Winter Sunset - Neverland World's Masterpiece Picture Book 281

★ A work where you can fully enjoy the city’s light, Luminarie.
In winter, especially at the end of the year, the city sparkles with lights that brighten up the long nights. If the first half of the picture book depicts a beautiful sunset created by natural light, the second half unfolds a spectacular spectacle illuminated by city streetlights and decorative lights.
A streetlight turns on. The streetlamp light, which looks unusually warm and cozy, shines down on the child, the bearded grandfather, and the dog like pin lights. A light comes on in one of the windows of the building across from me. It's like a signal signaling the beginning of a colorful night in the city. In the next scene, light comes on one by one from the streetlights lining the road, and each window lights up. From then on, beautiful and colorful decorative lights brighten up the streets, and car headlights and traffic lights also play a part in illuminating the city. The child, who was regretting the passing of the day in front of him, soon became fascinated by the city lights and happily admired them, exclaiming: “It’s as bright as day!”
From the lights that decorate buildings, to the lights that decorate Christmas trees, to the lights that decorate shop windows, to the lights that decorate the inside of houses, the lights used to brighten up winter nights are reminiscent of the festival of lights, or Luminarie. It would be great to go outside and see the twinkling lights, but you can also enjoy the festival of lights at home with this book. A feast of light that is both brilliant and warms the heart... … .

★ A picture book depicting various races and festivals that reflects the author’s experiences.
Every year at Christmas, I imagine having a good time with my family and friends. This time of gathering together to share delicious food, exchange gifts, sing, and enjoy the festival is more exciting and joyful than ever. Having Christmas in winter like this is like a blessing to everyone.
Even in 《Winter Sunset》, the steps of people walking through the city streets seem energetic. Although each destination may be different - to a toy store, a gift shop, a theater, or home - you can feel that everyone is excited about the Christmas festival. A gentleman wearing a scarf, a lady wearing a hat, a retired acrobat, and an alien from the planet Jataflat appear, indirectly expressing the joy of the festival as if reciting lines from a play. Meanwhile, there are children who come out to the streets to enjoy the ripe festival. Children marching holding nine candlesticks represent 'Hanukkah', the Jewish festival of lights, while children wearing black and green clothes and holding seven candlesticks represent the 'Kwanza' festival created by African Americans. What city is this where so many different people come together? You can guess that it depicts the New York landscape through the Greenwich Village that appears on the sign in the painting. In fact, Yuri Shulevitz is active as a writer in New York, so I guess it contains his experiences living in New York.
This work, which attractively depicts the winter landscape of the city with poetic text and rich, colorful colors, will be an extremely warm picture book for children waiting for Christmas.

▶ Summary of the work
A child takes his dog for a walk with his bearded grandfather. A child who reaches the river and looks at the sun setting over the horizon says he is sad as the day goes by. But when he returns to the city, the street scene looks lively. People walk lightly, thinking about buying gifts and going home. As time passes from evening to night, lights come on all over the city, and the lights that fill the entire city create a festive atmosphere in the streets. The shopping streets are decorated with Christmas trees and various colorful decorations, and children carrying candle holders and enjoying the year-end festivities roam the alleys. The child is delighted to see the city filled with beautiful lights, bright as daylight, with open arms.