White Ravens’98/Belgium(Dutch)/66023
Dreesen, Jaak (text)
Heymans, Annemie (illus.)
Marieke, Marieke (Proper name)
Averbode: Altiora, 1997. 44pp
ISBN 90-317-1269-8
Death/Child - Grief
In this magnificent poetic picture book the first-person narrator is waiting,
desparately missing Marieke. He has laid out all kinds of things under the
apple tree, waiting for her to come and play. The combination of a
melodious rhyming text and grey-tone illustrations evokes an atmosphere
of increasing tension. Then, with the arrival of Marieke’s mother, it
becomes clear that the girl will never come again, though this is not 
stated explicitly. In spite of the tangible sense 
of emptiness, the open ending provides some comfort - Marieke is gone
but will always be present in another way. (6+)

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