“Kyoto, Japan.
Mina feels so weirdly at home. She is herself, but it’s like there’s another Mina waiting to be discovered or created here.
On a crowded bus, a woman makes a paper boat and a paper bird and gives them to Mina.
These gifts carry her into a wondrous world that is both ancient and brand new.”

Paper Boat Paper Bird is a beautiful illustrated story by David Almond and Kirsti Beautyman

I preordered this book as soon as I saw the cover. I was intrigued, having never read a David Almond book before. I was drawn by Kirsty’s stunning artwork.

This is a story of self discovery, a familiar David Almond character is found in a new setting.

Through the pages of this book readers can explore Japan with Mina. Lyrical prose introduces young readers to landscape and language, traditions, heritage and culture. The words and pictures combine to build a stunning sense of place. Mina’s journey links old with new and shows us all how we can communicate without speaking the same tongue, we can connect through art and make friends in the most fleeting of moments. This is a story about being present and unfolding the magic of the everyday. This is an exquisitely written journey through place, space and time. A book that feels like a deeply personal work of art. A story that lingers long after the book is closed, though it is hard to explain why.

I made William, age 12, read the book. He knows Mina from Skellig and this new story has enchanted him too.

Paper Boat, Paper Bird is an ode to travel, exploring new places, meeting new people and trying new things. It is a love letter to the wonders of Kyoto and Japan. The lyrical prose sails and soars through the pages.

On a busy bus to the Golden Temple one woman sits silently folding paper. Mina is mesmerised, intrigued, fascinated. The woman notices and gives Mina a tiny paper boat and a paper bird. Mina sails and soars them around the city as she travels with her mother. Through Mina’s adventure we learn Japanese words and pronunciations. We feel her joy in exploring new sounds and playing with a new language. We see the sights of the city through Mina’s eyes.

This is a story of living with loss and coping with change. Mina has lost her father. A delicate haunting sadness waves through her story. Mina often thinks of her father and imagines him with her. There is a beautiful sequence of words and pictures around reflections and things, people, never truly being lost. It moved me deeply.

Mina makes her own paper boat and bird. She writes her name inside them and places them into a flowing stream. Mina dreams of her creations finding their way to a little boy, and they do, as we the readers meet Miyako and his father.

Mina and Miyako pass each other in the city, catching glimpses of one another but not knowing each other at all.

Miyako, it seems, is also navigating life after loss and getting to know his father’s new partner.

There are so many layers of this story to unfold and understand. The strong bond between parent and child, learning to live with loss, dealing with life changes. All are sensitively and beautifully expressed in poetic text and stunning illustrations.

This is a story of finding yourself in a new city, of finding friends in unexpected places and fleeting moments, of unfolding the magic of the everyday.

My words do not come close to doing this book justice. Please, please read it for yourself x