This beautiful Italian picture book tells the story of a little boy who lives in a lighthouse. “Geordie had only one toy: the sea. They were friends and they gave each other gifts.” Geordie sends numerous bottles with messages out to sea and constantly wonders “Is there really no one on the other side of the sea?” Eventually he does get a response from a girl who lives in a lighthouse on the opposite side of the ocean. In the end of the book Geordie goes to find her. The gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Marina Marcolin have so much soft texture. They are juxtaposed against her pencil sketches, that sometimes complete the painting where the edges cut it off. I love the spiral staircase that becomes a sketch of a shell (see below). You can see more of her illustrations here, buy this book here, and read the entire story in English here.

© Julia Rothman 2007