And So It Goes

June 12, 2017
Chilean artist Valdivia (Up Above and Down Below) forms humans and animals with simple geometric shapes, gives them rag-doll features and bits of texture, and colors them with bright red, turquoise, pink, and peach. The figures look childlike, but they grapple with profound questions. In Ouriou’s able translation, Valdivia starts midthought: “Some have already left. The neighbor’s cat, Aunt Margarita, the fish in yesterday’s soup.” It takes a second or two to realize that she’s talking about death. “Others will arrive. Some were longed for, others come out of the blue.” She discusses grief (“Those of us here weep tears for those who leave”) and observes that we know nothing about the why of existence: “Those of us here are just here. And so we’d best enjoy ourselves.” The vision of life as a temporary and puzzling phenomenon may unsettle those who hold traditional beliefs. But for families comfortable with the idea that nothing transcends what we can know as humans—“It’s a mystery where they come from and where they’re headed”—Valdivia offers a bold and surprisingly lighthearted view of existence. Ages 4–7.

Starred review from June 15, 2017
As loved ones leave this world, others arrive in this existential meditation on the cycle of life, an import from Mexico. On the title page, a girl sits in an older woman's lap, and together they read this very book: And So It Goes. Primitive representations of winged people and pets float across a blue background as the text matter-of-factly states "Some have already left"--this includes the neighbor's cat, a beloved aunt, and the fish from a prior day's meal. Yet even with these losses, there is cause for celebration as others are born and welcomed. Beautifully depicted tears and memories heal, and Valdivia offers the transcendent thought that those leaving and arriving "wish each other happiness" when their paths meet across the sky. Few words populate each page, yet the text is dense with meaning and the artwork rich with joy. Life and death are a mystery, and so readers are reminded to treasure their time here. Sophisticated concepts are visually explained while still leaving room for interpretation; repeat visits bring added depth and dimension. On the closing page, the girl, slightly older, returns to her chair and the book, with her loved one still close and dear. A tribute to those who pass, a celebration of time here, and a multilayered rumination on the cycle of life. (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Translated from Spanish, this charmingly illustrated picture book tackles the very difficult topic of life and death and the mysteries that are so often associated with them. The text uses very vague terms, offers no set explanations, and simply posits that some beings and things come into our lives, others leave, and it's not clear where they go or from where they came but those of us left either celebrate or mourn as the situation dictates. "It's a mystery where they come from and where they're headed. Those of us here are just here. And so we'd best enjoy ourselves." The whimsical artwork-done in watercolor, pencil, ink, and Photoshop-uses geometric shapes to form animals and humans alike, with bright colors and varied patterns. Because of the amorphous nature of the meaning and prose, this title is best shared one-on-one. VERDICT A lovely addition to larger library collections.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

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