cover image Life and I: A Story About Death

Life and I: A Story About Death

Elisabeth Helland Larsen, illus. by Marine Schneider. Little Gestalten (Prestel, dist.), $19.95 (48p) ISBN 978-3-89955-771-8

Death—portrayed as a young, feminine figure with skeletal facial features and an inky-blue shroud—describes visiting animals, adults, and children (“From time to time I meet someone with downy soft hair and little warm hands that I hold in my own”), even those yet to be born. A smattering of flowers, bright insects, toys, and other friendly objects and creatures offset the darkness of the subject matter—but not much. While Larsen does a fine job of conveying the fact that death is simply a part of life, lines like “Many people ponder all their lives what will happen when I come. Will it be chaotic or quiet, skipped heartbeats and no way to catch their breath?” stand a good chance of terrifying tenderhearted readers. Despite the suggestion that life and death are inexorably intertwined and reminders of love’s power and eternalness, Schneider’s sweeping Dali-esque landscapes, Death’s matter-of-fact narration, and her silent, expressionless presence on the page seem more likely to leave readers feeling unsettled rather than comforted. Ages 4–up. (Apr.)