Ten years ago near an overgrown field bordering with ancient oak and maple woods, fallen into the crevice between mossy rocks, a book was found. It looked like a journal of sorts, and there were many attempts to find the owner. Nobody claimed the book, eventually, the search was abandoned, and the only thing was left is to read the book. It described the immense quest for the perfect cup of tea, but this pursuit took the unknown person very far, beyond the tea, beyond the woods and beyond the streams. This book features more than 70 landscape paintings rendered by Anna Kutishcheva in the years of wood wandering.
Singing Woods is a visual experience with the purpose of exciting the senses through deep descriptions and detailed images. The narrative is very precise, describing the land, the air, the scents, the colors, the sounds... everything that makes up a quality realistic setting. The story is set in a forest, and we follow the story of a small mission in a world without equal. With few words and detailed images, we can easily visualize the darkness of the night, or feel the cold of the earth. And with this, we are carried away by the enveloping experiences of the story. Anna Kutishcheva impresses with a simple yet profound story in a mystical world on the edge of reality and fantasy.
Anna Kutishcheva took great care with the content of the book. It has an antique look that I liked very much, the typography is just right, the decorated borders of each page are very detailed, the photographs and images have an air of mysticism, the sober colors give realism to the story and everything combines perfectly. Singing Woods has an original style that allows it to stand out. Anna Kutishcheva likes intricate designs and combines them in a way that looks very natural. The way she narrates the textures of the objects makes it very easy to visualize ourselves in the woods and follow the steps of the story. We can empathize with the narrator's emotions and feel his likes and dislikes alike.
What they are saying
A spooky tail of two unseparable friends Nick and Jake, for the young reader.
There are a lot of scary things all around us, but sometimes there’s really nothing to be afraid of. Dark shadows outside might be birds flying overhead; a large, dark object under the bed might end up being a stuffed toy; two shiny eyes under the bed (another scary thing under a scary bed) might be a toy truck with flashing lights, or something dangling behind the shower curtain in the bathroom might actually be a large wet towel. Jake and Nick's Spooky Fall by Anna Kutishcheva reminds us that our minds often play tricks on us, but if we look closer, we might see what these so-called scary things really are. Two puppies, Nick and Jake, are best friends. Jake is brave, but Nick sees monsters everywhere he looks. It’s a good thing he has a practical, brave friend at his side at all times.
Anna Kutishcheva’s picture book story, Jake and Nick’s Spooky Fall, is a fun read that will have young readers chuckling at the silly antics of two best friend puppies. Through this light-hearted plot, young readers will learn to assess their own perceptions of the world around them and perhaps not be so frightened by things that appear to be scary but really aren’t. The language is simple to appeal to the young reader and help them develop their reading skills. The illustrations are lively and colorful and help move the story forward. This is a great story to boost the confidence of young readers. It’s also a great story about the incredible bond of friendship.
What they are saying
