Clara and the Man With Books in His Window

Some stories come to us wrapped in memory, and some — like this one — ask us gently to look closer at what is unspoken. Andruetto’s spare, luminous narrative draws on her mother’s true story: a friendship formed in 1920s rural Argentina between Clara, a young girl, and Juan, a man who lives behind his window of books.

Why Juan does not leave his house is never fully explained, but it is powerfully alluded to — with respect for the intelligence of young readers. We learn only that once, Juan lacked the courage to be the person he truly wished to be. It is through Clara’s open curiosity, her questions about the world, and their shared love of stories that a quiet, tender connection forms.

Trach’s mixed-media artwork — soft, layered, and richly atmospheric — echoes the book’s themes of seeing and not seeing. Light and shadow are used with particular sensitivity, creating spaces where both longing and hope reside. The slender, landscape format enhances the book’s gentle pacing, allowing readers to pause and absorb the nuances of both text and image. Several wordless spreads, in which Clara retrieves and returns books, are especially beautiful — celebrating the quiet passage of time and the trust built slowly, visit by visit. Time here is rendered with a tenderness that mirrors the emotional arc of the story itself.

Amado’s translation brings a careful lightness to the prose, retaining its lyrical simplicity and emotional depth. Andruetto, Trach, and Amado together craft a story of friendship, courage, and the transformative power of books — and of simply being seen.

A quietly brave, deeply humane book that trusts its readers and honours its source. Another exceptional offering from Greystone Kids — a publisher consistently championing stories that matter.