What are the most precious things in life, and where are they? How can we find them? These are questions we often have to ask. Many stories begin with this point, a journey of discovery, both tangible and figurative, that inevitably leads to bumpy paths. While there are often surprises, even without the 81 trials and tribulations of the pilgrimage to the West, there are still numerous hardships and dangers. In the end, perhaps the object is found, or perhaps it is simply an open-ended promise, inspiring and motivating the listener to pursue their own search…
Yuri Shulivaz’s classic picture book “The Treasure” and Paulo Coelho’s famous novel “The Alchemist” tell similar tales of quests. Both ultimately find the treasure, right at the very starting point, right beside the protagonists. But if one doesn’t embrace dreams, follow their inner inspiration, and embark on a magnificent journey, the chance to discover the treasure nearby is lost forever! Doesn’t this sound like a paradox? But after reading these stories, you’re left convinced.
Treasures by Michelle PuseyThe original French title literally translates to “Gucci’s Grand Journey,” seemingly telling a similar story, yet also seemingly distinct. Illustrator Peggy Neal’s illustrations depict the Gucci family, a species of rodent that lives on tropical seashores, subsisting primarily on a diet of nuts. This species of rodent may be unfamiliar to most Chinese readers, but the back cover blurb reveals it’s an agouti, a species of rodent primarily found in tropical America. Larger than a typical mouse, it resembles a rabbit, but lacks a tail and ears. They possess an intriguing trait: amnesia. Despite diligently collecting seeds and fruit, peeling them, and burying them for later consumption, they often forget where they buried their precious food upon waking! — The story of Michelle and Peggy’s collaborative picture book begins with the agouti’s devastating amnesia. Pretty informative, isn’t it?
Gucci’s amnesia is truly devastating. With his grandfather aging and his mother caring for his younger siblings, he’s responsible for saving food for the family. But after hibernation, the forest they live in is ravaged by a storm, leaving no food available. And Gucci has completely forgotten where he buried his stash! In such a situation, life-saving food is the true treasure. With no other options, led by his mother, the Gucci family embarks on a “great journey”—at least for the agouti.
Michel Poussi is a bestselling French author, ranking second in France in terms of sales in 2018. However, he’s not a children’s book writer; his forte lies in thrillers and suspense, often in the realistic detective genre. This picture book story, from his 2015 book, “She’s Not My Mother,” is actually a short story set within the thriller. It’s one of seven bedtime stories that the three-and-a-half-year-old protagonist, Marrone, hears repeatedly, and perhaps the most important of them all. The picture book is fortunate to have the renowned Peggy Neal as the illustrator. Peggy is not only an illustrator but also a versatile designer, specializing in print, toys, apparel, and even unique interior design. Having traveled extensively, including significant time in South Asia and South America, she seems to have a particular fondness for the vibrant, vibrant colors of the tropics, resulting in a warm and exotic style. Through Peggy’s illustrations, the story elicits no hint of horror, but instead a vibrant, endearing, and humorous atmosphere, making it impossible not to miss the Gucci family’s journey.
In the picture book’s narrative, this journey of searching for food and shelter seems like a difficult adventure, but in the pictures, it’s incredibly romantic—quite interesting, quite alluring, to say the least. This is the unique charm of picture books: the text and the pictures each tell a story: children typically look at the pictures while an adult reads the text, and the resulting “third story” is closest to the story they ultimately absorb. Of course, the child’s own rich imagination will further refine it.
Like “The Alchemist,” the end of a great journey is where it began. However, Michel’s story is remarkably innovative: instead of finding their old “treasure” buried at the starting point, the Gooch family discovers a new forest, where new trees, sprouted from the seeds Gooch had forgotten, are laden with fruit—even more new treasures! This ingenious outcome isn’t the author’s design; it’s actually these seemingly insignificant species, the agouti, that serve as the “forest gardeners” of the equatorial region. Their diligent burying of fruit, then forgetting to dig it up, helps the forest regenerate. The forest becomes more beautiful and fertile, and the agouti family has an inexhaustible supply of food.
Therefore, reading picture books like this is truly a delightful experience. The stories are beautiful, the images are beautiful, and they are very informative. They make you marvel at the wonders of nature. At the same time, you may also gain some unique insights into life, such as the treasures and pursuits in life. This kind of reading is a wonderful journey in itself, isn’t it?
But what’s even more fascinating about this story is that it’s actually from a thriller detective novel! How could that be? Aren’t you curious at all? I can’t spoil the story of the murderer in that novel, but I can tell you that this little story fits perfectly within the novel, not only advancing the plot perfectly (the stuffed animal the protagonist constantly holds is none other than Gucci the agouti) but also providing a brilliant metaphor. The novel begins like this: A three-and-a-half-year-old boy named Marrone suddenly announces to everyone at kindergarten that the mother he lives with every day isn’t his! Of course, no one believes Marrone, dismissing him as a temporary mental illness. However, the child psychologist who comes to help Marrone believes him and is surprised to discover that Gucci the stuffed animal is actually telling him stories. “The Treasure” is the first story.
From a child development perspective, children under the age of four or five are, at least in terms of their ability to retain memories, much like the agouti in the story. For example, a three-month-old baby may only retain memories for a week, while a three-year-old may only retain memories for six months. Consequently, adults often lack a clear recall of events before the age of four or five, relying on photographs or recollections from elders to reconstruct those memories. But the question arises: if children are so easily forgetful, why do adults continue to engage in early childhood education?
I think this short story cleverly answers this question and offers a wonderful metaphor: childhood is the most important treasure in a person’s life. Think of it this way: when children are very young, the words we say to them, the stories we tell them, the picture books we read them, the poems and nursery rhymes we recite, the music we share, the games we play, the cartoons we watch, the meaningful experiences we have, and so on, are like seeds. For children, most of these are forgotten, buried deep within their consciousness, and even when they look back as adults, they may not be found. But those seeds will eventually grow into a new forest, with trees full of new fruit, just like Gucci the Agouti’s treasure.
However, there is a more important revelation: in order to harvest these “treasures”, we must help children embark on a great journey, to constantly explore and pursue, while carefully protecting those around them, cherishing the present, and firmly believing that those treasures will quietly bloom one day (especially when we forget why one day).
Such revelation is suitable for both children and ourselves.
Ajia …
Written on2020Year2moon9Beijing
