Young, Jessica. My Blue Is Happy. Illustrated by Catia Chien.
Literature is
magical because it is open to interpretation.
Stories that reach readers in small ways such as a strategically placed
familiar name, setting, or symbol, often come across as the most profound, and
open doorways to new understandings within the mind. It is a special joy when a reader happens
across a literary work that fits perfectly with one's life and symbolic
interpretation of the world. Reflective
readers may find deeper self-understanding by considering their own beliefs
regarding the symbolic meaning of color.
My Blue Is
Happy presents a key piece of the power inherent within literature to a
young audience in an accessible, yet not over simplified, picture book. A young girl narrates first person her
opinions on the symbolic meaning of colors.
She compares her thoughts with those of her most beloved family members
in a way that is completely accepting of differences in opinions and past life
experiences. Not only does this book
take a unique angle on discussing diversity from a child's point of view, it
does it from the perspective of my own cultural background, one I am sometimes embarrassed
to admit to international people is white, middle class American. I feel this book has made an important step
for allowing us to accept simple, yet often pervasive, differences in opinion.
The book
reads slightly like a list, as the narrator goes through each color, explains
her thoughts on the color, and discusses a difference of opinion she has
happened across regarding the emotional evocation of the color. It begins and ends with some very good
reasons why the color blue brings happiness to her mind rather than the cliché
sadness her sister thinks of as she strums a lonely song on her guitar. The dialogue feels entirely natural and
accepting, and the illustrations depict wisely selected examples that bring
natural color meanings to mind for each character.
Chien chose versatile
acrylic paints and varied perspectives to express texture and depth in the
illustrations. She used dry techniques used
to express spraying water, and splattering intended to subtly suggest
rain. The general softness of the lines
and dry blending brings the colorful emotions forward with sincerity and
skill. Tastefully sparse outlining
slightly stylized the characters and reminds readers the book is intended for a
young audience. Perhaps differences
between people on simple matters ought not to be taken with overly vivid
responses. The maintained respect for
perspective and depth assure readers that while interpretations of symbolic
meaning may be pervasive for an individual, it is entirely essential to take
time to reflect and remember that these are only interpretations. On a literal level we are only seeing light
reflected back to us as colors. Thus the
book effectively and quietly breaks down the fourth wall for literary reviewers
while perfectly holding a consistent narrative for children, reaching them with
deeply with profound truth.
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