Spanish / Uruguay
La gran carrera
(The great race)
Ca.teter
(illus.)
[Montevideo]: Alter Ediciones, 2020. – [36] p.
ISBN 978-9974-8771-3-9
Life | Race | Wordless book | Picture book
Reading age: 9+
White Ravens issue: 2021
This book’s endpaper is already enigmatic – who are they, the Coluchi brothers, the lady “from below”, the detective inspector’s horse, the Siberians, and all the other characters? And what “great race” will unfold in the book’s pages? Is it a metaphor for life? The ups and downs, the rushed and calm periods, the pursuit of success alongside outdoor picnics, social gatherings, baby strollers and campfires at night – all expressing the fullness of life, until it ends and perhaps begins anew. Much is shown but nothing explained in this wordless book’s pictures, so “La gran carrera” allows for many ways of reading. The sketch-like black and white pictures with their nervous, filigreed line and numerous and sometimes tiny details inspire readers to flip the pages back and forth, to gaze in amazement and to reflect. Ca.teter’s picture book debut is fascinating in its courage to leave everything open and to give everyone total freedom to see what they would like to see or believes to see in the pictures. [JW]