Yves Nadon

A young boy narrates this gentle holiday tale about two brothers, and the summer at the lake when the younger of them finally joins the elder in jumping off a high rock into the water. Convinced he is not ready, sure that he cannot live up to his big brother who, in his dive, is like a cat, a bird and a fish, he nevertheless begins to climb. Conquering his fear, because he sees the faith in his brother's eyes, the younger brother too becomes a cat who climbs, a bird who flies, and a fish who swims. Most of all though, he is a boy and a brother...

We Are Brothers is my first book from French-Canadian author Yves Nadon, and my third from French illustrator Jean Claverie. I'm not sure if this edition from the Mankato-based Creative Editions is an English translation of Mon frère & moi, which was published the same year (2018) in Quebec, or if it is a separate written-in-English version done by the author himself. There is no information on the colophon of my edition, to indicate that it is a translation, but it's clear (from both title and cover image) that this is the same story. Leaving that aside, the book itself is a distinct pleasure. The text is poetic and emotionally resonant, while the artwork is beautiful. I have admired Claverie's illustrations, both in Kurt Baumann's The Prince & the Lute and in his picture-book edition of Hans Christian Andersen's The Old House, and his paintings here are every bit as beautiful. The scenes in which the narrator morphs from cat into boy, boy into bird, and fish into boy, are particularly lovely. Recommended to anyone who appreciates beautiful picture-book art, or who is looking for summertime tales about swimming, diving, conquering one's fears, and being brothers.… (altro)