“Everyone in Paperlee enjoyed the paper craft called kirigami, but there was one child who had a special talent for its cutting and folding. Her name was Anya.”
Anya lives in a paper village, among delicate paper trees and paper houses, where the people are paper-light. The windy season has long past when Anya is knocked over by a great gust. What is causing the strange weather? Is it coming from Forestlee, the village on the neighbouring mountain?
Determined Anya has a plan to find out, making a delicate kirigami paper bridge to cross the chasm between the two villages. But what will she find on the other side?
“The lacy paper bridge unfurled bit by bit. As each fold opened, the villagers of Paperlee held their breath, hoping their great construction would not tear. The pale bridge floated in the dim air, its end out of sight.”
Told through stunning, beautifully crafted kirigami scenes, Seng Soun Ratanavanh created a real paper world for debut author Joëlle Veyrenc’s wonderfully imagined story. Readers will be enchanted by constructed 3D houses, folded foliage and illustrated characters.
A variation of origami, kirigami involves cutting as well as folding paper. Ever made a paper snowflake? If so, then you’ve tried kirigami! The term was coined in the United States in the 1960s by artist Florence Temko – from Japanese kiri, ‘cut’, and kami, ‘paper’.
Illustrator Seng Soun Ratanavanh had never tried kirigami before working on this book! Joëlle Veyrenc’s beautiful tale set in a paper world inspired her to learn the technique. Seng Soun first created the artwork using pencil and watercolor on paper and cardboard, then hand-cut and arranged each element into scenes to create the story. These intricate paper scenes were then photographed to create the stunning final illustrations.
Feeling inspired to try kirigami yourself? Share your efforts on social media and tag us @FlorisBooks!
