Title: The Whimsical Journey
Author & Illustrator: Gail Bellucci
Publisher: Author’s Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1-964810-77-5
Pages: 22
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Imagine the tendrils, flowers, and roots of trees in a fanciful rainforest, twisting and interwoven into a tapestry of colors and shapes. Then add to this background these personified creatures including a frog, spider, groundhog, a squid, a lizard, plus many others. Put this all together into a story of peaceful interaction, creatures introducing each other as friendly cohabitants, but each species focused on survival – and in some cases wanting to eat each other! This sets the stage for the marvelously creative story titled, The Whimsical Journey, by artist and author Gail Bellucci.
Readers first meet Leo the Lizard – as he looked down into the stream and saw Seamore the Squid. “I am hungry. I think I will eat you,” says Leo. “The Squid Seamore replied there is plenty to eat in the stream lets be friends.” Perhaps implying the Lizard should become a vegetarian and live in peace and harmony with other living creatures; the two embark to meander downstream as they meet and greet the many other animals, fish, birds and fauna within this magical forest.
Each of the names for the animals have a catchy, appropriately given association to allow for children to memorize the different types of creatures, such as: Sid the Spider; Rodney the Snake; Fred the Frog; Goofy the Groundhog; and even names for some flowers such as the Light Bulb Flower because it glows at night, and the Heart Flower because it beats like a heart.
Having toddlers follow along with the tranquil narrative of the story line, parents will notice how deeply their children’s eyes will catch details within the many pictures. Some of the creatures and flowers will be obvious, while others will be hidden in the small details of the drawings. The palette of colors used are all Earth tones which convey the life of this fanciful forest, and the progression of the story is perfectly paired with the pictures creating a special whimsical journey in the minds of its readers.
Because of the depth and breadth of the artistically detailed illustrations, The Whimsical Journey relies heavily on its visual impact more so than the galley text, making this an impressive journey into the forest as children are being read this book at bedtime. I can imagine their minds dreaming about the coexistence of these many animals, insects and plants, leaving them all in peace under the watchful eye of Mother Nature. This is a book best to have in the printed format to allow for multiple pages to be viewed rather than scrolling on a screen.
llucci has created a beautiful work of art, combining words and pictures ideal for the youngest of children, in her book The Whimsical Journey.
