Mark Relbstein, author
Ed young, illustrator

Publisher : Triangle Square (April 9, 2019)
Publication Date : April 9, 2019
ASIN : B078QSW4B8

From revered nature writer Brenda Peterson and told through striking and vibrant mixed-media collages by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young, Catastrophe by the Sea is a poignant story of redemption through empathy and compassion found in the most surprising places, and also provides a rich understanding of small creatures that live in a dangerous tidal zone.

Told in haiku-based American Sentences and pictures, Yugen is the story of a boy and his mother, inspired by the profound concept of “yugen,” a Japanese word for the mystery and beauty of the universe and of human experience. The second collaboration between Caldecott-winning illustrator Ed Young and Mark Reibstein after their award-winning 2008 debut, Wabi Sabi, Yugen is a book of longing and remembrance that is unequaled in its beauty and poetic simplicity.

“‘Yugen,’ as the child narrator of this haunting story is called by his mother, is a Japanese term that means ‘subtle and profound.’ In their second collaboration, Young and Reibstein (Wabi Sabi) embody that concept through haiku and quiet images that reflect on presence and absence … The collaborators offer a stirring and graceful expression of love, loss, and quiet longing.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Text and pictures skillfully combine to portray the emotions of a small boy who is left to wonder if his absent mother will ever return. The Author’s Note defines the Japanese word yugen as ‘subtle and profound,’ which will be how readers describe their feelings about this second author/illustrator collaboration.”
—Booklist, starred review

“Step into a dream of a story by the team that created Wabi Sabi (2008). Reibstein and Young reunite in this sophisticated, dreamy, lyrical tribute to maternal love and loss, the eternity of memories, and the power of nature to depict human emotions … This unconventional picture book offers opportunities to discuss poetic form, Japanese culture and customs, artistic style, and storytelling—making this book perfect for older readers as well. Beauty is ever present in this book, amid loss and mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews