Even
Family love and separation are the focus of Andy Gutman’s read-aloud picture book, Even.
Andy Gutman’s picture book Even is a warm story about a father’s expression of love for his young daughter.
Early in the morning, a father kisses his daughter goodbye before leaving for work. She doesn’t want him to go; the feeling is mutual. He reassures her that he will be thinking about her just as much as she is thinking of him. Whether he is working long hours or gone for other reasons, the father says, his daughter should never feel lonely for him; she is in his thoughts. A song that he records for her emphasizes his points.
The nameless father and daughter embody universally understood parent-child situations. The father narrates, expressing the love he has for his daughter; his words are a persistent reminder of parental love.
Structured in a near sonnet pattern using short sentences with light punctuation, the lilting narrative is aptly set in a lyrical format; the text becomes the lyrics to the father’s song, which comes without a melody.
Illustrations complement the text, embellishing the father’s words. Minimalist drawings and mixed-media scenes are generally realistic in their depictions of characters in various situations of separation. Backgrounds include light details; the illustrations are dimensional.
Family love and separation are the focus of this read-aloud picture book.
Reviewed by
Anita Lock
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
