Review: Anders Holmer unfolds in « Karavan »

When a book is already surprised to a positive feeling to its physical form. It happens very rarely with the novel, but every now and then in the picture book. It is best when you do not know from the cover, but when you unprepared get something to roll out with the first browsing.

So it is with Anders Holmer’s new picture book « Karavan ». It is small to the format, but it hides an accordion, a single long sheet of weight many times. The caravan, you think, that’s how it is called, as it is, a long line of people and creatures to follow. « We move like one/ and at the same time many/ slow, newly awakened/ short and long. » So the story begins, and the picture shows both a large shoe and a long leg, as well as a small lady with handbag and a beetle.

Then you see: What a lumpy side seems to be. And then it becomes obvious that the whole lead with creatures can be unfolded so that they all become visible at the same time, the whole lead, the whole caravan. The watercolors are equal, but here the format allows a mill that Anders Holmer has not been able to show before. The figures emerge, but all are seen from the side and have noses and noses aimed in the same direction.

Stories without a clear protagonist and with a collective narrative voice, a wealways makes it harder to absorb what is happening. Who should you identify with and who is saying what is said? In this way, Anders Holmer’s new book is as demanding as his previous poetic picture books. But the rhyme, the rhythm, the care of the recurring alliterations makes the text more easily accessible than it has been before. Because after the existential sounding « we know we are/ we do not know where » follows the more descriptive lines « Some can crawl/ others can go/ someone is alone/ someone is two », which is clearly and clearly confirmed by the pictures. There is no tension between text and image that creates uncertainty, but rather developments in a thoughtful direction, away from the lead and from the question of someone anymore remembers the goal. As if how it is that the wind blows and that shoes become too small.

In addition, the format can be added, the accordion, which together with the easily accessible but still quirky language makes « Karavan » one of Anders Holmer’s best books and one of the highlights of the picture book.

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