In Abby's Hands. (Northern Lights Books for Children). Wendy A. Lewis. Illustrated by Marilyn Mets & Peter Ledwon. Calgary, AB: Red Deer Press (Distributed by Fitzhenry & Whiteside), 2003. 32 pp., cloth, $19.95. ISBN 0-88995-282-5. Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9. Review by Reesa Cohen. ***1/2 /4

excerpt:

It was their own small world beneath the lace tablecloth, just big enough for Abby and her dog, Opal. Abby cupped her hand over Opal's side, where the warm furry skin stretched tight as a hug around the pups inside.

To hold a new life in your hands.....it fills you with wonder! That's what Abby's grandmother, Gran Opal, used to say. Abby frowned at her stubby fingers and chewed nails. Her hands were nothing like Gran Opal's had been - hands that had made majestic muffins and prize winning lace tablecloths. Hands that had brought new babies into the world and placed them in their mother's arms.

Abby's love for her lab, Opal, who is expecting new pups, is evident on every page of this lovely story. Named on the day he was born, the very same day that Abby's beloved Gran Opal died, Abby and her dog have a special relationship. He is the one with whom she shares all her insecurities and fears, especially in that special place beneath her grandmother's prize winning hand crocheted lace tablecloth. Abby lacks confidence in herself and her abilities, and she is especially impatient with her failures in crocheting. She is also troubled by her nervousness watching her mother deliver pups in their kennel and her own dismal efforts at muffin making which she says look like "cow plops."

     But when Grandpa Jack has an accident, Abby's mother takes him to the hospital, leaving Abby to look after Opal. When Opal goes into labour, Abby is faced with a defining moment, one which requires courage and resourcefulness. In the end, all is well in Abby's hands.

     This beautifully written text is complemented by fascinating photo quality pictures. Contacted by this reviewer, the illustrators responded to inquiries about their medium.

"Our work is based on scanned freehand drawings, reference photographs, and computer-generated imagery. Scenes and background elements are sometimes derived from scanned images and drawings as well. Once we've decided on the layout, we layer the elements in Photoshop."

"Photoshop is used primarily for compositing and structural work. The bulk of the brushwork is done in Painter."

     The illustrators have perfected a very interesting method of combining painting and digital photography which is also featured in their previous book, Waiting for the Sun. The close-ups of Abby and Opal are amazing, full of expression, detail and drama. The interior images are soft, with warm vivid colours, and Mets and Ledwon employ great contrasts that reflect the feelings and mood of the story. These illustrators show astonishing gifts in the use of light and shadows that add incredible dimension to this book.

     The artwork is visually stunning, but, in this title, unlike Waiting for the Sun, the illustrators are not equally adept at capturing both sweeping landscape vistas and creating skillful portraits. The outside shots are less successful and have a fake feel to them. There is a jarring quality about these pictures, with an awkward placing of figures against the backgrounds.

     Mets and Ledwon state:

"Our intent is to try to engage the readers' emotions, and to spark the their imaginations."

"The techniques we are trying to develop are intended to capture their interest in the characters and their environments, pulling them into the story lines presented by the authors. "

     For the most part, both the author and the illustrators succeed admirably in this gentle story.

Highly Recommended.

Reesa Cohen is an Instructor of Children's Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright � the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

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