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Description
New from the creator of Skunk on a String comes Wallpaper, a wordless picture book in Thao Lam’s signature paper collage style. It tells the story of a young girl whose family moves into a new house. Outside, she can hear other kids playing, but she’s too shy to say hello. So she picks at the old wallpaper in her room—revealing an entryway to a fantastic imaginary adventure world behind the walls.
There, she runs between the vibrant and varied environments—surrounded by birds, swimming in a frog pond, in a herd of art-deco sheep—as she finds herself chased by a monster. He is frightening at first, until it becomes clear he simply wants to be her friend. When it comes time to go back to reality, the girl feels inspired with the courage to approach the other kids and say hello.
Full of humor and heart, this book delivers exquisite illustrations in a lively fantasy narrative that will inspire thinking about bravery and overcoming obstacles.
There, she runs between the vibrant and varied environments—surrounded by birds, swimming in a frog pond, in a herd of art-deco sheep—as she finds herself chased by a monster. He is frightening at first, until it becomes clear he simply wants to be her friend. When it comes time to go back to reality, the girl feels inspired with the courage to approach the other kids and say hello.
Full of humor and heart, this book delivers exquisite illustrations in a lively fantasy narrative that will inspire thinking about bravery and overcoming obstacles.
Author Bio
THAO LAM is the critically acclaimed author/illustrator of THAO, Wallpaper, My Cat Looks Like My Dad, Skunk on a String, and The Paper Boat, named a best book of 2020 by Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal, the Globe and Mail, CBC, and others. She studied illustration at Sheridan College and has an insatiable love of colored and textured papers, which she uses to create her exuberant collages. She draws inspiration from the stories she hears, from the beauty in everyday things, and from the work of the many illustrators she admires. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Prizes
- 2018 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardShort-listed
- Silent Books CollectionCommended
- Cybils Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary AwardsShort-listed
- 2018's 100 Best Books for KidsCommended
- Kirkus Best Children's Books of 2018Short-listed
Review Quotes
“Wallpaper is a must-have wordless addition to home and school libraries alike. Its charming essence will appeal to a wide range of audiences.”
— Canadian Review of Materials
"A unique and visually stunning approach to the classic dilemma of making new friends. "
— Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW
" A delight from start to finish."
— Quill & Quire - STARRED REVIEW
“The mostly wordless story’s emotional arc is a satisfying one.”
— Horn Book
"A fun, fanciful discovery with plenty of real-world applications."
— School Library Journal
"Lam’s rich visual storytelling illuminates the way that children’s internal lives help them move through loss and anxiety."
— Publishers Weekly - STARRED REVIEW
"Satisfying visually, narratively, and emotionally."
— Booklist
