HUM AND SWISH

A summer day at the beach inspires Jamie to create something with bits and pieces in the sand.

Jamie is intensely involved, humming softly as the waves swish nearby. Several people, including Jamie’s mom and dad, make inane comments or ask what Jamie’s project is. Jamie answers abruptly and vaguely—or doesn’t answer at all. Jamie is totally comfortable there at the edge of the sea, working and observing and listening, and the sea never asks questions. When someone arrives with art supplies and no questions, it is Jamie who asks, “What are you making?” When the woman says she doesn’t know yet, Jamie has found a kindred spirit, and they work side by side without conversation. When their projects are complete, there is a lovely surprise at the reveal. Myers’ spare, almost terse, text is accompanied by acrylic-and-oil illustrations in full- and double-page spreads mixed with vignettes suspended against very bright white spaces. Sand and sea are beautifully rendered in subtle tones of gold and deep blue, and glimpses of Jamie’s project are intriguing. Jamie presents white, and the diverse people encountered are depicted in a manner that is at once realistic and painterly. Jamie’s body language and facial expressions allow readers to feel the child’s fierce dedication and exasperation at being interrupted.

A lovely homage to a child’s passionate creativity.