Analysis - The Boy from the Sun

February 11,2009

(Weller 2006)

This page from Governer General Literature Award winning book, The Boy from the Sun, exemplifies one of the recurring themes in Duncan Weller's books. Weller's themes often involve the delicate balance between nature and technology and breaking free of the constraints that modern life and technology imposes on people.  Weller uses the visual medium of illustration in combination with fantasy or science fiction inspired narratives to explore the ideas of freedom, community, and creativity.  

In the beginning of story, the boy from the sun comes down to meet three children who were sitting on a sidewalk, sad and simply staring.  A large factory with smoke stacks is looming in the background and the page is blank except for the factory, the sidewalk and the children. The lines are black and white and everything is simply drawn.  As the story continues, the boy from the sun comes down and greets them, promising to show them something.  The boy from the sun then proceeds to show them, first a colorful bird, then grass and then colorfully dressed people floating through the air.  The boy from the sun then leads them down the concrete sidewalk to increasing colorful, diverse and fanstastic scenes.  The children continue down the path, amazed at the new sights until the concrete sidewalk crumbles under their feet.  

In the illustration, the moment where the sidewalk crumbles is depicted.  The children are gleefull, the factory is nowhere to be seen and the boy from the sun is floating above them.  The starkness of the sidewalk, devoid of color, texture or variation is contrasted with the colorful, lush forest and beautiful trees.  The broken concrete sidewalk represents the falling away of constraints and entering into freedom and limitless creativity.  The broken sidewalk also represents not following a predetermined path, but setting out on a path less travelled and discovering new things along the way.  The boy from the sun teaches the children to open their eyes to see the diversity of life and the beauty of nature first hand.  

The rich textures and range of color in the forest stand as well for the limitless possibilities that exist when a person decides to escape from the scripted life of the urban setting and explore the outdoors.  Concretely, this is a plea for children to embrace the unpredictability of nature and the outdoors.  On a deeper level, it is an appeal to children to think both creatively and independently and break free from expectations. The author is appealing to children to develop their artistic selves and savour the world around them as a source of inspiration.  The illustration depicts the children's joy as they discover that their only limit is their imagination.  

This illustration from The Boy from the Sun can has levels of symbolism rarely  expresses optimism that children can learn that some of the technologies and structures of modern life are responsible for limiting creativity.  The story and illustrations are understandable on many levels and seem to resonate with children even through their complexity.  Duncan Weller's ilustrations challenge children and adults alike with creative content that entertains and educates without underestimating the reader.  Illustrations like this one are indicative of the quality that we can expect from Weller, then he is sure to become a name to be reckoned with in Canadian children's publishing.