I needed this book
I NEEDED THE INVITATION this book offers and the space it holds to imagine, explore and discover. I needed its exquisite lines and patterns to help shake me loose from inertia and move through a cycle of transformation, loss and renewal. I needed its masterfully ambiguous use of figure and ground to illuminate my connections and interdependence to all things. I needed its rich symbolism to remind me that the knowledge, the tools, the strength for navigating this journey are abundantly given.
ANN TITUS Swan Lady
Author
CARLOS ZAMORA is the author and illustrator of The Forest Within, an exploration on the creative power of grief. Born and raised in Cuba, Zamora graduated from Havana's Design Institute, and emigrated to the United States. This book departs from the colorful boldness of his work, to delight readers with a visual narrative in a classic black and white palette, gray hues, warm whites, and a punch of gold.
The story is packed with graphic metaphors that will inspire readers into a journey of discovery and self reflection. Minimal words and evocative scenes convey a melancholic, quiet tone, inviting us to pause, examine, and imagine inner worlds, where come to terms with loss.
The forest becomes a fruitful garden for the imagination to run free in a bittersweet celebration of life. Throughout the pages of this picture book, children of all ages will find a reassuring ode to resilience; and a tribute to the unbreakable condition of the human spirit.
Zamora is represented by Ella Lupo at Purple Rain Illustrators. His work has been published by The New York Times, Time's Magazine, the New York Observer, The Boston Globe, Advertising Age, The Wall Street Journal, and St. Louis Magazine. He runs CARTEL, a design studio in St. Louis specialized in illustrated branding.