Volcano (2022)

The book's lovely pictures radiate humour and are full of captivating details. They flow like pitch-black volcanic ash in Japanese ink, then like a river of glowing lava in a colourful rug, reproducing nature both realistically and adventurously. The people are all depicted in black and white, while nature is radiant in colour. Thus the red-glowing lava emerges as a character in its own right, while the contrast between people in black and white and colourful nature serves as a reminder that we're only visitors on earth. Just like the tourists in the book. At first glance, Volcano may seem like a lively and straightforward story about a mother, her son and oblivious nature, but it goes a lot deeper than that. The story makes one think about prejudice, foolishness, danger and fear, and about the importance of taking responsibility for oneself in encounters with nature. Brá and Kaktus try in vain to save a fox sitting on a small mound encircled by glowing lava. Suddenly, a big group of rescuers appears. It turns out that Kaktus's head is covered in lice, which leap over to the mound "like a tiny, well-trained rescue patrol" and save the fox. Flygenring juxtaposes the emotional extremes that arise when – on the one hand – you're seeing the ground split open and new mountains being created and – on the other hand – you're faced with an everyday lice epidemic. Does one have similar feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness when faced with a threat of a different kind? In Volcano, the point of view constantly shifts between the gigantic and the diminutive, which injects excitement and life into this relatively simple story. At the end, the lice have settled in the fox's fur and started a new life in harmony with their host. This should be interpreted as hope that humanity will finally find a good way to live on earth – a way that's not reminiscent of an epidemic but in harmony with nature.

A great book, very original.

It's safe to recommend this new book for children of all ages and adults alike.