Alemama – book review. How to show beauty in simplicity

Alemama is a book proving that sometimes it’s the simplest thing that engraves the deepest mark. It doesn’t have to make a ruckus to be noticed. It tells its story quietly, with tenderness and a smile – and despite that, or maybe due to that, it stays in our memory for long.

Alemama – what’s it about?

Alemama in an illustrated story about a certain family. We meet our main heroine – eight-year-old Sofa, her brother Stefek, the father, and the titular Alemama – the mom. The plot is not an explosive, wild story packed to the brim with fast-paced adventures, but rather it depicts a standard life of a standard family. It does not mean the book comes across as boring, though; the reader gets presented with stories that strike interest because of their relatability, and because of their straightforwardness, they are very easy to grasp.

Alemama – Agata Wolna

Alemama is a bit like The Little Prince, as it utilizes simple analogies to explain complex concepts – the main one of those being parenting.

Parenthood and family in general are portrayed in a very unique way, although centered in the aforementioned normalcy. Events within the book describe everyday happenings, and at the same time, the narrative is able to accentuate aspects that evoke hilarity or reflection in something as simple as taking your kids to school.

The work as a whole is extremely humorous. Clever japes are sure to tickle both younger and older readers alike. What’s important is that, even with the playful nature of the described situations, there are still valuable life lessons to be learned. These are not comedic setups and laughing isn’t the sole purpose – there will always be moments calling for contemplation. The stories feel wonderfully human, some may happen to anyone, most quite possibly already did. This isn’t to say they come off as predictable or schematic. Rather, they reveal our moments of weakness and put times of utter frustration into perspective, making them instead ridiculous or amusing.

Some of the book’s most important fragments are paragraphs about the parents. After each short story, the author analyzes the described situation and shares advice with the parents, who may potentially be reading aloud to their children. Thanks to this, the entire text only deepens its educational value. What’s more – nothing here is too lengthy. The stories are compact, and so are the fragments meant for parents. One might say the author has reached a profound level of the ability to explain hard things the easy way. It’s pretty cute – and truly works.

Alemama – graphic design

Though Alemama is, in fact, a book – and I rarely pull much focus onto the graphic format when it comes to books – I feel we should really stop and gaze at the visual presentation. Zysk & S-ka had done a fantastic job with this print, in regards of the cover and the illustrations. The cover art especially strikes not only gorgeous, but appropriate for the book’s content itself. The reading experience is infused with a special kind of spiritual ecstasy, despite the subject matter being something so common like home and family.

Additionally, the hard cover makes the handling very comfortable, and the whole seems durable and solid. Parents reading to their kids, even on road trips, don’t have to worry about the wear and tear – the book should be just as fine thrown in a backpack for a family trip, as it would be just standing on a bookshelf. It definitely is worth keeping nearby, as a reminder of family values and a healthy parent-child relationship.

Ilustracje –  Monika Dolata

The illustrations within also present themselves very nicely. Every few pages there is a painting correlating to the in-story happenings. The pictures are often simplistic and only there to brighten the read – I think a reader would not get distracted by them to analyze or marvel at their form for long. Which happens to be a good thing; the illustrations enrich the text while not domineering over it. The emphasis is laid on the stories, and not on the overall visual effect that could only provide momentary, evanescent delight.

Thoughts on the book

Alemama is honestly an adorable work. Maybe it’s not exactly a life-changing, katharsis-inducing read, but I think that’s not its point anyway. Alemama encourages reflecting and contemplating on the significance of familial bond, all the while weaving a tale about your average family – one that is imperfect, faces hardships and, against all odds, finds within them its beauty. That found beauty is what the book captured tremendously.

What particularly bewitched me in Alemama is the fact how well it was adapted for both young and mature audiences. The book can be enjoyed by all, not only for its humor but also for the valuable life lessons. For as short as it is, it has many words of wisdom to offer, and it is wisdom you feel driven to gain, as well as come back to.

Alemama – info

• Title: Alemama, czyli historia z życia wzięta
• Author: Agata Wolna
• Illustrations: Monika Dolata
• Publisher: Zysk I-Ska
• Pages: 94
• Release Year: 2023 rok
• Cover Price: 39,90 zł

Review author: Paweł Skarzyński
Author of English translation: Martyna Ginda

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