Noticing by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst is a stunning companion book to their earlier title, Trying. In a similar vein to Trying, their newest book follows a young girl and an older woman who serves as a mentor. This older woman is a painter and a keen, dedicated observer of the world, its beauty and people in it. The older woman is open to possibilities, she is insatiably curious, wise and uses her imagination to enlarge her world and all that she is exposed to.
The wise woman lives with such a palpable appreciation for all that surrounds her, she exudes a sense of awe and a contagious sense of joie de vivre. Her habit of noticing with an immense sense of wonder and gratitude (visually through what she sees, but also through what she feels as well as through her imagination) inspire the young girl to observe, notice, interpret and appreciate the world through a new lens. She also helps the girl recognise how extraordinary she is. The painter gifts the young girl not just the knowledge, but the experience of what can happen when one pauses and is open to the remarkable possibilities that exist. The painter also shares with the girl the idea that no two people see things in the same way. She instils in the girl the idea of noticing more than what presents in front of her and invites her to question, imagine and feel the world around her. The older woman invites the girl to “see with our imagination”.
Every page contains thoughts, ideas or questions that are part of conversations between the girl and painter that also encourage the reader to consider different ways of noticing the world around them. There are so many sentences that could be drawn from the book and used as conversation starters.
Elise’s sublime illustrations are mesmerising and include so many details (such as creatures and objects seamlessly woven into the scenes) to discover in the magical world she has created in these pages. Just like the message in the story, the more time you take to pause and notice, the more details and surprises reveal themselves in the illustrations.
This beautiful, illuminating story certainly inspires the reader to immerse themselves in their world with a lens that is conditioned to fully observe and notice their surroundings. Not just what can be seen, but also to question and imagine, which then allows one to deeply connect in a much richer way with the world and others. It is through observing that extraordinary discoveries can be made. This book also serves to highlight the beauty and benefits of having a mentor. It is an empowering, transformative opportunity and gift to learn from someone’s positive experience.
A review for Trying can be found here (this book is included as part of a collection, scroll down to the second book).