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Lubna (protagonist)

Amir (antagonist)

Lubna's father (antagonist)

a Pebble (antagonist, little helper)

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Wendy Meddour grew up in a little seaside town called Aberystwyth, and after getting her PhD, she went to teach English Literature at Oxford University

she has gone on to become an internationally best-selling children’s writer, with books translated into 18 languages

one of her latest picture books, Lubna and Pebble (illustrated by Daniel Egneus), has just been selected by Time Magazine as one of the ‘Best 10 Books of the Year’

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Born in 1972 in Sweden, Daniel Eugnus has spent the last 20 years in Prague, London, Berlin, Bologna, Rome, Milano and has now made Athens, Greece his base

he has published more than 140 illustrations worldwide

he illustrated the children’s book The Thing (written by Simon Puttocck) which was voted by The Guardian as one of the 50 best illustrated books 2016

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Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour & Daniel Eugnus (2019)

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Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour & Daniel Eugnus (2019)

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Although young, Lubna is an incredibly kind and emotionally-intelligent girl. She lives in a world of tents, where she finds comfort in her Daddy and a pebble, which has become her best friend and confidante. But when Lubna meets a friendless boy called Amir, she realises that he needs her pebble more than she does. Lubna shows the reader the importance of empathy, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

-  An emotionally stunning picturebook that subtly addresses the crisis of refugees -

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printmedium

hardcover, 32 pages

illustrations are painted with crayon (stresses that story is based on children's experiences?) & probably a bit fixed on the computer

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since the material is printed, it has actual texttile texture which is rather smooth & subtle than rough

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there are many lines to be found in the illustrations, e.g.:

Amir's curly hair

slightly curvy lines of the waves, the washing lines, the kites & father's T-shirt --> connecting content, e.g. relationship of Lubna & her father

straight lines of the condention trails of the planes

squiggly lines of the pomengranate expressing Amir's shadow --> creating pattern

a few scribbled tracks showing movement of Amir & Lubna

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many close-up views of Lubna’s face and then Amir’s --> honors the emotional resilience of young people + attracts attention --> brings plight of refugee children to the forefront

Lubna's father is pictured as a strong, huge man just as she sees him; he protectively towers above her and Amir

in contrast to the protagonists rescue boat(s) are always huge

In many spreads, Egneus puts the reader on the ground (or even underwater), as if one is right there beside the children

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predominantly cool & dark colours of blue & green & touches of pink & red --> colour scheme goes along the whole book

saturated colours

Colours are contrasting but still in a harmonious way, e.g. page on which the play under the sky

The colours perfectly enhances the story as they transport the mood of despair & fear and the cold atmosphere that is usually to be found in refugee camps; however, there are a few shiny accents of warm colours brightening up the dull atmosphere (--> little pleasures of life?)

the colours change during the story, e.g. when Lubna met Amir for the first time his shadow appears as a pomegranate dark green tree; when he receives Lubna’s gift, it bursts into colour with red pomegranates as a magical expression of gratitude

scheme of colours changes when Lubna leaves the world of tents with her father; the boat and the sky change into tones of red, orange & purple while Amir & the box with Pebble stay blue

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Amir's shadow as a dark pomegranate tree changes ...

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... into red (gratitude?)

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Lubna and her father leaving the world of tents

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organic & natural shapes, e.g. people, squiggly plants/ flowers, pebble

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predominantly conveyed through illustrations --> they expand on what the text slightly describes

still, the visual setting might be described as reduced or minimalistic as there a many zoom-ins to the most important scenes of the story (it's only depicted what is vital to understand the plot)

expection: the scence in which Lubna looks back on her previous life thinking about her home, her brothers & the war; there are a lot of details to be found on this page (Lubna and her family playing with kites, fighter jets, elements of plants & flowers) --> reflects change in the character’s state of mind

also, the scene in which Lubna plays Hide and Seek underneath the stars is depicted in a quite colourful & playful way

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3rd person narrator

reliable

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the events of the story are chronological

the period of time is of the story is about a year (shown by illustrations --> winter is depicted twice)

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playful font with serifs

simple past

some direct speeches

appropriate for L2: short & simple sentences

just a few sentences per page

no rhytm or rhyme, no repetition

easy to read aloud

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both verbal and visual characterisation are kept simple & are quite simultaneous: Lubna's verbally described emotional state of being - e.g. 'But Lubna was worried'; 'when she felt scared', 'Lubna felt happy. Then sad. Amir cried' - is supported through her gestures & facial expressions in illustrations,

also, characters actions are  described both verbally & visually, e.g. the way Lubna acts towards her Pebble ('she kissed it goodnight') & Amir reveals her empathy & kindness

--> here again, the illustations add on to what the written text has already described

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Lubna's central position on the page emphasises the her special role in the story

characters are illustrated  in a realistic way

most of the charcacters were clothes in dark tones of blue which aligns to the atmosphere that is to be found in the world of tents

Lubna, however, always wears a red skirt which may underlines the warmth & kindness of her heart

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zoom-in of Lubna putting a smile on her Pebble --> no setting

introcution to the colour scheme of the picturebook

font of the title is sans-serif -->  different  to the written text of the story

attraction: What is it about that girl? Why is she interacting with an ordinary pebble? Why is she putting a smile on it?

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when Lubna’s dad is telling her her that they found a new place to live

Lubna has to leave her new friend Amir who got quite sad

--> How does Lubna act? Solution of the 'conflict'?

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close-up view of Lubna holding her Pebble

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Lubna finding Pebble at the beach & her father holding her in his salty arms

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Lubna putting a smile on Pebble

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Memories of her old life

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Playing 'Hide & Seek' underneath the stars with Amir

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Lubna putting Pebble in a box to keep it warm

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Lubna's father telling her that they found a new place to live