Review by Booklist Review
In the cut-paper village of Paperlee, the annual winds mean stones in pockets to keep the paper villagers from blowing away. But when unseasonable gusts from nearby Forestlee threaten daily life, young Anya--skilled in kirigami, the delicate art of folding and cutting paper--proposes a bold solution: a bridge to begin a conversation. With her guidance, the villagers craft a delicate yet strong structure to span the chasm. Crossing first, Anya meets Forestlee's friendly Hazel, as rosy and robust as Anya is delicate as blue willow china. Anya learns that Forestlee needs windmills for their beloved baking, with winds powered by the blustering Elephant Brothers. Resourceful Anya persuades both elephants and villagers toward a happy solution, yielding a lasting connection between the villages, with Paperlee's delicate bridge now reinforced by sturdy cardboard railings. Ratanavanh's meticulous, captivating art is truly exquisite; delicately painted and cut paper figures are arranged in dimensional scenes, beautifully lit and photographed--inviting readers to linger over every inspired detail as they absorb the warmth of this tender original fable by debut author Veyrenc.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--Set in an Asian country in a town called Paperlee, this book highlights an art form, kiragami, which involves both cutting and folding paper, resulting in interesting 3D effects. It has the delicacy of origami and the strength of 3D creations. Anya, a young girl, has noticed an increase of wind during their annual windy period. The kiragami is susceptible to the wind's force, and the town decides they must confront their nearest neighbors who generate wind to see if they can rachet down the force. Anya and her friends construct a sturdy paper bridge to span the chasm that separates the two towns. A friendly bird attaches it to the other side, and Anya sets off to help fix the problem. Once on the other side, Anya meets the Hazel, who introduces her to kiragami. Together, they devise a solution using their combined talents. The main characters think outside the box and solve a problem they share. This tale has characteristics of a fairy tale, and exploring those connections would be a fun thing to do in a unit on fairy tales. The art, naturally, features origami and kiragami. VERDICT A very different kind of fairy tale that revolves around a paper craft and with salient lessons on cooperation and community.--Joan Kindig
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a mountaintop village where everything--including its population--is made of paper, residents must find the source of a mysterious wind. Skilled in the art of kirigami (or paper folding), the denizens of Paperlee lead happy lives, fearing only the wind that blows for five and a half days each year. But one day a worryingly unseasonal wind arrives, apparently from Forestlee, the village on the neighboring mountain. Anya, a young girl who's especially talented at kirigami, decides to find out more. She designs a paper bridge and then crosses the chasm separating the two mountains. In Forestlee, strong, solid trees hold houses that don't bend in the wind; readers will recognize that everything here is made from cardboard. The young diplomat not only learns the cause of the new wind, but also solves the problem to everyone's satisfaction and unites the people of both villages, who share their skills with one another. Appropriately, Ratanavanh relied on kirigami for the book's illustrations, intricately cutting, folding, and assembling paper into three-dimensional scenes that were then photographed. Translated from French, the story reads like a parable, drawing readers into a setting like our own but ever so slightly off-kilter, while the exquisite illustrations are rife with small details for those who choose to linger. Clothing and other details cue the residents of Paperlee as East Asian, while the people of Forestlee vary in skin tone and wear Western-style dress. A beautifully crafted world to get lost in. (about the book's creation)(Picture book. 5-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
