Description
Close to here has been selected for the annual catalogue of book recommendations in the field of international children’s and youth literature, White Raven 2019. It also received a Golden Pear in Slovenia.
“This book is like a diary with monthly entries that span a year. In it, two girls set down their observations of a third girl who is different from them. Not as pretty. Without a name (or at least the girls have forgotten it). Not a princess (like they are). Practically invisible, without a home of her own. In September the girl disappears, only a few drawings are left behind. When the two girls find the pictures, they realize that the girl was actually just like them and perhaps could have been their friend. Told entirely from the perspective of the two girls, the rhythmic text shows how easy it is to embrace prejudices and stereotypical views of strangers and to ostracize others. For this touching story, Peter Škerl (b. 1973) offers pictures in muted tones to portray the foreign girl and her family as newly arrived refugees. Text and image join together to form a strong statement against xenophobia and discrimination.” (International Children’s and Youth Library, 2019)
