Jenny and Jack are a couple of donkeys who have been together for years, but when Jack sleeps through their silver wedding anniversary, they have a terrible argument. They each storm off, resolving to find new partners, but that isn’t easy for a couple who have grown so used to each other.

Review: Stubbornness can lead to silly decisions, even in the most loving of relationships. However, as the two donkeys in this story discover, enduring love can set things right again. These themes may be of comfort to readers of all ages and equally universal is the metaphor of the donkey, which seems to stand for awkwardness across most cultures.

Stollinger’s illustrative style reflects this awkwardness with a quirky, naïve treatment of the characters. The animals are neither completely stylized nor anatomically correct, and rough textures have been scratched into their oil pastel fur, which seems in keeping with their bristly mood. Since the animals are the only elements depicted, our focus is drawn to their highly expressive bodies and facial features. In some places these are exaggerated, even garish, but the most appealing depiction is on the cover, which gives a real sense of tenderness as one donkey nuzzles the other.

The textured animals sit against a flat beige background, which is subtly lifted by a white panel for the hand-written text. This naturalistic-looking font suggests the same organic quality that the story describes, in the way “the pair had lived together so long it showed on their bodies”. Meanwhile, the torn edges of the beige paper bordering the white, seem to echo the rupture in their relationship. This subtle page design with its palette of greys and browns, contrasts well with the naïve-looking animals, resulting in a strangely sophisticated over all look.

Unfortunately, language is not as universal as theme and metaphor. Whilst the English translation is grammatically correct, there are some slight glitches that, particularly when matched with Stollinger’s exaggerated facial expressions, take the awkwardness just too far. For example, a play on the word “hee-haw’ results in “she-hawful!”, when Jack already looks physically repulsed by a poor cow. When Jenny decides she doesn’t like the billy-goat, the phrase “she’d never want to act the goat with him”, whilst not incorrect, does sound somewhat contrived. Perhaps the original text is a better match for the peculiar style of these illustrations.

2010-01-28