Lilli Carre The Lagoon

Annotation

Here’s an almost cozy story of how a creature from the literally black lagoon holds a spiritual connection to several generations of a small family. Carré’s black-and-white cartoons are a step away from Kim Deitch: a bit more wobbly, befitting the rural and often watery settings. Zoey, a young girl who lives near the woods-enshrouded lagoon with her parents and grandfather, becomes increasingly aware of the nocturnal activities involving the adults and the small, damp dragon-sprite. The symbol-rich tale offers readers a smorgasbord of sounds—piano, whistling, a metronome’s monotony, tapping fingers—in addition to the mysterious yet homely landscapes, which include corners of the house and a fire in the yard as well as the depths of the grassy lagoon. The narrative drive isn’t lost at the expense of all this symbolism; on the contrary, this slim volume packs abundant energy and demands regular revisiting.