illustrator alludes to this in her tellingly minimalist stanza: The deer is shy when he says hi./One glance. See him fly. Good-bye. Then a measure of buoyancy defines the imposing white whale, who, consistent with the spirit and temper of Flutter & Hum, dances in a dazzles of bubbles in the great ocean. Again Paschkis opts to show movement with La Ballena crashing upwards in an aquamarine dance.
An exquisite nocturnal spread serves as the backdrop for the painting of the Owl (El Buho) whose poetical framing is wonderfully rendered in Spanish:
La luna es un ferol en las ramas. Brilla./ Silba una sombra por las hierbas. Un susurro./ De la oscuridad ulala un buho. Un eco. El tren de la noche esta saliendo.
The atmospheric picture Pashkis has evoked here caused me to recite to myself:
Note: This is the twentieth review in the 2015 Caldecott Contender series that will be published at this site over the coming months, up until the January 11th scheduled awards date. The books that will be examined are not necessarily ones that are bonafide contenders in the eyes of the voting committee, but rather the ones this writer feels should be. The order they will be presented is arbitrary as some of my absolute favorites will be presented near the end.
Thank you for the review, Sam. I haven’t seen FLUTTER & HUM / ALETEO y ZUMBIDO yet, but Julie Paschkis’ partnership with Monica Brown in PABLO NERUDA: POET OF THE PEOPLE was amazing. Here is my review of NERUDA, which readers can find in DE COLORES (decoloresreviews.blogspot.com): http://decoloresreviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/pablo-neruda-poet-of-people.html
I look forward to reading and reviewing Paschkis’ latest work.
Thank you so very much for this wonderful response Beverly! I have seen her beautiful collaboration with Monica Brown, but still need to secure my own copy. Your stellar review of it has sealed the deal for me – I will be heading over to amazon marketplace. I love Neruda’s poetry, and have remained a fan of the moving 1994 Italian film IL POSTINO.
I didn’t realize you were reviewing, am thrilled, and will immediately add your site to my sidebar scroll. Likewise I will follow it. I will be adding my two cents on the Pablo Neruda review as well.
I hope to be comparing notes on FLUTTER & HUM, which I know you will love. Thanks again!
Before you get too excited, Sam, our blog, DE COLORES: THE RAZA EXPERIENCE IN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, is not without controversy. While we review and promote what we consider the best in Spanish, English and bilingual books for children and young adults, we also take to task those that are falsely marketed as bilingual and others that we consider “fakelore.” There are over 200 critical reviews on the blog, as well as essays that range from “How to Tell the Difference” to “Transforming a Racist Stereotype into an Industry.”
Beverly, I applaud a site with those aims, and well understand the risk of controversy. But said controversy is worth it when you consider the noble intent of the site. I’m there for sure!
Sam, your special angle on the functions of the Spanish language in American schools provides a perfect cue to attend to this fine book’s unique strengths. “…the sinuous snake is writing a slippery poem with his body.” The text goes on to pretend to decry its having only one letter to show. But opening with that less than universally beloved creature signals that it’s all good with its weirdness; and the strange and often breathtaking charms of all the other animals play out the same amazement that so many varieties of life fill our world. The images are more true in being more apparitions than fixed objects.
You are such an acute talent scout!
Jim, the book is indeed a Godsend for the kind of classes that have been under my watch over at least the past two decades. I can’t thank you enough for probing for such an acute analysis behind this fourteen spread collection. Ms. Paschkis is a major talent, FLUTTER & HUM opens up a number of class activities for the bi-lingual student. Just such a valuable teaching tool. And what a sublime work! Thanks again my friend.
Sam — Beyond the exquisite illustrations, this dual language book (Spanish/English) is BRILLIANT and serves to bridge gaps on many levels. I wish this concept had been been born way back in the day when we lived in San Diego and I was a teacher’s assistant.
Absolutely Laurie! It even allowed me to improve my Spanish pronunciation when reading this book to classes well over 80% Hispanic. What Paschkis’ has done with this book and the previous one on Pablo Neruda is real shot in the arm in behalf of ethnic diversity. And the book is extraordinarily beautiful to boot. Thanks again!
These illustrations are stunning Sam! I agree with the others in that this dual language presentation is something we will and need to see more of today. Again, your provide a superlative review.
Thanks so much Frank, and glad to hear we are on the same page!
Sam, you are certainly right about El Loro! Kudos to Ms. Paschkis for her dual language integration. For a heavily Hispanic student population like yours this book is ideal. Again I must compliment you on a superbly written review.
Glad to see we both fell for El Loro hook, line and sinker, Celeste! Quite a feast for the eyes. Yes this book is ideal for our student population. Thanks so much for the very kind words my friend.
I hadn’t seen this one and my library doesn’t own it! Paschkis is one of the few illustrators whose books I love as soon as I see their name on the cover. LOVE her work. From what you’ve shared and what I see on Amazon this looks amazing. I like the bilingual aspect which seems to be presented well which isn’t always the case.
Charity, I just checked out own library system, and discovered it didn’t get full circulation, but appears to be in the communities where Spanish is dominant. It also may work its way in slowly. As you are a huge fan of Paschkis’ work -and I can’t say I blame you- there can be little doubt you will embrace this exquisite book. Yes, the bilingual approach brings double the dividends. Many thanks my friend!
For your classes this is the answer to a prayer. I think I’d be too smitten with the art to work on the language integration. Great review!
That’s a great way to put it Peter! Many thanks my friend!