Almost can’t bear to take this one back to the library, as my library record shows: I have renewed this one to its limit and am now accruing a fine for overdue return. But must post on it before I take it back…
Albert is a beautiful story about a young man. Albert is a complex character – from his upstairs apartment he listens to the noises of the day – a dog barking, children giggling on their way to school: good noises. But a garbage truck rumbling by: not a good noise. Each day there seems to be a good reason why Albert should not leave his apartment – too cold, too damp, too hot, too breezy. It seems that Albert is recluse… and as an adult you can’t help but wonder if maybe he is depressed.
One day an amazing thing happens: Albert sticks his hand out the window and quite suddenly a twig appears on it – and very quickly more twigs follow. Two cardinals are making a nest on his hand! Not knowing what else to do, Albert stands there – for days on end, watching the birds as they lay their eggs, keep them warm and, eventually care for their new baby birds.
Albert’s situation is described tenderly, as he and the birds learn to support each other, and as he watches the world go by on the street below the nest. A beautiful and touching ending concludes the story… Anyone whose life has been touched by depression – or knows someone who has – will relate strongly to Albert.
In addition to the amazing story that treats some complex and sensitive themes, the illustrations of this book are divine. Jim La Marche’s colour pencil illustrations are soft and convey rich emotion – he manages to incorporate an amazing sense of light and shadow through his illustrations, and shows the stationary position of Albert through changing perspectives as he and the birds grow closer and closer in co-dependency and friendship.
I first came across La Marche’s illustrations when Lou gave me a copy of the also stunning A Story for Little Bear by Dennis Haseley, which I love. He is also the illustrator of one of my favourite Christmas books, The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown. A great illustrator to keep an eye out for at the library…
||Albert is available from Amazon||
From the mention of the bird (the cardinal) this is obviously a North American publication. I can’t describe the thrill of seeing this brightly coloured bird flash through the garden of the apartment we recently rented in New York – and then seeing it again in more natural surroundings.
As for the important issue behind the story, it’s wonderful that an author has had the courage and insight into the importance of tackling this with children. It’s a reality that all of them will need to deal with depression in one form or another in their lives.
I’m so pleased to have stumbled onto this blog today, and I look forward to your posts. This book is new to me, but certainly one I will keep an eye out for. Thanks for introducing it…
I want to borrow this just so I can find out how it ends!
It sounds like a lovely book.
I enjoy reading books to the girls that have a sense of stillness and peace – a good calm ending to what are often busy days.
I love your blog and have been following for a long time. As I do often with recommended titles, I checked Albert out from the library. My daughter (3.5 years old) ADORES this story and asks for me to read it over and over (and over). We finally returned it to the library and was overjoyed to find it used at a local shop. My daughter has been walking around with a straw nest filled with wooden eggs and a felt cardinal for three days. Thank you so much for giving us Albert!