THE BLUE VELVET CHAIR

A favorite chair and a window help a youngster make sense of the passing of time.

The mother and child at the center of this tale have many ways to keep track of time, from the ticking of the clock to the pencil marks on the wall noting the youngster’s height. But best of all is the window that opens out onto a view of multicolored buildings and a garden. Each morning, the pajama-clad youngster climbs onto a blue velvet armchair and gazes out; it’s the perfect vantage point for a small person to observe the shifting seasons. A flower drawn on the glass in a condensation of breath is a sign that winter’s here. In warmer months, a cat cleans itself on a nearby rooftop, while people dance. Blossoms appear on the trees in spring; bright leaves fall in autumn. Cortez and Marin deftly marry potent visuals (the window framing the world outside) with tactile sensations such as the warmth of the window glass in summer. Marin’s illustrations rely on a marvelous palette of deliciously rendered colors, evoking a comfortable tenderness between mother and child. Sky, clouds, blossoms, leaves, light, cozy living room, kitchen, and the soft-looking chair convey a sense of peace and safety; in this loving home, the passage of time is noted and celebrated. The characters present Black.

A quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world.