Die große Frage, Wolf Erlbruch. Finding out just why you are here
Erlbruch is an internationally acclaimed German writer and illustrator who has received numerous awards and praise for both his drawing style and books. He is perhaps most known for his 'the story of the little mole who went in search of whodunit'. In this post, I will briefly discuss 'the big question', a children's book which was published by the German Peter Hammer publishing house in 2015. Erlbruch has suggested that the moral of his stories is that people should regard themselves from a distance and accept even what is not so beautiful about themselves, but what is special.
the brother says: you are in the world to celebrate your birthday
the cat says: you are here to purr...if anything, to catch mice
the pilot says: you are here to kiss the clouds
the grandmother says: of course you are here so that I can spoil you rotten
the bird says: you are here to sing your song
the fat man says: you are here to eat
and so on..the number 3, the soldier, the dog, the captain, Death (you are here to love life), the Stone (you are here to be here), the father, the gardener, the Blind Man, the Baker, the Duck (I have no idea), the sister (to love yourself), the rabbit, the boxer and finally the Mother all speak to the Reader, engaging him or her to the multiple beauties and experiences of life, from the perspective of each animal, person or thing. They all tell you why YOU are here, but in reality, it's the reason THEY see themselves and their purpose here. In the end, no one can really tell you your purpose...you have to seek it out yourself, combine the reasons, question them, go on your own journey of self-discovery.
the collection of figures is indeed strange and quite unique, from a stone to Death to the Number Three. It's light philosophical twist, it's endearing message, the string of professions (Baker, Gardener, Pilot, Captain) and people (Father, Mother, Brother, Sister) give both young and old something to contemplate on... a very BIG question, namely why we are here! There is no one answer just as their is no one template for any thing or person. We are all different and we mostly see the world and understand our place in it from our own immediate experiences and surroundings. The little book about this big question invites the reader to step out of himself and experience our place in it...from quite different angles.
A nice little reminder about our diversity, about our small but significant existence in this immense and the beauty that comes from the interaction between and among us all.
The book ends with a few blank pages to fill in when you discover more reasons for why you are here in the world.
Compare The Big Question with another book Maybe from Kobi Yamada and Gabriella Barouch (illustration).
The book opens with the same question - Have you ever wondered why you are here?
The answer, that will be repeated and explored throughout the book, comes on the next page - 'You are you. There has never been anyone like you and there never will be. There is so much potential in you.'
These inspirational trendy books target both children and adults, encouraging them to embrace their individuality and explore it without fear or restraint. But the sentences ring hollow, despite the wonderful, free-spirited illustrations and one has the feeling that the words are just too superficial and big to resonate in the mind and body of a child...The images alone tell a wonderful story of flight, experimenting, exploring and determination that the words somehow drown in them.
'Maybe you will discover something that no one has yet seen, maybe you will build things that will soar in the sky, your life is yours, try out as many things as you can...wherever you go, take your hopes with you, pack your dreams with you, and don't ever forget - you will discover things when you travel'.
'Maybe you will help others see the beauty in each day, maybe you will infect people with your enthusiasm..'
'Let love be your guiding force, follow your heart and see where it leads you'
And reminiscent of Erlbruch's Big Question, 'maybe you are here to bring light to places that have been for too long dark? Maybe you will raise your voice for those who can't themselves speak?'
'Maybe you are here to help in a way only you can?'
'On this discovery path, you will meet travails but this world needs all your talents and skills and ideas'.
'If you are at the beginning of your journey, and haven't yet discovered or chosen your path, then you should know that you have all you need inside of you..if you are still in doubt, maybe the world has been waiting for someone just like you to come along'.
Here is a comment by the illustrator about the bird head-piece worn by the girl protagonist:
Interview Question: The detail in the artwork is exquisite. The bird headpiece worn by the young girl particularly enamors me. How did you come up with the idea of a headpiece made of leaves? It’s breathtakingly special.
Gabriella (Illustrator): It was actually Kobi’s idea, a part of his vision for the girl—a child that creates her own adventures. The bird hat represents her dreams and creativity for me since she made it herself.
I especially felt connected to the sewing leaves part, since my grandmother used to tell me that when she was young they used to play in the woods, collect leaves, and sew them into dresses. That’s what they had back then, and I find that to be charming. I was lucky enough to draw it in the book.
Afterthought: Both books invite the reader (young and old) to position and question their place and purpose in the world. The first - The Big Question- doesn't hope to inspire, persuade, encourage, it just simply recognises and celebrates the differences that we are and the passion each one carries in them, all in harmony (pilot, stone, duck, number 3).
Maybe... this little word that could be the start and trigger to discovering what lies in you, soaring, excelling, helping, discovering. Encouraging words that we will be confronted with throughout life. Trendy messages that hope to resonate with the reader - you are smart, you are beautiful, you are unique, you have talents and gifts...all abstract words imposed and heaped on children from a very early age.
Let's complement the above mentioned books with another one by the German writer and illustrator Katrin Stangl 'Does Bread swim in Milk?' (Schwimmt Brot in Milch?)
The book consists of a series of questions which invite the reader to .....yes, question things, wonder at things we take for granted, explore, experiment and yes...we learn when we are having fun, when we try new things out, when we free up our bodies and our minds.
The book is also a little poetic ode to children and their world of imagination - how often must teddy bears bathe? does the colour red taste better than blue? Can all the children come to my birthday party? How many raisins are in the muesli cereals?
It also references all the rules (kann man, darf man...) that are imposed on children at a very young age. Of course, rules are necessary but questioning them is equally so.
This book pays tribute to kids' curiosity, experimentation and indirectly encourages them to never stop asking questions.
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