The Old Woman & the Wave

On the surface, a nice story about an old woman who, even if reluctantly, decides it's high time for adventure. It's also about taking risks, about unconditional love, challenging or learning to accept life's limitations, and being alone. Yet the text is simple enough that a 4 year old could listen to it as happily as a class of college students. (I know, cuz I've read it to both.) One of my favorite things about this book is that when the "stranger" comes, the who encourages the old woman to take risks, that stranger is another woman, somewhat younger. (How many authors would have taken the cheap way out and made the stranger/teacher a young man, or even another old woman?) The collage pictures are exquisite. This is a powerful, beautiful, quiet book.

I bought this book for my mother after the sudden death of my father. Life is all around us...waiting to be explored. It is our perceptions and attitudes that dictate our experience in life (at least if you are fortunate enough to live in the Western world). I think this book beautifully illustrates the fears and prejudices that prevent us from seeking out joy along with illustrating a lush picture of life's possibilities. The overall message of the book will be lost on most young children but, even without perceiving it's layers, the illustrations and story are lovely and highly entertaining for children to read.

I loved this book, almost enough to give five stars. It's wonderful to meet a real, cranky character and the patience of nature who waits for her to find herself. The illustrations give a lot to look at. Certainly NOT just for children 4-8.

Sometimes we fail to perceive the beauty of a place if we have been there too long. This is what happens to the old woman who has lived at the foot of a standing wave all her life. The wave loves her. It bends low to her as if it is going to kiss her. It tries to please her by offering her gifts such as shadows of dancing fish. But the woman simply sees the wave as an enemy instead of a friend and a possibility--until one day a traveler passes by . . . This book could be used to remind children, as well as adults, that sometimes we simply forget to appreciate what's right around us. The illustrations are gorgeous collage paintings. My five-year-old child enjoys this book. He thinks it is beautiful. Readers who are older will not only love the beauty of its language and illustrations but also the meaning the story connotes.