This is an awesome process story that would be enjoyable for most ages.

Thank you for allowing me to read this

The Blank Page: How a Piece of Paper Connects to Everything
Written by Alberto Blanco and illustrated by Rob Moss Wilson
Published by Plum Blossom
Available September 22, 2020
Ages 3-6

Poet Alberto Blanco begins this thoughtful, provocative picture book with a simple statement, “There is nothing here” (8). Or, rather, the reader does not see anything, for this is a blank page in a book. That blank page, however, is something. Imagine where the page comes from, the book instructs, from wood, a tree, a forest. How did this paper come to be? Who cared for the earth and the lumber? How was this tree processed, and by whom? Where was the wood sent? Blanco’s deceptively simple words welcome the audience to look beyond what is in front of us. . The picture books’ images reinforce the Blanco’s prose. A topic is suggested before its official introduction, allowing readers to envision and imagine what could be. A page later, the topic is made concrete and an image appears. Plain drawings set against a stark white background grow and grow; their detail remains hazy, inviting readers to use their imagination. As the occupants of the pages grow, so does the readers’ worldview As Blanco writes, “Look closely the next time you see a blank page… because it contains the whole universe.” (31-32). The picture book’s message is one of intentional awareness and understanding of the interconnectedness of the world.

This story uses the creation of a blank piece of paper to show explore interconnectivity. The blank page contains a tree, a forest, the earth, water, and sunlight that grew the forest, the work of the people that chopped down the trees and took them to the mill to be processed into paper, that was taken to the city to be used by many businesses, who are fed by the farmers who grow food, and so on. When you look at a blank page, even though you don't see it, it contains the universe. The simple artwork suits the simple way the story is told, and shows people of different skin tones working together. An interesting thought experiment, and will surely inspire conversation.

#TheBlankPage #NetGalley

The Blank Page is a beautiful story about interconnectedness and interdependency. It starts with a blank page, as the title suggests. A blank page isn't a lot, right? It just seems empty space? How much could it be worth really? However, the author goes on to talk about how much effort and the people involved in making that one single blank page. The page may not seem like much but is born out of a hard work and several days of different processes.

The story in a way teaches about discerning the value of even the smallest thing and it does so marvelously with its bright illustrations!

The Blank Page is an interesting an informative title for children to generate discussion on the creation of paper and all the different elements that go into it. I would have loved for there to be more "blank pages" or emptier pages throughout considering the title, but this is a cute conversation starter.

This is such a sweet story with a wonderful sentiment for children. I love that they really inspires readers to think k beyond themselves.

This is a delightful book. It is amazing how a blank piece of paper connects to everything. When a writer stares at a blank piece of paper they can see nothing until inspiration strikes then they start writing and see their story. They start writing. You won’t look at a blank page the same again after reading this story. You won’t see a blank page again. You will see everything that created that blank page as you see the story. This is a good story for everyone even if you don’t have children. It is creative. It is one paper with so much meaning. This is one story with so much meaning. The artwork does well helping tell the story as well. We recommend it. The writer has written a really inspirational book. Perhaps you won’t look at anything the same again. It does get you thinking.

I thought this was a great picture book. Initially, I thought I'd be reading a simple and sweet story about creativity and seeing something where it at first appears like there's nothing but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was that but also much more! Blanco touches on creativity, imagination, how humans are connected to the Earth and to each other, cooperation, and the importance of nature.

I can see using this book in a variety of different units (or as a general read aloud). I think it would easily fit with units/lessons on storywriting, seeing details, or similar. It could also work well with themes of working together or to start conversations about how humans work with nature and with each other. It could also be used to talk about first appearances vs. what something or someone really contains. I think as a general read aloud, this book could also generate great student/child-generated questions, comments, and discussion.

I liked the variety of skin tones represented in the illustrated characters. I enjoyed the illustrations overall, as well. They don't overwhelm the page even on the pages that have more going on, but they also don't feel overly sparse. They feel very calming to look at. The font chosen for the text is also nice. I think it looks nice aesthetically but it also looks readable for children so children could flip through this book on their own.

When we pick up a picture book, we often only see what is right in front of us: the words and pictures that the writer has handpicked just for us. In The Blank Page, however, Alberto Blanco leads the reader to question whether a blank page is ever truly blank. Behind the blankness of a page, there are so many pieces that had to work congruently to make the page exist. For example, paper is made from wood. Where did the wood come from? What had to happen for the forest that grew the trees that made the wood thrive, and who helped throughout the process? While leading the reader through a simplified process of what has to happen to create one sheet of paper, one is reminded that we are all a part of the process that makes our little edge of the universe work. Blanco nudges his reader to remember that we can always look deeper, and little things like sheets of paper aren’t always so simple.

Blanco creates an enlightening read for adult and child alike in The Blank Page. Despite the lack of the typical plotline of a story, the reader is led through the process behind what had to happen to make the book they are holding tangible. Supplemented by Wilson’s charmingly simple illustrations, the process behind what makes a sheet of paper come to life and give us the perfect medium for our favorite stories is made accessible to readers of any age. What something appears to be cannot always be taken at face value, and oftentimes we take for granted what has to happen for each piece of paper to end up where it’s meant to be. This intuitive picture book is the perfect introduction to prompt discussions for young children about the world around them.

This was an interesting book explaining the broader process of paper making and encouraging kids to understand the process and how many resources go into making the products we use daily. A great way to start a conversation about carbon footprints.

Thank you NetGalley, Parallax Press, and Alberto Blanco for the ARC.

I was looking forward to this picture book, as someone who has always loved reading and writing, and has a few favorite meta picture books about books themselves. For me, this was lacking the humor and self-referential fun that I love about those other books. I also did not find the illustrations particularly engaging.

Nothing is not Simple

This is a fascinating book that encourages children to look deeper into things that might appear simple or mundane. The author dives deep into what goes on behind the scenes to make a simple piece of paper. He steps back in a logical progression, first looking at the trees and everything that could be around them to the people who are involved in turning that tree into paper and getting the paper out into the world. It shows that everything in our lives, even the most simple of things, has a deeper connection to the Earth, to people, and perhaps even more. A large amount of page time is spent in the natural world, giving this book a subtle emphasis on environmentalism without being too heavy-handed or preachy. This book is perfect for a child who has natural curiosity about where things come from.

This book had no real plot or storyline. I thought it would be more creative and about what you could do with a blank page but it was more focused on where paper came from. I was not the target audience. The illustrations were very simplistic. I'm sure someone else might enjoy it more.

Blanco demonstrates how to move beyond the blank. What a great idea for those kids who say, "I don't know what to write about." Have them read this book, stare at a blank page and write about what they see.

Thank you to Parallax Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A blank page is not really a blank page. Alberto Blanco takes the reader on a journey to consider all the things needed to create a blank page. The journey goes back to a forest, but also to the soil, the sun, the clouds which develop rain in order to create the tree in the forest. The story explores the workers needed to harvest the wood in the forest and the mill to create paper from wood. But finally, the author shares it really take the universe fully cooperating together to create a blank page, which is such a beautiful thing to readers, artists and educators.

Look for this on 9.22.20!

This book was so fun and informative; it traces the origin of paper from tree and crops, to sun, etc... It would make a terrific book for younger kids studying science, even social studies! The illustrations were simple, but effective.

This children's picture book tells the Thich Nhat Hanh teaching about how the entire universe can be seen in a blank piece of paper, demonstrating how everything is interconnected.

I liked that the people cutting down the trees and the factory workers making the paper were not demonized but simply an important part of a piece of paper. And I liked the final words: <i>Where nothing happens, there is a miracle that we are not seeing.</i> A good, simple book.

#TheBlankPage #NetGalley

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

The idea is a cute one to help kids learn where paper comes from and the numerous people involved in the process. Unfortunately, the art is average and the text feels awkward. Story wasn't bad, but it feels incomplete.
It's a nice idea for a book, but it needs more work.

The Blank Page by Alberto Blanco, with illustrations by Rob Moss Wilson, shows the reader that a blank sheet of paper is so much more than that. It is the tree and nature that created the page. This story shows us not just what a blank page physically is, but what it could be in the hands of creators.

I thought this was a sweet story. I was a preschool teacher for four years, and I definitely could see this as a book I would have read to my students when discussing not only where paper comes from, but how our imaginations can create so much with a blank page. While I liked this story but I wasn't blown away--and yes--I HAVE been blown away by picture books many times. I liked it, and I thought the illustrations were simple and effective. Truly, I think my favorite part of this whole book was the quote Blanco uses from Joao Guimaraes Rosa:

"Where nothing happens, there is a miracle we are not seeing."

I think this is a beautiful sentiment, and it worked really well with this story.

This book is very sweet. The story of a blank page and where it comes from is well written for children and the illustrations are very cute and appropriate. My favorite is the red barn and the farmer in his garden. I think that this book would be a good book to read to children, especially when they have writer's block or are in an artistic rut. The story itself, where paper comes from, could be inspiring to children to imagine all the things the paper could be.