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A playful eco-fable that turns the emergence of life on its head

The Origin of Things

Jacques & Lise

Somewhere on earth, deep under water, microplastics stick together to form real shapes for the first time: colourful, surprising Things in all possible manifestations. When this evolution continues on land as well, slowly but surely a new species emerges. The Things organize themselves into sophisticated societies and seem indestructible. Yet they struggle with a sense of emptiness. They dream of something more and what they invent is truly amazing: Life. The Life they create is fragile, finite and captivatingly beautiful, but also unpredictable, capricious and a little bit destructive. When the situation grows intolerable, the Things tidy Life away again – and the unrest returns. What follows is a devastating battle that leads to the end of Things. And to a whole new beginning.

The pictures are marvels of illustration that hold your attention and stimulate the imagination.
Pluizuit

In this highly original reversal of evolution, Jacques and Lise invite readers, with humour and imagination, to think about our throwaway society and how we treat the planet. Their clear compositions, sleek design aesthetic and carefully calibrated use of colour result in a layered picture book that is both accessible and rich in detail. Playful references to encyclopaedic and botanical plates with ‘Latin’ names make this philosophical picture book complete.

Once again Jacques and Lise have succeeded in creating a universe all their own with a handful of colours and their strong graphic style.
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