Больше ни слова
Когда никто не отвечает, воображение говорит за всех
Sometimes we fear not death itself, but what we do not know about it
Death is an inherent part of life, yet conversations about it are often postponed. This is especially true when it concerns children. Adults often try to shield them from heavy experiences, sometimes not even knowing how to speak about what frightens them themselves. It seems that silence can protect a child from fear, but uncertainty rarely brings peace.
Kids Notice Much More Than Adults Realize
They see a stranger’s sadness, hear unfamiliar words, and sense when something unusual is happening around them. But they don’t always understand why everyone is crying, where a loved one has gone, or why laughter suddenly isn’t possible. Left without explanation, children try to find answers themselves to the questions that adults preferred to ignore.
When the answers are elusive, imagination takes over
At the center of the story are several children gathered at a funeral. Each perceives the event differently, trying to envision what death might look like. For one, it is a skeleton with a scythe; for another, a creature from an old legend; and for the third, endless darkness. Their conversation gradually transforms into an almost fairy-tale poem, filled with fantastical imagery and strange conjectures.
But imagination cannot always shield one from fear
Every new fantasy gives rise to even more questions. Death takes on new forms, but none of them help children fully understand what is happening. Gradually, curiosity gives way to anxiety. What began as an attempt to decipher the unknown turns into a frightening story that the children have told themselves.
Sometimes silence is the only answer
Frightened by their own imaginations, the children swear to each other never to speak of death again.
The story ends there. None of the adults explain what happened to them, and the children decide not to ask any more questions.
Trying to shield a child from fear, adults sometimes leave them to face that fear alone.
On certain matters, one must speak, even when words are difficult to find
This picture book is aimed at young adults who have, at some point, tried to figure out what death is on their own. It does not aim to provide an answer to the question of what happens after life. Through children’s imagination, poetic text, and images of death from different cultures, the book addresses another issue—our unwillingness to speak about the inevitable.
● Perhaps kids don’t always need ready-made answers. Sometimes, they just need an adult willing to listen to their questions.
About the project:
Format: Picture book with elements of poetic narrative.
Target audience: Young adults.
Visual language: Contemporary, original illustration based on research into the imagery of death across different cultures.
Project status: Concept, plot, and visual solution development.
