Quick Look
- An unforgettable, visually stunning and unique picture book set in a paper world
- Painstakingly crafted 3D scenes created from intricately cut and folded paper were assembled and photographed to create the illustrations
- A sweet, modern fairytale about bravery, distrust of the unknown and learning to compromise and work together
- Contains a subtle message about climate injustice
Anya is determined to find the source of the strange wind that is threatening the delicate paper village she calls home. What will she find on the other side of the paper bridge? A unique modern fairytale told through striking, intricate kirigami scenes.
Description
Anya lives in a paper village, among delicate paper trees and paper houses, where the people are paper-light. Every year the villagers of Paperlee put stones in their pockets to avoid being blown away by the late summer winds.
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?
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. The Paper Bridge is a unique modern fairy tale which explores distrust of the unknown and the challenge of living together through climate change.
Reviews
'The words and images together tell the story perfectly. The Paper Bridge is a metaphor for climate change; it asks us to think about how one society’s actions might impact another. This is a very special book.'
-- JUNO
'Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s stunning illustrations transform the tale with intricately crafted kirigami scenes, immersing readers in a delicate world of paper forests and mountains. Parents will appreciate its message of courage and understanding, while children will delight in exploring the textured, folded landscapes that fill each page with magic.'
-- Preneur World Magazine
'The Paper Bridge is completely captivating -- a gorgeous heart-warming tale with a message of hope at its core, showing how a series of actions in one community can have a devastating effect on another, and highlighting the impact of climate change and the challenges of working together to protect our shared natural world.'
-- Outside In World
'A beautiful book.'
-- Kindling
'The paper illustrations are beautiful and transport you to another world... The story is a valuable message to our own world, one of working together, communicating and helping to protect our planet.'
-- Kaleidoscope Magazine
'A masterpiece... This is a very charming book I highly recommend and absolutely love.'
-- Our World of Wonder (Instagram)
'With stunning kirigami artwork, this story holds a bigger message of communities working together to protect each other and the world we all live in.'
-- The Kids Bookstagrammer (Instagram)
'A spectacular, intricate paper and cardboard world... What a treat.'
-- Storybook Mamma (Instagram)
Author
Joëlle Veyrenc is a clinical psychologist, former teacher and children's writer from France. She is inspired by the imaginary and emotional worlds that children inhabit and enjoys stories that emphasise the importance of sharing and collaboration. Joelle lives with her husband on the outskirts of Paris. The Paper Bridge is her first picture book.
Seng Soun Ratanavanh is a French illustrator and painter who was born in Laos. She graduated from the National School of Fine Arts, Paris and has illustrated several books for children. Seng Soun taught herself the art of kirigami to create the striking blend of 2D and 3D paper illustrations in The Paper Bridge. She lives near Paris with her husband and children.
Katy Lockwood-Holmes studied French and Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh. She works in publishing and lives in Edinburgh, UK.
