Le petit chaperon rouge -
Braille version
By: Warja Lavater and Myriam Colin
Publisher: Les Doigts Qui Rêvent, France, 2008
Format: Leporello in cloth covered board box, using techniques like braille, print, different fabrics, leather, sewing and more
A tactile adventure
We have already introduced Warja Lavater and her inventive interpretation of Red Riding Hood, Le petit chaperon rouge. The original is amazing, so naturally we were very happy to find this tactile interpretation that makes it possible also for those of us who are blind or have low vision to enjoy the book. If you are not familiar with the work of Warja Lavater, we recommend reading this review first. The publisher behind the tactile edition is the organisation "Les Doigts Qui Rêvent" which translates to something like "Fingers that dream".
How do we work with literature with children who are blind or have low vision, in ways that gives everyone the same opportunities for storytelling and the same room for their imagination? Many tactile books are creative and beautiful, but demands the presence of a seeing person who can read the explaining text all thorugh the book. At Fabel silent book library, there are many families visiting every year, also families with children that have low vision. We are constantly on the lookout for high quality books to offer, so to find this one was a true treasure, as Warja Lavater's art holds very high quality indeed.
It turns out that Lavater's very distinct visual language interprets beautifully into a tactile language. Myriam Colin has stayed true to the original format: The book has the same beautiful cloth binding as the original, and is also in a leporello format. It is of course a lot thicker than the original, and is therefore placed in a cloth-covered cardboard box for protection. The tactile symbol for Little Red Riding Hood - a small circle made in red felt - is placed on the cover together with the printed title.
Just as in the original, the storytelling symbols are explained to the reader, in this version they are translated to braille. The only difference is that the symbols are now not only visual, but also tactile. Myriam Colin uses a range of different materials to achieve this: Felt, woven cotton, velour, leather, a wonderful "hairy" fabric for the wolf, cardboard for the bed and different embossings for the wood and the house.
The reader can study the explanations and decipher the book while having the tradiontal fairytale in mind, or they can chose not to do so and make up their completely own universe and storyline in the rich tactile landscape that unfolds with the opening of the leporello. This was, after all, Lavater's wish for her books: for the reader to become the narrator, constantly renewing the story by adding his or hers experiences and feelings.
