THE FOUR SEASONS OF THE PIPA

A Chinese child lies in bed thinking about their upcoming visit to see Grandfather.

Less of a story and more of a dreamlike meditation in the moments before falling asleep, this picture book centers on a young narrator who imagines leaving the cold of winter to visit Kunming, China, the “eternal city of spring.” Meanwhile, Mother plays the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument with four strings, each representing one of the seasons. Fantastic images emphasizing the natural world, with delicate lines and soft but colorful hues, accompany this journey of the mind but are also balanced by warm scenes such as the grandfather and grandchild strolling through the flower and bird market and slurping noodle soup. Each spread bears a single poetic sentence describing the scene. The book is accompanied by an album of pipa music on CD (and downloadable) from musician Liu Fang; reading and listening simultaneously transforms what would otherwise be light content into a lovely multisensory experience. While the music plays, each page can be savored at length, especially the final, dreamy scene of the child asleep in a bed amid trees and giant flowers, with Mother playing the pipa and Grandfather sitting by the child’s feet. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An immersive experience for those willing to look, listen, and dream.