The Gentlest Blue
藍色是最溫柔的顏色
Overview
A tender and visually poetic picture book about learning, frustration, self-discovery, and the reassuring love that allows a child to grow.
A little boy who loves swimming feels frustrated in a swimming competition. The ocean is the gentlest shade of blue, and the race of life is not confined to the narrow lanes of a pool but unfolds across the vast, open sea. The ocean's breadth and depth give the little boy the gentlest embrace, letting him experience not only the joy of swimming, but also freedom. Through it all, his mother remains his warmest and safest harbor, offering her unwavering love, support, and protection in a gentle, reassuring voice.
Chen Yan-Ling uses shifting shades of blue as a visual language for the subtle psychological changes experienced during learning and personal growth. Her delicate illustrations move fluidly between comfort and unease, creating an immersive emotional artworks in which water becomes a metaphor for both life and a mother’s embrace.
Size: 20 x 25 cm
Author(s)
Ａ prolific author and illustrator for children’s picture books. She graduated from the Pratt Institute with an MFA in Communications Design. Her works have won the Mandarin Daily News’ Children’s Literature Award, Hsin-Yi Children Literary Award, and have been selected as The Best Reads from the National Golden Tripod Awards for Publications. She enjoys drawing mice, reading, and the calmness of a weekend afternoon.