The forgotten crumb
One’s self-confidence sometimes shrinks down to a tiny heap of misery; and that is when you only see the abilities of others. Then you have got the feeling that your fellows do not realise you any more. You start a competition, which you only can lose, as you only want to prove that you are better than the others.
Little Kurt feels like a forgotten crumb on an empty plate of cake. All the kids from the neighbourhood have got sensational capabilities, as for example Emma, who is that strong that she is able to lift an elephant without any efforts. Or Theo, who is invincible with regard to his mathematical abilities.
The author Jessica Störmer encourages the little boy Kurt by the following words: „Be brave, Kurt“, which are, at the same time, the title of this picture book.
Kurt knows that he is not a grey mouse. And if his big specs were not mentioned right at the beginning, nobody would be able to distinguish him from the other kids in the illustrations, as all of them are special in a way. And thus, there are two questions:
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In how far do specs make people be outsiders? Is it not quite the other way round, i.e. that specs express affiliation somehow, like in the picture book „Ich auch“ – „ Me, too! “ by Lawrence Schimel?
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Are you really special in a group, even if everybody looks somehow completely different? This question is dealt with in the book for kids „ Elmer and Rose “ by the British writer David McKee .
The meeting of Kurt and the mathematical genius simply provokes the reader and the listener, for one can see numbers in the picture that are not mentioned in the text. First of all, they seem to be there just at random, but finally, they turn out to make some sense.
A big part of the illustrations are monoscenic, but some are multiscenic, as for example Klaus‘ dancing movements. Other multiscenic presentations show the moment, when Kurt wittingly starts to realise his own capabilities. Moreover, each of these passages in the text is shown as a picture, i.e. there is a parallel of text and Pictures.
With regard to the language, the text is as well formulated as the pictures are well drawn. Beside the usage of quite normal phrases, there is still always some space for your own fancy, as several sentences only hint at something, while they have not really been completed.
Furthermore, you do not find a single passage of direct speech. But by means of inner monologues the impression arises that people speak all the time.
Passages and illustrations, made by the author and artist Jessica Störmer herself, form a unit. These paragraphs do not appear isolatedly, but seem to be integrated into the presentations, just by omitting several details, like e.g. the sky or a meadow. Inspite of the author’s omitting several of such aspects, the observer knows that the children are on a meadow.
Finally, at the end of the book, you must solve a puzzle. This riddle is like a wise conclusion for this humorous, contemplative and very expressive bilingual book for kids.
translated from U. Schneider
©
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MaryRead
In this language you can buy this book:
|
German – English |
978-3-19-949595-6 |
|
German – French |
978-3-19-959595-3 |
|
German – Greek |
978-3-19-969595-0 |
|
German – Italian |
978-3-19-979595-7 |
|
German – Russianh |
978-3-19-989595-4 |
|
German – Spanish |
978-3-19-999595-1 |
|
German – Türkish |
978-3-19-009596-4 |
Jessica Störmer:
Nur Mut, Kurt!
Deutsch – Englisch
(german – english)
Be Brave, Kurt!
Illustration /
illustration
: Jessica Störmer
Alter /
age
: ab 6 Jahre /
from 6 years
42 Seiten /
pages
gebunden /
Hardcover
erstmalig erschienen /
to come out
: 02.09.2013
Verlag /
publisher`s
: Edition bi:libri
ISBN:
978-3-19-949595-6
Preis /
price
:
9,99 € (D), 10,30 € (A)
