Wordless picture book: Flora and the penguin by Molly Idle

Wordless picture book: Flora and the penguin by Molly Idle

The book I am introducing today is a fairy tale book that tells a story with illustrations only, without text. This book predicts the storyline through pictures and adds your own imagination to create a bigger content. Personally, after reading this kind of book, I can feel the meaning and sense of mission that I, a non-native speaker, am writing a fairy tale book in English. And I can think about what storytelling is and what its influence and power are. When I first encountered storytelling in graduate school at Adelphi University, I felt afraid. Could I, whose second language is English, really make a fairy tale book in English? I thought it was impossible. And even if I barely wrote a fairy tale book, I had doubts about whether people would acknowledge it. However, when I took the class and published a fairy tale book as a result of the class, my attitude toward fairy tale books and storytelling changed 180 degrees. If anyone does not realize the essence of something, they just go around and around. At that time, they only focus on the external aspects, technical aspects, and sometimes even some degree or certificate. But once you know the essentials, you realize that these external things don't matter at all. After I took the class and graduated, I now write and publish with confidence. In other words, you don't have to fear the results. Because you believe in the power of the story itself.

After reading this book, I recalled how I used to tremble in fear before starting something. Especially for children who are always clumsy, make mistakes, and have more to learn than they know, confidence is the most important keyword. So how can we foster this confidence in children? I always think about this part and study it when I teach drawing to students. That's why this picture book helped me find the answer to this keyword.

Children always have attachment dolls. Children are always living with anxiety and guilt for not being perfect, as they are always beings who have to receive instructions from perfect adults who are always making mistakes. So they grow up sharing secrets with their attachment dolls. I also had this kind of virtual attachment doll in my memory. I talked to my attachment doll in a diary with a secret key. I mostly talked about my mistakes, experiences, and feelings. Why do children talk to their attachment dolls like this even though their parents are always by their side? I think it is because children already know the effect of storytelling. When they talk like this, their attachment dolls answer. However, in fact, the answers are their own. Through these conversations with themselves, children grow into wonderful adults. They become aware of themselves and understand others. Furthermore, they become able to create beautiful harmony with others. Just like the main character, Flora and the penguin in this storybook.

Storytelling is like planting a lifelong attachment doll in a child's mind. Just as children talk to their attachment dolls without worrying about evaluation or recognition, I think writing picture books is the same. And I personally think that children should be encouraged to write many storybooks themselves. Children grow by reading books written by others, but they also gain confidence through books they write.

When someone writes or draws something, they say, "I don't want to show this because it's too embarrassing." But when they reach a level where they can confidently show their creations, anyone can create naturally. I encourage my students to reach this stage. And to do that, I try to be a good model first. So even if it seems awkward, I try to keep trying.

I am very happy to have found a book to benchmark today for the story of 'Snowy the Clumsy Pigeon', which I am currently planning. And I believe that my first picture book of the year will be another jump.