Lola's Heart

May 29, 2023
In this dreamlike wordless fantasy by Boiger (She Persisted), three companions—a slender, white-presenting human dressed in black; a blue butterfly; and a white wolf—arrive by train at a quiet rural station, Lola’s Heart, where they’re united with a round red bird who’s larger than the other three. The artist works in delicately shaded pencil, bringing forth in faint, dense hatching the shapes of growing things. Three cheerful furry creatures seen hiding in the grass capture the blue butterfly, and readers see that they’ve already gathered a large menagerie of caged butterflies. The bird, human, and wolf pursue the creatures and manage to free their friend, but the ordeal tires them. Nestled together in the great red bird’s wings, they sleep. They wake renewed—and larger, too, with bird, butterfly, and wolf now dwarfing the human figure—and the sight of their shared frolicking inspires the butterfly collectors to free all of their captives. Boiger’s otherworldly allegory symbolizes the overcoming of obstacles, while atmospheric visual storytelling evokes a feel of mysterious wonder. Ages 4–8.

June 15, 2023
In this wordless tale, Lola and a great white wolf encounter a blue butterfly on a train ride. Outside the train, a large red bird seems to guard Lola, a light-skinned protagonist of indeterminate age clad in a black dress and scarf. The bird accompanies Lola and the wolf when they leave the train and follow the butterfly. Three small, striped creatures with unusual twisted horns catch the butterfly and bring it to a tree, hung with many other cages holding red butterflies. The trio of friends arrive to see this sight, both beautiful and very sad, with its allusions to the loss of freedom and movement, and work to rescue the winged insect and inspire the horned creatures to release the others. Boiger employs pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor pencil to create a multitude of feathery, curvilinear, soft strokes that compose the various forest scenes, the animals (both real and imagined), and the human being, seen from different perspectives. This tale could invite multiple viewings, if only to struggle with its meaning. The story can be seen as an allegory about friendship, love, and liberty, but will young readers put the effort into understanding its subtle message? Perhaps with careful discussion with an adult reader, a child will enjoy the aesthetic pleasures of the book's delicately textured illustrations and discern its significance. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sophisticated wordless book for perceptive children. (Picture book. 6-8)

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