Paul Kor (1926–2001)

Israeli children's author and artist Paul Kor, perhaps best known for his trilogy of picture-books about Flash the Fish - of the three, only the first, כספיון הדג הקטן in the original Hebrew, has been translated into English - here meditates on the idea of war and peace. As the hawk transforms himself into a dove, various means of war are also transformed, whether it be tanks into tractors, or planes into butterflies. But despite this welcome development, the dove worries that one day there will be another hawk...

The second picture-book I have read from Kor, The Hawk and the Dove put me strongly in mind of the passage from the Book of Isaiah, from the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament, depending upon one's religious persuasion) about turning swords into ploughshares. According to the brief afterword, the book was conceived in 1967, during the Six-Day War, and completed in 1982, during the Lebanon War. It draws upon Kor's work during both of those periods, as well as the drawings he did as a boy, living in World War II-era Europe. A poignant plea for peace, one that never loses sight of the fact that war is always a possibility down the road, it is also a beautifully designed book, with the transformations mentioned above being depicted through the use of half-pages on each spread, with the object in question appearing in its war-like appearance on the front, and in its peaceful aspect once the half-page is turned.

I found this a thoughtful book, but am unsure to whom I would recommend it. Perhaps to those looking for books about war and peace, and the hope for peace? Undoubtedly, to admirers of Paul Kor's artwork as well.… (meer)

Little Flash's family travels as one big group of shimmering silver fish all over the ocean, but Flash likes to strike out on his own to explore. When Flash comes across a big black thing in the water, he's not sure what to make of it. Could it be a mountain? But mountains don't have eyes, and they don't have teeth, and they certainly don't talk. No, this is not a mountain at all; it's a baby whale—and she's lost in the vast ocean! Can Flash and his family help the whale find her mama and papa?… (meer)

Flash was a little silver fish who liked to strike out on his own, swimming away from his family. One day he discovered a massive black whale who, despite her size, was a baby, and had gotten separated from her parents. Working with his family, Flash reunited the lost cetacean family, thereby making a friend for life...

Originally published in Israel as כספיון הדג הקטן, this was apparently the first of a trilogy of picture-books about the adventures of this little fish, although Flash the Fish is the only one thus far to be translated. I have seen this book compared unfavorably to titles like The Rainbow Fish, which is perhaps to be expected, given that both tell the story of a piscine hero who is depicted on the page using some kind of shiny, glittery paper. That said, I actually prefer this simple tale to that of the Rainbow Fish, which has always struck me as having an unhealthy view of balancing individuality and communal harmony. The story here is simple but heartwarming, and the artwork very appealing. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about helping those in need.… (meer)