Prince Silencio

by Anne Herbauts

Overview

A picturebook influence by James Ensor! This books is not only visually stunning, but it is alive with language. I have seen classrooms of children at PS 29 in Brooklyn in a delighted, poetic frenzy after going through theh idioms at the end. A valuable modern fable about noise, silence and power, told in terms that children understand. Reviews, cont'd: “Unique and colorful illustrations support the story. The message of this book...would be an excellent read aloud to stimulate discussion with older readers."—Assn. Region XI School Librarians, Ft. Worth, TX “A wonderful book to share with your children…."—jellymom.com "Prince Silencio is charmingly written and brilliantly illustrated…. very highly recommended as a purely enchanting and thoroughly entertaining tale of passion, exile, acceptance, and enjoyment."—The Midwest Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592700554
Publisher:	Enchanted Lion
Publication date:	04/01/2006
Edition description:	Translatio
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.63(w) x 12.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Born in 1976 and a graduate of the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts, Anne expresses an original world in each of her books. Endlessly curious and rigorous in her work, Anne has written and illustrated over 20 children's books and has published a number of comic books for an older audience.

Editorial Reviews

A Bank Street College of Education Children’s Book of the Year

“An oversized and overwhelmingly beautiful book...” – Daniel Pinkwater, Wondertime Magazine

“Arch wit and striking artwork mark this Belgian artist’s debut.” – Publishers Weekly

“...the size and the color of the artwork and the simple text make this a good book to share with groups.” – School Library Journal

“Unique and colorful illustrations support the story. The message of this book...would be an excellent read aloud to stimulate discussion with older readers.” – Assn. Region XI School Librarians, Ft. Worth, TX

“A wonderful book to share with your children…” – jellymom.com

“Prince Silencio is charmingly written and brilliantly illustrated…very highly recommended as a purely enchanting and thoroughly entertaining tale of passion, exile, acceptance, and enjoyment.” – The Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Arch wit and striking artwork mark this Belgian artist's U.S. debut. Herbauts accompanies her fable with a series of frieze-like spreads of crowds whose members jostle for viewers' attention, and recall the paintings of Bruegel. The king of an imaginary country-portrayed as a castle, his shouting mouth the fortress's gateway-rails against the racket around him, and calls out, "Silencio!," so naming his newborn son. He aptly appoints the prince his Minister of Silence. The citizens obey the king's Law of Silence, but spurn the Prince: "At his approach, everyone fell silent. Long painful pauses became part of even the most casual conversations." Caught between his father's tyranny and the scorn of his subjects, cloaked in loud patterns and clashing colors, Prince Silencio-in his sterile white coveralls-evokes compassion. After the king dies, the people let loose, and send Prince Silencio away. Yet they discover that they need him after all: "With the shouts, the singing, the hollers and the hullabaloo, no one could hear anything anymore." When Prince Silencio returns, he does so "softly, between the laughter and the songs. Between the words." His presence rights the balance between the repression of complete silence and the anarchy of constant bellowing. Readers might expect the liberation of the citizenry from the mean king, but the Prince's redemption brings an extra moment of joy. Ages 4-up. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly