The Paper Bridge by Joelle Veyranc & Seng Soun Ratanavanh

translated into English from the original French by Katy Lockwood-Holmes.

What a gorgeous, glorious book! I’ve been so bowled over by the art in children’s books of recent years, but this may be by far the best illustrated picture book I’ve ever had the privilege of reading.

Most of the credit goes, ofc, to Seng Soun Ratanavanh. She uses watercolors on paper and cardboard before applying the traditions of kirigami and photography to build her images, to absolutely stunning effect. The story helps tremendously, as both it and the illustrations fuse to create the perfect piece of art.

That story is the tale of two communities in opposition, who learn how to get along due to the pluck and ingenuity of young Anya. The inhabitants of Paperlee Village live a simple life despite everything in their town, including themselves, being made of paper. When strong winds begin arriving out of season, the villagers begin to worry. They’re used to accommodating for inclement weather, but winds year-round would devastate their livelihoods and very lives.

Anya decides to investigate. What she finds and how she solves the problem — using courage, connection and communication — is one of the best messages kids (and, let’s be honest, lots of adults) could receive. Her task isn’t easy, especially as it’s a metaphor for dealing with climate change and the perils of unchecked industrialization. It is, however, worthwhile.

The (other) genius of this book is how the search for solutions is modeled in such a way as to make good change seem feasible even for small hands and voices. Frankly, I think this should be in the library of anyone, of any age, who believes in the power of hope and community to make a meaningful impact. Add to that the sheer gorgeousness of this volume and this is undoubtedly one of my best books of the year so far.

The Paper Bridge by Joelle Veyranc & Seng Soun Ratanavanh was published May 6 2025 by Floris Books and is available from all good booksellers, including