Review Detail

THE PAPER BRIDGE is truly a one-of-a-kind picture book.

Anya resides in a magical village called Paperlee, where, true to its name, everything within the village is made out of paper. The houses, streets, trees, dogs, and people are all paper. Being made of paper comes with its challenges, though, and the villagers must be very cautious that they do not fly away in the wind, especially during the late summer when the wind picks up for a few days. When the neighboring village of Forestlee builds windmills to help in grinding wheat into flour for baking, all of Paperlee is threatened with the prospect of year-round wind gusts. Anya decides to bravely take matters into her own hands and make the treacherous journey to Forestlee to implore them to put a stop the dangerous winds.

The concept of the two villages, respectively made of paper and cardboard, is unique and clever. The subtle worldbuilding was executed perfectly by adding in a little information about the villagers in Paperlee's way of life, such as noting that for five and a half days, summer winds nearly blow away the paper-light villagers. To mitigate this threat, the villagers carry little stones in their pockets to weigh them down.

This book is so magical not just because of its content, but also because of the construction of the book. Every scene was delicately illustrated using Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting and folding, and then photographed. Such meticulous effort put into each and every page deserves recognition and appreciation.

On each page are many words, some of which are too big for a younger audience. I recommend this book for older children, as they may be able to better understand the story.

I hope everyone will give this beautiful book a read. It is wonderfully unique and amusing.