By: Melissa Castrillon
It should come as no surprise by now that I am obsessed with Melissa Castrillon’s illustrations. My children are, too. They love her curls and sweeping lines. Her work feels both dreamlike and whimsical, and I love whimsy.
“The Balcony” is a story told through (mostly) illustrations, and it is beautiful. Moving is always hard on children, and in “The Balcony” we see a little girl cope with that change through her garden. As she nourishes her balcony garden something magical begins to happen – joy begins to spread. The people around her are impacted in a wonderful way, and the community comes together.
Castrillon’s illustrations are rich and thorough. I often find myself flipping through pages over and over again, finding new details, new sketch marks, new beauty.
“The Balcony” is about new beginnings, hope, and love, and it’s a beautiful addition to any library. What’s your favorite wordless book?
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