The City of Jasmine
...and still...
This picture book is beautiful. There’s no other way to describe it. And as with all beautiful things, its presence lingers in heart and mind. The narrative and illustrations form an inhabitance, a dwelling, that invites and welcomes readers. This is home. This is Damascus—the City of Jasmine—the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Its sights, scents, sounds, suburbs, landmarks, and people come to life as pages turn. And just when you feel you are truly there, the narrative pulls you elsewhere. In an instant, all that remains are the memories, lingering beautiful moments, and the imagined scent of jasmine.
I liked the metaphorical connection between the Damascene box and the book itself. Within the pages, beneath the lid, one finds cherished pieces of a city that has stood and still stands against the test of time. May its beauty be protected from evil and envy.
The City of Jasmine is a debut picture book by Nadine Presley. Her elegant, poetic style pairs so beautifully with Heather Brockman Lee’s watercolor illustrations. Bits of collage add visual depth and texture, providing a three-dimensional experience of the architecture and landscape. Brilliantly composed.