The Tree and the River

 
★以《旅程》（Journey）榮獲美國凱迪克榮譽獎艾隆．貝克（Aaron Becker）磅礡新作
 
　　一棵小樹立在蜿蜒的河岸上，默默見證時光流逝。樹看著人類出現，一個家庭開始在肥沃的山谷裡耕種，接著出現村莊以及城鎮，人們學會用水、風還有獸力來生存，卻也彼此發動戰爭。隨著時間推移，人類文明一路發展，不只嘗試改變河的流向、甚至延長日光時間，試圖要使大自然屈服在人類意志之下。不斷追求開發之下，人類迎來工業革命與現代化文明，隨之而來的卻是生態浩劫……
 
　　時空流轉，生生不息，一顆橡子落入土裡，帶來新的生命。儘管人們的世界時而陷入混亂，然而只要有生命延續，未來就仍有希望。
 
　　艾隆．貝克以一向擅長的無字繪本形式，使用鉛筆、水粉畫以及數位繪圖，透過一棵樹的視角，看大自然與人類兩個強大力量之間的角力，反思人類的存在和未來，以及人與自然間的關係。氣勢壯闊的跨頁大場景中，看得見艾隆．貝克對每個細節的精細要求，帶領讀者踏上過癮又難忘的視覺之旅，彷彿站在時間的長河，轉瞬間便看盡文明興衰。（文／博客來編譯）

　　A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind – and our impact on the natural world – from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form.

　　For his latest feat of visual storytelling, the acclaimed creator of the Journey trilogy invents, in staggering detail, a familiar world layered with imaginary civilizations. Borrowing from multiple cultures and architectural styles to craft astonishing new humanscapes, Aaron Becker tracks the evolution of our species – and its toll on the Earth – through the fates of a lone tree and an enduring river. River and tree bear silent witness over time as people arrive to harness water, wind, and animals; devise technology and transportation; redirect rivers; and reshape the land. Timely and ultimately hopeful, this wordless epic invites readers to pore over spreads densely packed with visual drama. Fans of Journey, Quest, and Return will leap at a new chance to uncover sophisticated layers of meaning, marvel at intricate details – from holographic billboards to flying machines – and see our precious shared world through fresh eyes.

　　Born in Baltimore, Aaron Becker moved to California to attend Pomona College where he scored his first illustration job designing t-shirts for his water polo team. Since then, he's traveled to Kenya, Japan, Sweden, and Tahiti backpacking around while looking for good things to eat and feeding his imagination. He now lives with his family in Amherst, MA where he's busy at work on his next book project. You can find out more about what he's been up to lately at storybreathing.com.