Text/Sun Lili
When I first saw the story of "Mr. Cat and the Little Man", its name was still called "First Snow", and the little man in the story was born in the early winter and disappeared in the spring, and there was only one winter in one life. However, this little person, whose life is destined to be short, can grow flowers under his feet and use tears to make plants flourish in the harsh winter. This is a little person with magical powers but not self-knowledge, she was born ignorant and disappeared silently.
The little man met was a painter Mr. Cat, who lived in isolation, only keen on his favorite paintings, not cooking, and did not like to get along with others, in his heart, it seemed that there was only one thing to paint. It wasn't until Mr. Cat found a green leaf and a little person hiding under the green leaves under the thin snow and dead leaves in early winter.
Therefore, Mr. Cat, who is not good at getting along with others, takes in the little man.
The little man is eccentric, sees everything new, and gradually changes the habit of being lonely Mr. Cat. They became in love with each other, inseparable...
By chance, Mr. Cat discovered that the little man had the ability to make flowers and plants grow, and he also found that the little man's life was only one short winter.
Spring is coming. The little man left as scheduled, and Mr. Cat began to live alone again, only this time, he began to look forward to the next winter - will there be another green leaf under the thin snow, dead leaves? Will there be a little person under the green leaves? Is this little man still the one who left?
This is a story told in a calm tone, slightly sad, the picture uses soft colors, delicate brushstrokes, the light sadness in this tranquility is vivid and moving, showing the power of quiet and affection.
The author paints the ice and snow unusually cold, and we seem to be able to feel the slightest chill from the picture, but we can also feel the warmth in Mr. Cat's hut.
The author must be a person who loves cats very much, and will paint Mr. Cat so soft and warm that the little man can jump on his tail and swing at any time and sit on his head for warmth.
At the 2017 Golden Key Picture Book Creation Contest, the judges unanimously agreed that the book had the potential of an excellent picture book, so "Mr. Cat and the Little Man" entered the final judging stage without suspense.
As one of the judges, I was also attracted to the unique temperament of this book for the first time.
Everyone will read a picture book with their own life experience and literary experience, and when I read this book, in addition to being amazed by its beautiful picture and unhurried storytelling style, several images constructed by the author also triggered my thinking.
Little people, coming and going, unaware of their own magic and beauty, are not like the childhood of us? Once we truly understand this wonder and preciousness, then the ignorance that we cherish will cease to exist.
Mr. Cat, like an adult who has been away from his childhood for a long time, has the appearance of a gentleman, but he is so lonely that he finds happiness only when he opens the door of his heart and accepts an elf who is bound to die soon. He cherished this happiness so much that he was reluctant to leave for a moment, and he was even more afraid that she would disappear, but she would still disappear after all.
Little people always appear in the winter, but when everything is revived, they will leave, always get as much as they lose, but everyone gets and loses is not the same, and the arrival of spring does not make Mr. Cat, who cherishes winter, have more happiness.
Things that are destined to be short seem to be more precious, even if they are cherished and still cannot be retained, so what kind of attitude can be used to face this doomed shortness and loss?
Mr. Cat in the story does not have a special attitude, he just thinks of her casually after the little man leaves, only to look forward to the appearance of another green leaf when another winter comes. Perhaps, this is the attitude of the new generation of authors to express their life: what should be remembered, do not want to forget; should be past, do not want to reminisce. This story is only expressing the author's own feelings, but does not want to tell the reader anything. It's like the arrival of a little person, with flowers under the feet and green leaves, but when you leave, it is silent. It is this simple and sincere attitude that has created this simple and beautiful book, which impressed the judges and its original readers with its unconscious beauty and magic. I think it will also touch more people - whether adults or children - all those who can feel that magical encounter and parting, those who feel the author's delicate thoughts, those who feel the people who deserve eternal cherishing because they are short.
About the Author
Wang Yuwei
In 2017, he graduated from the Picture Book Creation Studio of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
In the same year, he entered the central academy of fine arts to continue his postgraduate studies in the direction of picture book creation.
The family has a flower cat named Coke.
Coke was adopted and crossed most of beijing that year
Bring it back with the palm of your hand, and then rely on each other and accompany it until today.
It is also because of the experience of raising cats that there is the story of "Mr. Cat and the Little Man".
I hope to interchange the positions of people and cats through picture books,
To enable the reader to understand that there is an inevitable loss,
But even a short companionship can be a warm memory for a lifetime.