Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein and Ed Young...I don't know a more beautiful picture book. Beautiful in word. Beautiful in concept. Beautiful in art. Beautiful in its integration of all those elements--and in conveying a complex philosophical concept to children.
     It doesn't look like author Mark Reibstein has produced any other books for kids since Wabi Sabi. I wish he would!
     Wabi Sabi was published 10 years ago. So, not a new-release, in any sense. But it's new to me because I just got my personal copy in the mail yesterday, and I'm so excited to hold this creation in my hands again. I read a library copy to my kids when they were younger, and I've wanted this book on my shelves ever since.
     It's fascinating to know that the richly tactile collage art for this book was lost (taken from the agent's doorstep, apparently), and then recreated entirely from scratch by artist Ed Young. In his book dedication, Young refers to the incident and how he came to terms with this loss:

     You can learn more about the story behind Wabi Sabi--it's conception, its artwork, and its loss and rebirth, in this YouTube video.
     And now, I'll just post some pictures and let them speak for themselves.

     Sailing into port with a girth of 40 pages and a cargo of nearly 800 words, The Antlered Ship is one of the most substantive picture books I’ve read in years. It’s long, thoughtful, and patient—and I love it. Could the longer picture book finally be making a comeback?!
     This gorgeous, gently philosophical story is about questions without obvious answers, friends who accept each other’s differences, and allowing yourself to ride out life’s storms. It’s a story that takes its time.
     The main character, a fox named Marco, asks deep questions—and we’re allowed time and space to hear them. The other characters aboard the antlered ship have different viewpoints, desires, fears, flaws, and approaches to life. Readers are permitted to see and absorb these differences without feeling rushed. There’s a respect here for the characters. They are given enough space to show themselves…and to grow. (Kudos to the publisher, Beach Lane, for allowing this book to be as long as it needed to be.)
     I’ve been a “fan” of the Fan brothers (Eric and Terry) since encountering The Night Gardener and of Dashka Slater since making the acquaintance of her friendly, salad-seeking French snail in Escargot. Put their talents together in a book as dreamlike, charming, and deep as The Antlered Ship, and I am a happy reader.