FAR AWAY ACROSS THE SEA

In 19 more ineffable vignettes, Tellegen’s cast of woodland creatures write letters to themselves (“Dear Squirrel, I don’t know how I’m doing. Do you?”); touch on various metaphysical topics from whether a forgotten secret is still a secret to the nature of immeasurability (“it is, for example, how warm time is or who most loves the sky or is most birthdayed,” explains the sparrow); and are variously moved, surprised, disappointed, angered or bemused by an incident or encounter at, frequently, a party or birthday celebration. As with the two previous collections published to introduce this Dutch author to English-language readers (Letters to Anyone and Everyone, 2009, etc.), the small trim size, supple paper and harmonic placement of text and Ahlberg’s delicate, color illustrations on the page add up to appealing bookmaking, but the oblique, sometimes surreal nature of these fragments and mini-episodes will most likely keep the audience small and puzzled. (Belles lettres. 9-11, adult)