Always Adam

'Some things change and some things don't' is the theme of this beautiful picture book. The first half is a monochrome reminiscence of the life of a Jewish family in pre-revolutionary Russia. The younger generation of the family become refugees, but before they leave, Adam's grandfather gives him a prayer shawl which has been passed down through the generations as a symbol of continuity. The story continues in colour as we watch Adam growing up and growing old in the New World, the prayer shawl ever changing as he repairs it, but remaining essentially the same when he hands it on to his own grandson. A simple story, but with rich and complex reverberations.