Ballad by Blexbolex, translated by Claudia Z. Bedrick, 280 pp, RL: 2


Maria Popova, editor of Brain Pickings, "a human-powered discovery engine for interestingness," shared a trove of lovely images of and from Ballad (and used throughout my review) in her article Ballad: Beloved French Graphic Artist Blexbolex's Visual Allegory of Life's Evolving Complexity. Of Ballad she wrote, "All throughout, we're invited to reimagine the narrative as we absorb the growing complexity of the world - a beautiful allegory for our walk through life itself." Eloquently and perfectly stated for the many, many adults who will be drawn to this elegant little book. But what will kids make of it?
