We first meet Snowflake (or if you pick up the book the other way, you'll first meet Inkdrop), who has been fluttering down from the clouds for a very, very long time. Snowdrop wonders where it will land--and is mostly uncertain.
It floats from place to place, from playground to circus and finally finds itself sailing towards its fate--a black inkdrop soaring down the street. The two blend and their fates collide.
From Inkdrop's end, a similar journey occurs as a gust of wind upends its bottle by the window, and as it soars outside along the street, it meets with the most beautiful snowy creation, fluttering along.
As both collide--in a sort of deathlike/birthlike melange, both are happier than they have ever been before.
Peppered with beautiful paper-cut pages (white for Snowflake, black for Inkdrop) that peek through to the pages beyond, this is a book of high production value. The central page where the two elements meet is a full double page page flip-out, with striking cut-outs and the a full illustration showcasing the beauty of blending black and white until it somehow forms colour.
This is a book that will touch hearts, and make children both think and feel on very deep levels. Subtle, highly creative and visually beautiful.
Title: The Story of Snowflake and Inkdrop
Author: Alessandro Gatti and Pierdomenico Baccalario
Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani
Publisher: Enchanted Lion, $29.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 February 2016
Format: Hard cover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9781592701865
For ages: 6 - 10
Type: Picture Book